# Pitching · Baseball Level 2: Elementary

Baseball · Level 2: Elementary · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/level-2/pitching/)

Grip and release, command and location, the stretch, holding runners, fielding the position, tempo, working with the catcher, common faults, bullpen sessions and pitching to hitters.

## Test 1: Grip and release

- A visible grip can tip the hitter off to the pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fingers behind and on top of the ball give it clean backspin. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Backspin creates lift that holds the fastball up longer than the hitter expects. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Different release points can tip off which pitch is coming. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Releasing the ball closer to the plate gives the hitter less time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Rosin powder helps a pitcher's fingers grip the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A ball that slips out early sails high or wide of the target. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Get the ball, rub it, set the hidden grip, then deliver. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Over the top is highest; sidearm releases near shoulder height. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fingers behind the ball pull down through it, spinning it backwards. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: Command and location

- Control is throwing strikes; command is putting the ball exactly where the catcher wants it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitches down in the zone tend to be hit on the ground. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The black is the edge of home plate; pitches there are hard to hit squarely. (Source: General baseball reference)
- First-pitch and early strikes put the pitcher in control of the at-bat. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitchers throw to the catcher's glove, which marks the location. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A high fastball is hard to lay off and easy to swing under. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pitch meant for a corner that drifts to the middle is easy to hit hard. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Changing location and speed keeps the hitter guessing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Belt-high on the inner half is where power hitters do most damage. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The catcher's glove position shows the pitcher where to throw. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: Pitching from the stretch

- From the stretch the pitcher stands sideways with his pivot foot touching the rubber. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With runners on, the pitcher must come to a stop before pitching. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Holding for different lengths stops runners getting a sure jump. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The slide step speeds up delivery to give the catcher a chance on a steal. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Coaches time 'time to plate'; around 1.3 seconds or faster helps stop steals. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A look keeps the runner from taking too big a lead. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Failing to come to a complete stop with runners on is a common balk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Sign, set, look, then pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The slide step is the quickest delivery from the stretch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hands together and still, side-on: the set position. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: Holding runners and pickoffs

- Pickoff throws make the runner stay closer and can catch him off base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A left-hander faces first base in the set, so he can watch the runner the whole time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The right-hander spins on his feet towards first to throw quickly. (Source: General baseball reference)
- When the defence expects a steal, a pitchout puts the ball where the catcher can throw at once. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The middle infielders sneak in behind the runner for a pickoff at second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Stepping off the back first frees him to throw to a base without a balk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Repeated throws make a runner dive back and think twice about stealing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The left-hander's view of first lets him catch a runner leaning. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The bigger the lead and the more weight towards the next base, the riskier it is. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A left-hander sees first base without turning his head away from home. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: Fielding the position

- The pitcher covers first when the first baseman has to field the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Curving towards the line and running parallel to it avoids a collision with the runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The catcher chases the ball and the pitcher covers home for the throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitchers finish in a fielding position so they can react to line drives. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He backs up home or third, behind where the throw is going. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitchers usually let infielders take pop-ups; they are better placed to catch them. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Covering bases and fielding bunts are skills pitchers drill again and again. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Break, curve, catch, touch the bag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 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)
- With the first baseman off the bag, the pitcher must cover first. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: Tempo and pace

- A fast tempo keeps the defence on its toes. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Tempo covers how quickly a pitcher works and the rhythm of his motion. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Stepping off and taking a breath can stop a bad inning snowballing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitching before the batter is ready is not allowed and is called a quick pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Rushing pulls the arm out of sync with the body, so the ball sails. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A short walk helps clear the mind. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitch clocks limit how long a pitcher may take between pitches. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A simple, repeated routine keeps the tempo even. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Base runners, mound visits and long at-bats slow an inning down. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Stepping off the mound helps a pitcher reset after a bad moment. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: Working with the catcher

- Shaking off the sign asks the catcher for a different pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From second base a runner can look in at the catcher's fingers and relay the pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The catcher goes out to agree signs, settle the pitcher or change the plan. (Source: General baseball reference)
- They go over the opposing line-up and how to attack each batter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Good battery chemistry means few shake-offs and a steady rhythm. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Moving late hides the location from a peeking hitter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Blocking stops the runner moving up on a wild pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Several signs hide the real one from the runner on second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Shake, new sign, agree, pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Batteries cover their mouths so opponents cannot read what they say. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Common pitching faults

- Opening early drags the arm behind and costs command and velocity. (Source: General baseball reference)
- When the arm trails the body's turn, the pitch often goes up and away. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Rushing means the stride and hips move before the arm is ready. (Source: General baseball reference)
- An early release sends the ball up out of the zone. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A late release pulls the pitch down into the dirt. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Landing too far open or closed throws off direction and balance. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Falling off to the side leaves the pitcher unable to field and often hurts command. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Identify, drill, then check the change. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Early releases sail high; late releases bounce. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The shoulder opening before the arm arrives is flying open. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: Bullpen sessions

- Starters throw a controlled session off a mound between starts. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bullpen sessions are for locating pitches and fixing mechanics. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From there the coach can see the delivery and the result together. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Long toss stretches out the arm with gradually longer throws. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A reliever throws hard in the pen so he is ready when called. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Throwing on flat ground lets a pitcher work on grips and feel with less strain. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A batter standing in makes the session feel like a game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Warm up, locate fastballs, add off-speed, then simulate at-bats. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From the call to the mound. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Throwing off the bullpen mound with a coach watching is a bullpen session. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: Pitching to hitters

- Pitchers try to stay away from a hitter's hot zones. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A right-hander's slider moves away from a right-handed hitter, which is hard to hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Throwing breaking balls when the hitter expects a fastball reverses the usual pattern. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitching inside keeps hitters from crowding the outside corner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitches just off the plate tempt hitters into swinging. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hitters usually do better the third time they face the same pitcher in a game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- An intentional walk can set up a force or avoid the best bat. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Work away, come in, then finish with a chase pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With 0-2 he has balls to spare; at 3-2 he has none. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The hitter swung at a breaking ball that ended outside the zone. (Source: General baseball reference)

Sources: General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

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