Author Archives: ncpitchers

Big Game James

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Be a competitor and have a “go to pitch.” Boom, here comes the quality starts. James Shields doesn’t do anything fancy: He competes and has mastered the change-up.  

“We try to quantify leadership and makeup, but there isn’t a dependable equation. We know that Shields is perpetually demanding the baseball. Like the most respected men in every clubhouse, he never wants to relinquish the rock.”

“His self-assured mound presence is hard-won, as the tree-trunk legs might indicate. He is devoted to his work in the pen and the weight room.”

 

Want to Win; Be the Better Man

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“In the end, the game comes down to one thing: man against man. May the best man win.” -Sam Huff

“You know, I had as much ability as Stan, maybe more. Nobody had more power than me. Nobody could run faster than me. But Stan was a better player because he’s a better man than me. Because he got everything out of his life and his ability that he could. And he’ll never have to live with all the regret that I have to live with.” – Mickey Mantle on MLB.com (01/26/2013, ‘Musial’s life and career honored in memorial service’ Source)

Our Daily Bread – What Do You Expect?

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In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. —John 16:33

In C. S. Lewis’ book God in the Dock, he wrote: “Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable.” Lewis cleverly used this contrast between a hotel and a prison to illustrate how we view life based on our expectations. He says, “If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.”

Sometimes we expect that life should be happy and pain-free. But that is not what the Bible teaches. For the believer, this world is a place of spiritual development through both good times and bad. Jesus was realistic when He explained what to expect in life. He told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In facing life’s blessings and bruises, we can have the inner peace that God is orchestrating events according to His sovereign plan.

Christ’s presence in our lives enables us to “be of good cheer” even in the midst of pain. —Dennis Fisher

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest. —Berg

In the midst of troubles, peace can be found in Jesus.

Nolan Ryan’s Easy Formula for Winning

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Nolan Ryan was one of the most

dominant pitchers in the game.

He followed this simple formula

for winning…

Strike one to every hitter

Get the first hitter of every inning out

After your team scores for the first

time, put a 0 in the box score for

the other team in the next inning.

How does any of that relate to
overall success?

Well, let me ask you this. What is

the best type of pitch in baseball?

Fastball?

Curveball?

Slider?

No. The best pitch in baseball

is strike 1.

Once you get strike 1, statistics

prove the pitcher is heavily favored.

Statistics also prove that getting

the first out in every inning goes

hand in hand with minimizing big innings.

Teams score less, if you get that first crucial out.

Put up a 0 on the box score after

your team scores. Continue reading →

Uniqueness in Delivery can Get You Innings

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Took this snippet from Yahoo Fantasy Sports updates. Zack Duke, making some adjustments in the off-season to prove he can be a valuable asset to his team. Not to shabby so far this season. He’s quoted saying he added a different arm slot (sidearm). Sometimes you have to be unique, do something different to keep hitters off balance. If something’s not working, fix it, change it! Ask yourself, What’s unique or different about your delivery that’s going to make you effective and cause hitters trouble? It can be as simple as hiding the ball better, moving further to one side of the rubber to create deception, or lowering your arm slot. Ask Mike Langston (converted submarine pitcher for Nyack College) what he thinks about the importance of uniqueness in gaining success.

Zach Duke holds a 1.57 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 39/5 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings this season.

Advice: The minor league contract the Brewers gave Duke in January has paid big dividends, as the southpaw has been dominant after lowering his arm slot. Between Duke and Will Smith, the Brewers’ two primary lefty relievers hold a 1.27 ERA while striking out 84 over 63 2/3 innings. “I put in a lot of quality work in the off-season tweaking some things here and there, getting my delivery cleaned up, getting my release point more consistent,” Duke said. “Then, of course, adding in another look with the sidearm stuff. I feel like the hitters never really know what to look for.”

How Mark Buehrle Is Rising Above the Velocity Obsession in MLB

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Why is Mark Buehrle dealing while throwing 83mph?

He’s…
Working Quickly
Trusting his Catcher
Having Confidence in his Pitches (He knows what he wants to throw before getting on rubber)
Keeping the Ball in Yard

Part of the reason for solid play is the pace in which the veteran works on the mound. Unlike some starters who labor on the hill, Buehrle is notorious for working quickly and keeping his fielders engaged in the game.
“It’s not luck,” Bautista said. “It’s not a surprise that every time he pitches there’s good defensive plays made, and it’s because he keeps everyone engaged in the game, because he works quick. It’s been awesome to play behind him this year.”
During games, it’s easy to see the trust the veteran southpaw has in his backstop. Part of the reason for Buehrle’s quick work is belief in the sequence and signs Navarro is suggesting.
Finally—and perhaps most vitally—is the dip in Buehrle’s home run rate this season.

