ASU PREPARATORY ACADEMY BASEBALL PROGRAM 2013 Our the 4-Basic Pitches: 1. Fastball: (4-Seam & 2-Seam) A.) 4-Seam Grip - Grip the ball across all four seams. Excellent pitch to throw hard, up in the strike zone. B.) 2-Seam Grip - Grip the ball along the two short seams of the ball. This produces a sinking pitch. Use this grip to keep the fastball down and get a little move movement on the pitch. 2. Slider: (Slrrrrr) This Pitch looks like a fastball coming in but can tail away or drop away from hitters. Taking a two-seam grip you will basically throw it like a fastball except slide both fingers together keeping your pointer finger right down the middle of the ball. Put pressure on the outside finger as you throw to give it that late break. 3. Change-Ups: Modified Circle & Choke (or Palm ball) Circle Change up - Grip the ball by making the O.K. sign with your thumb and index finger. Place the middle and ring finger on the seams and let the pinkie finger rest on the outside of the baseball. Use the same throwing motion that you use throwing the fastball so you don't tip off the pitch. 4. Curves: “Pop the Top” (or Spinner): There are a couple of different ways to grip the Pop the top pitch or spinner ball. Grip the ball along the seam of the "horseshoe" or 4-seam fastball grip and turn your hand to the side. Put most of the pressure on the middle finger & thumb (snapping fingers). The fingers and wrist is snapped and when the ball is released to create “spin”, it comes over the index finger. When thrown properly, the ball breaks down (12 to 6) to a right- handed batter when thrown by a right-handed pitcher. Key Points of Pitching Mechanics: Foot Position on the Pitching Rubber Right handed pitchers should be on the right side of the rubber angled towards third (9 TO 11 YEAR OLDS ONLY). Left handed pitchers should be on the left side of the rubber angled towards first. Heels of your feet should be on top of the rubber and about 4-6 inches apart. Balls of your feet should be in front of the rubber. By angling to the side it prevents wasted movement when getting to our 90 or balanced position. It also helps with balance getting to that position. Remember getting to your 90- positon is all about setting up to deliver the ball. (Advanced Set-up 11+: Straight on; Lock in those Horns - cleats) After the age of 11 we can move to a straight on throwing position. Feet 4-6 inches apart and the same steps apply. Small step to the side, then pick up heal and turn your foot into the rubber then up to the 90-position. From that point everything else is the same. Receiving the Signal Position (“In the Circle”) The ball should be placed in a preset position in your glove, glove positioned in front of your chest. You’re standing tall in a comfortable position. Feet should be angled or Straight (depending on age) about 4-6 inches apart. Throwing hand by your side until you receive the signal from catcher then reach in and take your grip. First Movement of the Windup Take a short shoe length step back or slightly to the side (on set-up line) of the rubber. Weight should be on the ball of your back step foot. Do not let your heel touch the ground. This causes improper weight transfer. Head should remain over the pivot foot. Your hands should be positioned at your chest but can move up to your chin. Shoulder Turn With Heel into Rubber - (Pivot Foot Placement) Turn your front shoulder to your target as you place your pivot foot in front into the rubber. The knee should be slightly bent over your pivot foot. Your back leg should be bent slightly but “Tall" from start to finish. 10 © Copyright 2013 PREDATOR USA & BILL SANDILLO. All rights reserved. ASU PREPARATORY ACADEMY BASEBALL PROGRAM 2013 Balance Point - (90-position) THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF MECHANICS! Lift your knee, not your foot, up and back to the mid-point of your body. The leg should be belt high and parallel to the ground. The lower part of the leg (foot) should be relaxed. Your toe should be slightly lower than the heel or even with the foot. Your elbows should be pointed down to the ground (Form a A-Frame type look). “Front Side” - Front Shoulder & Lead Arm Lead arm should be pointed at target. Thumb down, glove movement from down to up. Shoulder should also be pointed to your target “FLASHED UP.” The chin should be over or slightly in front of