Pitching

A visible grip can tip the hitter off to the pitch.

Source: General baseball reference · recall

Fingers behind and on top of the ball give it clean backspin.

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Backspin creates lift that holds the fastball up longer than the hitter expects.

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Different release points can tip off which pitch is coming.

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Releasing the ball closer to the plate gives the hitter less time.

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Rosin powder helps a pitcher's fingers grip the ball.

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A ball that slips out early sails high or wide of the target.

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Get the ball, rub it, set the hidden grip, then deliver.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Over the top is highest; sidearm releases near shoulder height.

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Fingers behind the ball pull down through it, spinning it backwards.

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Control is throwing strikes; command is putting the ball exactly where the catcher wants it.

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Pitches down in the zone tend to be hit on the ground.

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The black is the edge of home plate; pitches there are hard to hit squarely.

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First-pitch and early strikes put the pitcher in control of the at-bat.

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Pitchers throw to the catcher's glove, which marks the location.

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A high fastball is hard to lay off and easy to swing under.

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A pitch meant for a corner that drifts to the middle is easy to hit hard.

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Changing location and speed keeps the hitter guessing.

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Belt-high on the inner half is where power hitters do most damage.

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The catcher's glove position shows the pitcher where to throw.

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From the stretch the pitcher stands sideways with his pivot foot touching the rubber.

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With runners on, the pitcher must come to a stop before pitching.

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Holding for different lengths stops runners getting a sure jump.

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The slide step speeds up delivery to give the catcher a chance on a steal.

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Coaches time 'time to plate'; around 1.3 seconds or faster helps stop steals.

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A look keeps the runner from taking too big a lead.

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Failing to come to a complete stop with runners on is a common balk.

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Sign, set, look, then pitch.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

The slide step is the quickest delivery from the stretch.

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Hands together and still, side-on: the set position.

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Pickoff throws make the runner stay closer and can catch him off base.

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A left-hander faces first base in the set, so he can watch the runner the whole time.

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The right-hander spins on his feet towards first to throw quickly.

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When the defence expects a steal, a pitchout puts the ball where the catcher can throw at once.

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The middle infielders sneak in behind the runner for a pickoff at second.

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Stepping off the back first frees him to throw to a base without a balk.

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Repeated throws make a runner dive back and think twice about stealing.

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The left-hander's view of first lets him catch a runner leaning.

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The bigger the lead and the more weight towards the next base, the riskier it is.

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A left-hander sees first base without turning his head away from home.

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The pitcher covers first when the first baseman has to field the ball.

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Curving towards the line and running parallel to it avoids a collision with the runner.

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The catcher chases the ball and the pitcher covers home for the throw.

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Pitchers finish in a fielding position so they can react to line drives.

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He backs up home or third, behind where the throw is going.

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Pitchers usually let infielders take pop-ups; they are better placed to catch them.

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Covering bases and fielding bunts are skills pitchers drill again and again.

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Break, curve, catch, touch the bag.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Every runner on third is a threat on a ball in the dirt, so the mound is left empty in a hurry.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

With the first baseman off the bag, the pitcher must cover first.

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A fast tempo keeps the defence on its toes.

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Tempo covers how quickly a pitcher works and the rhythm of his motion.

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Stepping off and taking a breath can stop a bad inning snowballing.

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Pitching before the batter is ready is not allowed and is called a quick pitch.

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Rushing pulls the arm out of sync with the body, so the ball sails.

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A short walk helps clear the mind.

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Pitch clocks limit how long a pitcher may take between pitches.

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A simple, repeated routine keeps the tempo even.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Base runners, mound visits and long at-bats slow an inning down.

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Stepping off the mound helps a pitcher reset after a bad moment.

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Shaking off the sign asks the catcher for a different pitch.

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From second base a runner can look in at the catcher's fingers and relay the pitch.

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The catcher goes out to agree signs, settle the pitcher or change the plan.

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They go over the opposing line-up and how to attack each batter.

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Good battery chemistry means few shake-offs and a steady rhythm.

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Moving late hides the location from a peeking hitter.

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Blocking stops the runner moving up on a wild pitch.

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Several signs hide the real one from the runner on second.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Shake, new sign, agree, pitch.

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Batteries cover their mouths so opponents cannot read what they say.

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Opening early drags the arm behind and costs command and velocity.

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When the arm trails the body's turn, the pitch often goes up and away.

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Rushing means the stride and hips move before the arm is ready.

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An early release sends the ball up out of the zone.

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A late release pulls the pitch down into the dirt.

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Landing too far open or closed throws off direction and balance.

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Falling off to the side leaves the pitcher unable to field and often hurts command.

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Identify, drill, then check the change.

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Early releases sail high; late releases bounce.

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The shoulder opening before the arm arrives is flying open.

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Starters throw a controlled session off a mound between starts.

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Bullpen sessions are for locating pitches and fixing mechanics.

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From there the coach can see the delivery and the result together.

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Long toss stretches out the arm with gradually longer throws.

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A reliever throws hard in the pen so he is ready when called.

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Throwing on flat ground lets a pitcher work on grips and feel with less strain.

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A batter standing in makes the session feel like a game.

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Warm up, locate fastballs, add off-speed, then simulate at-bats.

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From the call to the mound.

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Throwing off the bullpen mound with a coach watching is a bullpen session.

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Pitchers try to stay away from a hitter's hot zones.

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A right-hander's slider moves away from a right-handed hitter, which is hard to hit.

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Throwing breaking balls when the hitter expects a fastball reverses the usual pattern.

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Pitching inside keeps hitters from crowding the outside corner.

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Pitches just off the plate tempt hitters into swinging.

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Hitters usually do better the third time they face the same pitcher in a game.

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An intentional walk can set up a force or avoid the best bat.

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Work away, come in, then finish with a chase pitch.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

With 0-2 he has balls to spare; at 3-2 he has none.

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The hitter swung at a breaking ball that ended outside the zone.

Source: General baseball reference · applied