THE POWER OF THE MIND

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Major James Nesmith had a dream of improving his golf game – and he developed a unique method of achieving his goal. Until he devised this method, he was just your average weekend golfer, shooting in mid- to low-nineties. Then, for seven years, he completely quit the game. Never touched a club. Never set foot on a fairway.

Ironically, it was during this seven-year break from the game that Major Nesmith came up with his amazingly effective technique for improving his game – a technique we can all learn from. In fact, the first time he set foot on a golf course after his hiatus from the game, he shot an astonishing 74! He had cut 20 strokes off his average without having swung a golf club in seven years! Unbelievable. Not only that, but his physical condition had actually deteriorated during those seven years.

What was Major Nesmith’s secret? Visualization.
You see, Major Nesmith had spent those seven years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. During those seven years, he was imprisoned in a cage that was approximately four and one-half feet high and five feet long.

During almost the entire time he was imprisoned, he saw no one, talked to no one and experienced no physical activity. During the first few months he did virtually nothing but hopes and prays for his release. Then he realized he had to find some way to occupy his mind or he would lose his sanity and probably his life. That’s when he learned to visualize.

In his mind, he selected his favorite golf course and started playing golf. Every day, he played a full 18 holes at the imaginary country club of his dreams. He experienced everything to the last detail. He saw himself dressed in his golfing clothes. He smelled the fragrance of the trees and the freshly trimmed grass. He experienced different weather conditions – windy spring days, overcast winter days, and sunny summer mornings. In his imagination, every detail of the tee, the individual blades of grass, the trees, the singing birds, the scampering squirrels and the lay of the course became totally real.

He felt the grip of the club in his hands. He instructed himself as he practiced smoothing out his down-swing and the follow-through on his shot. Then he watched the ball arc down the exact center of the fairway, bounce a couple of times and roll to the exact spot he had selected, all in his mind.

In the real world, he was in no hurry. He had no place to go. So in his mind he took every step on his way to the ball, just as if he were physically on the course. It took him just as long in imaginary time to play 18 holes as it would have taken in reality. Not a detail was omitted. Not once did he ever miss a shot, never a hook or a slice, never a missed putt.

Seven days a week. Four hours a day. Eighteen holes. Seven years. Twenty strokes off. Shot a 74.

Daily Bread on Perspective

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I have heard of You . . . but now my eye sees You. —Job 42:5

In 1927 the silent film Wings, a World War I film about two American aviators, won the first Academy Award for Best Picture. When it was being filmed, production stopped for several days. Frustrated producers asked the director why. He responded: “All we have is blue sky. The conflict in the air will not be as visible without clouds. Clouds bring perspective.” He was right. Only by seeing aerial combat with clouds as a backdrop could the viewer see what was really going on.

We often wish for blue skies instead of storm clouds. But cloudy skies may reveal God’s faithfulness. We gain perspective on how God has been faithful in our trials as we look back on the clouds.

At the beginning of his terrible suffering, Job lamented: “May the day perish on which I was born . . . . May a cloud settle on it” (Job 3:3-5). His experience of despair continued for a long time until God spoke. Then Job exclaimed, “I have heard of You . . . but now my eye sees You” (42:5). Job had encountered the sovereign Creator, and that changed his perspective on God’s purposes.

Do clouds of trouble fill your skies today? Sooner than you think, God may use these clouds to help you gain perspective on His faithfulness. —Dennis Fisher

God, give us wings to rise above
The clouds of trial that block the sun,
To soar above gray skies and see
The love and goodness of Your Son. —Sper

Often the clouds of sorrow reveal the sunshine of His face. —Jasper

Westfall’s Bio Quote makes its way into Daily Bread

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You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. —Revelation 3:1

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden (1910–2010) believed that character is far more important than reputation. “Your reputation is what you’re perceived to be by others,” Coach Wooden often told his players, “but your character is what you really are. You’re the only one that knows your character. You can fool others, but you can’t fool yourself.”

In the book of Revelation, we find the words of the risen Christ to seven churches in Asia. To the church in Sardis, Jesus said, “I know your works, that you have a name [reputation] that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). The Lord knew the truth about them, and no doubt deep down they knew it too. Jesus told them to wake up and strengthen the spiritual life inside them that was about to die (v.2). He urged them to remember the truth they had received, obey it, then turn around and start moving in a new direction (v.3).

