How to Throw a Cut Fastball Like Mariano Rivera
By Dan Gazaway
Mariano Rivera is arguably the best closer in Major League Baseball. The amazing thing with Mariano is that he gets by with his one signature pitch, the cut fastball. How does he do it? Well, I have attached this video that gives a brief description of how he throws his cut fastball so well; and why major league hitters struggle getting the bat on it.
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Pitching Grips: How To Throw A Great Curveball
By Dan Gazaway
Every pitcher wants to learn how to throw a curveball. Why? Because it’s effective and it gets hitters out. There’s nothing like throwing a curveball that makes a hitters knees buckle. It’s a great pitch to have in your arsenal because hitters never really learn how to hit a curve or adjust to it. Hitters can hit a good curveball but they can’t hit a great one.
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Different Changeup Pitching Grips
By Dan Gazaway
There are many different ways to throw and grip a change. Most changeups serve the same purpose – taking speed off the ball – but some have greater movement than others. Movement (along with change of speed and location) gets hitters out. Here are some examples of different Changeup grips. My favorite change is the C-change (illustration b) because it’s easier to throw than the Circle and still moves more than most changeups. I also get into detail about some different changeups in the video clip below.
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Throw a Nasty Changeup With Any Grip
By Nate Barnett
When I work for an extended period of time with young pitchers, I work towards two goals. Provide them with a solid set of pitching mechanics that creates consistency in delivery and arm action. Teach them a simple a change up in order to keep hitters off balance. Creating consistent mechanics is so important for youth pitchers because it lays the ground work for their future.
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How to Throw Pitches
By Dan Gazaway
One of the most enjoyable parts of pitching is learning how to throw different pitches. Admit it! You enjoy making the batter look like a fool swinging at a curveball they weren’t expecting; or lunging three feet forward to try and reach your change. It’s a fun part of pitching and it is a necessary part. Your job as a pitcher is to keep the hitters off balance so they don’t get a good jump on the ball. Great pitchers master this craft.
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Jamie Moyer: An Unpredictable Pitcher
By Dan Gazaway
We have seen some great performances this year on the mound. I can’t get enough of Jamie Moyer or Justin Verlander. I really enjoy watching these pitchers work their magic on the mound. Have you ever noticed what qualities the best pitchers have that others don’t? Well, you better believe the mental game plays a big role.
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Major League Movement on All Pitches?
By Dan Gazaway
We have discussed how important it is to be an unpredictable pitcher, throwing off speed pitches and keeping hitters off balance by upsetting their timing. Today I want to help you understand what is misunderstood in the baseball world when it comes to throwing off speed pitches. As you know, mechanics play a big role in how you throw each pitch.
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Throwing Different Baseball Pitches
By Dan Gazaway
There’s nothing like throwing a great knee buckler that fools even the best of hitters in your league. The best is seeing a hitters eyes light up thinking they just got served the perfect pitch only to find out the bottom dropped out of it and they swung for the fence. Yes, throwing different pitches is fun but to perfect a pitch takes a ton of time, energy and effort.
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Pitching Mechanics Before Throwing Off-Speed
By Dan Gazaway
Many pitchers contact us to have us instruct them how to throw different pitches. I think its great that they have the desire to be successful; you can’t be unless you know how to keep a hitter off balance. However, there is a time and a place to learn a different pitch. I won’t teach anyone, regardless of how old they are; how to throw any other pitch unless they can throw with proper mechanics.
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Pitching Grips: Timing and Off Speed Pitches
By Dan Gazaway
When pitchers throw different pitches other than their fastball, they tend to make radical mechanical changes; sometimes forcing the pitch into the strike zone. The most common change they make is timing of their pitches. What is timing? Timing is simply getting your body to do the same thing over and over again to the right place at the correct time.
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Smart Pitching Better Than Strikeouts? – by Dan Gazaway