the shoulder. Drop & Break; Hand Separation - Ball out of the Glove Hands (with glove) should start to drop (Push-Break Action) & separate below the belt on the way down to the bottom. Movement of the ball out of the glove should be the first movement. Nothing goes forward until the hands separate at the bottom. Take the ball back and up with your hand, (make a “W”-motion) not your elbow, past the Power-S Position (low set- up point) to the top of the Power-L (Mid Point) to an over the top (fill the arm slot) position and throw. Arm Action & Extension Start your arm action back with your throwing hand, concentrating on the thumb pointing down Power-S Position (low set-up point) and the fingers pointing back slightly towards second base. The back elbow should work with the throwing hand. Throwing hand should be in a position above your back shoulder with the fingers pointing up to the sky in centerfield. (Power- L Position; Mid Point Set-up) You can think of your index and long fingers of your throwing hand like fangs of a snake. (See the “V”) You want the fangs pointed away from you so you don't get bit! Front Side or Lead Arm Actions The front side or lead arm should be strong and firm throughout the delivery with the lead thumb pointing down working from a low position to a high position pointing at target. The lead elbow is slightly bent and points toward home plate (your target). The front arm determines the speed for the pitch. The glove should be starting to get into a semi-tucked position at the point of release ready to rip backward. Hips Your hips are your power. The pivot will drive the back hip, the back hip will drive the front hip to the plate, and the hips will turn the landing or plant foot. The pivot foot is the key to when you open your hips. Landing Foot or Plant Foot You should land with a slightly bent front knee. The foot should land flat (Heal Toe) and semi-closed on the ground; toe and heel should touch mili-seconds apart. The stride should be approx. 5-8 shoe lengths from the front edge of the rubber. Keep your weight back as long as possible when you land on your stride foot. Throwing Arm Extension You must have a relaxed grip and wrist; allow your throwing arm, hand, and wrist to go completely through the delivery. The hand must extend to the target, then the head follows the hand down, then the back side creates the follow through. Be "long" in front. Be a rifle, not a pistol. 11 © Copyright 2013 PREDATOR USA & BILL SANDILLO. All rights reserved. ASU PREPARATORY ACADEMY BASEBALL PROGRAM 2013 Cadence or Timing System: Being a good pitcher is about deception and throwing off the hitters timing. With our cadence system we want our pitcher using a 1-4 second intervals in-between pitches to give the hitter and base runners (if any) different looks and to help out your catcher throwing runners out. 1-Cadence W/ Slide Step: (Fastest pitch in baseball), Set & Go, No looks 2-Cadence W/ Slide Step or High Knee: One (1) look 3-Cadence W/ Slide Step or High Knee: TWo (2) looks 4-Cadence W/ Slide Step or High Knee: (sloWest pitch) Three (3) looks 12 © Copyright 2013 PREDATOR USA & BILL SANDILLO. All rights reserved. ASU PREPARATORY ACADEMY BASEBALL PROGRAM 2013 BILL SANDILLO’S “9-Zone” Pitching System & Box Chart ~ F E B R U A RY S P E C I A L S ~ Strike Zone A. B. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tel: 555 555 5555 C. D. 7 8 9 Cash Check Organization 13 © Copyright 2013 PREDATOR USA & BILL SANDILLO. All rights reserved. $00.00 $00.00 ASU PREPARATORY ACADEMY BASEBALL PROGRAM 2013 Bill Sandillo’s Catching Handout Step I: Set Up: (Relaxed stance) a. Stance starts directly behind home plate with toes pointing directly to the shortstop and second baseman b. Top of thighs should be flat. Arms resting on the thighs. c. Heels should be right beneath backside, with calves right under the hamstring. Step II: “Giving the sign” (Signal Stance) a. Signal should be given with hands right next to crotch. b. Make sure hands do not go below crotch c. Glove should be on knee or outside of thigh to protect secrecy of signal. d. 1 = Fastball, 2= curve, 3= other off-speed (slider, split-finger or change-up) a. Predator does not endorse or encourage players younger than 14 throwing a curve ball we recommend an arsenal of a fastball and a change-up Step III: “Receive, don’t snatch” (receiving stance) a.