When the Lord shows us what’s wrong in our lives, He always provides a remedy for change. When we turn from our sins, He forgives and strengthens us to start over.

How liberating to exchange a false spiritual reputation for the true, life-giving character that comes from knowing Christ our Lord! —David McCasland

Men talk too much of gold and fame,
And not enough about a name;
And yet a good name’s better far
Than all earth’s glistening jewels are. —Guest

The true test of our character is what we do when no one is watching.

Pre-Start Routine/Ritual

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Begin to sketch out your exact pre start routine. Think about what you do when you arrive at the park, when do you start stretching (ex. 45 minutes before 1st pitch), what is your personal blood flow circuit/ routine you do to get your body warm, and when do you begin to throw? How much time do you need to get loose on the mound? How much time before start time will you leave yourself to get loose on the mound, etc.
You can set up an outline. Left side of paper you can have an idea of your routine, and on the right you can indicate time needed.

Trevor Bauer’s Pregame:
What is your pregame ritual now?

I usually go out for a game about an hour and 20 minutes beforehand to do all my warm-ups. So about two hours and 20 minutes before a game, I’ll put on my pregame playlist, get dressed and just kind of hang out in my locker. I watch a video of myself striking people out from earlier this year, put myself in a positive mindset, watch myself be successful over and over, watch some video of mechanics and go over my keys for the game, such as, “OK, I’ve got to use my backside” or “I’ve got to use glove-side.”

The Man in the Glass

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Nyack College Pitching Staff takes ownership, proves to each other we are trustworthy, are committed to perfection, and do not cheat ourselves because we know only an “All In mentality will get us to the Top.”

The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
and the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself,
and see what THAT man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgement upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may think you’re a straight shootin’ chum
And call you a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

Author Unknown

Our Daily Bread — Integrity League

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He who walks with integrity walks securely. —Proverbs 10:9

We call it the Integrity League, but it’s really just a bunch of guys who get together at lunchtime to play basketball. We call fouls on ourselves, attempt to avoid angry outbursts, and simply try to keep everything fair and enjoyable. We are competitive and we don’t like to lose—but we all agree that integrity and honesty should control the atmosphere.

Integrity. Scripture clearly indicates the importance of this trait. And we honor the God of our lives when we practice it.

Through His Word, God has given us clear reasons to “walk in . . . integrity” (Ps. 26:11). A person who has integrity has the security of a quiet life unknown to the one who “perverts his ways” (Prov. 10:9). The follower of God who lives with integrity is preserved by his confidence in God, for that person waits for God’s intervention in his life instead of running ahead of Him (Ps. 25:21). And the one who practices integrity will be given guidance and clear direction (Prov. 11:3).

Why should we care about life’s “Integrity League”? Because obeying God this way shows that we trust Him with our lives and that we want to shine His great love on others. —Dave Branon

Dear Father, help my word be true. Help my
actions be honest. Help my life to
reflect Your holiness and shine God’s light
for all to see. Help me to live with integrity.

Integrity is Christlike character in workclothes.

Good Article “No Fear Mentality”

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Good Article: Cody Ross on Pedroia “I would tell guys I played with on other teams since then that he was one of my favorite teammates of all time,” Ross said. “Not because of how he acted — it’s more what he brings on a daily basis. He has a no-fear attitude. He makes you better. He plays hard every day. He wants to win every day. He doesn’t give away one at-bat. His attitude has made a better person and player for sure.”

Winners

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“The difference between a
successful person and others
is not a lack of strength, not a
lack of knowledge, but rather a
lack of will.”

“Perfection is not attainable, but
if we chase perfection we can
catch excellence.”

“I firmly believe that any man’s
finest hour, the greatest fulfillment
of all that he holds dear, is that moment
when he has worked his heart out in a
good cause and lies exhausted on
the field of battle – victorious.”

 

-Vince Lombardi

The 4 T’s of Pitching

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This 4 word phrase will start helping
you TODAY! Every pitcher should
memorize it.

You can even write it on the brim of your hat.

Take
Time
To
Think

I heard this at a seminar years ago.

It’s so simple but, powerful!

Take a breath and think about:

– What’s the situation of the game?
– What pitch is the hitter expecting?
– What pitches do I have command of today?
– What do I want the hitter to do on this next pitch?
– What’s the best pitch to throw now?

Take another breath and toe the rubber!

Start using this today

Post from Paul Reddick “The Master Of MPH”
Camp Director, Yogi Berra Museum