Well, every year I get one good one. Last night, I got mine for this year.

We do a drill called "Pitch Recognition." I throw from about 40-45 feet and throw sliders, curves, changeups and naturally, I mix in some fastballs. The purpose is recogizing pitch and location and to hit the ball "where it is thrown." After each pitch, the hitter calls out the pitch and location. Naturally, they mess up and pull some outside pitches and breaking balls away. We work hard on using gap to gap and so, great teaching occurs with this drill. Last night, my #4 is up and he is a stud. We teach hands back on the change and hit the pitcher with the ball. He was very successful. I think he might have busted a rib. Hazard of the JOB! LOL!

Have you heard of something called an L screen?

You might want to read this thread...

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6616002781/m/2811049461/p/1

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
Have you heard of something called an L screen?

Yes, and we have the best. Still, it was hit so hard I didn't get behind the screen in time. When you thow, for just that split second, you are exposed or you would throw into the screen. SPLIT SECOND! OUCH!

Trainer looked at me last night. No broken ribs. Very bruised.

Coach Fulte has been hit a couple times already this year, but mainly in the arm. He throws a lot of our BP and he does it from about 30 feet.

The other day we were hitting on the field and I had to catch for him. I took two foul balls off the mask and one off the shoulder.

Coach, if you use the screen properly your body is not exposed. Too many people stand over the open part of the L & try to duck out of the way. Nope.

If you stand behind the high part of the L (looking through the screen), you only have to have your throwing arm exposed, and your follow through will put your arm behind the screen just after the ball leaves your hand.

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
Coach, if you use the screen properly your body is not exposed. Too many people stand over the open part of the L & try to duck out of the way. Nope.

If you stand behind the high part of the L (looking through the screen), you only have to have your throwing arm exposed, and your follow through will put your arm behind the screen just after the ball leaves your hand.

Texan, I understand what you are saying. I've never been able to throw a curve by doing so. Perhaps, I could throw a slurve that way. I've also struggled with the changeup trying to "stay behind the L." I throw a circle change and take speed off by dragging the toe. That leaves me exposed since the finish isn't as dramatic as the fastball. I'd think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that throws much BP that hasn't been hit a time or two. I'd hate to guess at how many pitches I've made in my coaching career. On the day I was hit that I was referring to, each kid saw 20 off speed, 5 fastballs, and then they hit till they didn't achieve our goal. They rotated out with their partner and went behind the cage to watch spin. Then they receive another turn. After this they rotate back to the other cages and came back for a second round later. So, a minimum of tosses on that day anyone could receive was (26x2x2+goal=?). No one recieved the minimum. Currently, 12 kids are getting full BP off of me. (The others are getting more swings in our other cages.) Getting "Jelly Legged" and having a "spare tire" also has my body hanging out beyond the L. LOL!

I started this thread as a fun thread. I just wanted to share. Didn't intend for it to turn into something else.

Take Care!!!

Bluedog, I know you're really into drills combined with live arm. Nothing can be better than combining the two. I will admit that in doing so, I get caught trying to watch what the hitter does at critical times when I should be finishing behind the L. Texan mentions I should already be there but haven't been able to throw critical off speed pitches doing so. I don't think I've ever been hit after throwing fastballs. I always seem to be able to get behind. While I think there is a place for just fastballs, I believe that the off speed work is critical for success. Of course, you could always say that the BP major leaguers take is strickly fastballs. We/Im fortunate to teach with a gentleman that has thrown BP for the Cardinals for several decades and he laughs at me for the bruises. He throws fastballs down the pipe and hopes each leaves the yard. That endears him to the hitters and the viewing public. LOL!

I have to agree with CoachB25 on this one.

He started a topic - had some responses on a fun topic - and Bluedog comes in with an insult.

Heres the deal - I will clean this one up - including all responses to the insulting post - so noone has to wade through the mess.

My apologies, B. if my response sparked something that Bluedog ran off in the wrong direction with.

And you're right, it is tougher to throw the hook that way. Takes a while. Of course, even my best curve was never very good.

I hear you on the volume. I used to throw about 2000-2500 pitches per week when I was coaching. And I wonder why my right arm now appears longer than my left...

When the kids were small, I didn't use a screen. Once they got a little older, I got a little smarter. Never got hit again after using the L.

Hopefully some folks out there who still don't use them will now think about making a good investment.

The L is a requirement for anyone.

Better question....who has not been hit. I left about 3inches of my side sticking out from the inside bottom corner, and took one that just grazed my side.....I think that hurt worse than taking one full on.

I've been nicked throwing BP before, several times.

The worst, even worse than getting beaned during playing days, happened sitting in the dugout. A late swing "screamer" came right at us... everyone jumped including yours truly, but I couldn't see the ball. It got me high on the inside of my right thigh! Almost passed out (maybe I did)... that was one of the ugliest bruises ever. Put a definite damper on my libido for quite awile.

Guess the moral of that story is don't be the last one to jump?

I'm so good at getting behind the screen that I got hit on the other side of it one time. Kid hit a line shot that got me in the side. Glancing blow so it stung like heck.