Hey Pitchers, How's Your Tempo?

I was out catching some playoff action last night at a high school baseball game. When I watch games, I enjoy paying attention to how each individual approaches his game; it's fun to see the patterns developed within each player.

This particular game featured a couple lefty pitchers. Naturally, I was intrigued as two lefty starters are a bit less common at the high school level. What I noticed was a very deliberate attitude with each pitcher. Both worked quickly without a lot of time wasted walking around the mound, etc. And the bonus was they were both throwing a lot of strikes.

The reason I am taking time to write about this experience is because too many times this is not the case. baseball pitchers on each team set the attitude and tempo of the game. Last night, the hitters were more aggressive, the defense (for the most part) was crisp, and athletes moved quickly on and off the field. There was an energy in each dugout throughout the game. Contrast this with a game where pitchers trudge baseball back to the mound to get ready for the next pitch. There is little energy, and the defense and fans tend to fall asleep. The tempo is horrible.

If you are a pitcher, it is your responsibility to keep the game moving. Deep counts, long times between pitches and sluggish movement will be repeated by the rest of your team. Next time you're out at a game, watch how the pitchers work and see their team follow the example set.

Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching mechanics, pitching tips, pitching workouts, how to throw a split-finger fastball, and much more.