InsidePitching.com contacted pitching coaches from around the country to give us their input on what types of things they do during fall ball, and what impact it can have on shaping their pitching staff. We sent each of these pitching coaches an eight question interview for them to answer. Throughout the months of August and September, these pitching coaches will answer our series of questions about “Fall Ball”. Part Two of this series will be presented by Vanderbilt pitching coach Derek Johnson. Coach Johnson has developed Vanderbilt into one of the best pitching staffs in the nation year in and year out. Most recently, he aided in the development of 2007 overall #1 pick David Price.
1. How many appearances and innings do you typically like for your pitchers to get in the fall season? I am usually not too concerned with appearances, but most of our guys will pitch between 15-20 innings in the fall. They will get there in different ways, as I will have the veterans pitch less with more innings per outing and new guys less innings but more appearances.
2. As you progress through the fall scrimmages, which one or two statistics do you emphasize the most with your staff? Leadoff walks and 2 out walks. First pitch strikes and 2 of 3 strikes.
3. Do you ask your pitchers to use certain pitch sequences in scrimmages or do you have them just pitch straight up? We have a weekly progression. It starts with fastball only, then to fastball-change, then to fastball-breaking ball, then to full for the remaining 2-3 weeks.
4. Taking all things into account (throwing, lifting, conditioning) take us through a week in the fall for one of your pitchers Sunday-lift Monday-off Tuesday-lift/condition Wednesday-condition Thursday – lift/condition Friday-condition Saturday-condition They would throw everyday during our fall season. We would vary weight training around throwing days if it fell, but we generally scrimmage on Wed, Saturday, and Sunday and we weight train after on Sunday.
5. What is the one thing you see that most freshman struggle with during the first few weeks of fall ball? Being alive! Seriously, probably the pace of practice and sometimes the length of practice. Many are used to practicing for an hour or so, and we may go 3 + hours on a given day.
6. In your experience, how much has success/failure correlated to results in the spring season. Probably a 50/50 correlation. If all things are equal and no major changes take place, probably a good correlation. If changes occur, it can be better or worse…hopefully better.
7. With in coming freshman, how much time do you spend on mechanics during the fall season. None during the time they are competing. I may work on some rhythm stuff or tempo, but usually nothing they are trying to change. I will save that for after.
8. What affect positive or negative do you think lifting has on the freshman pitchers during fall ball? Negative-they are sore and don’t know how to get out of comfort zone yet so they are a little shy about really getting after it. Positive – Confidence. A sense of work ethic and pride. Good outweighs the bad on this one.
InsidePitching.com contacted pitching coaches from around the country to give us their input on what types of things they do during fall ball, and what impact it can have on shaping their pitching staff. We sent each of these pitching coaches an eight question interview for them to answer. Throughout the months of August and September, these pitching coaches will answer our series of questions about “Fall Ball”. Part Two of this series will be presented by Vanderbilt pitching coach Derek Johnson. Coach Johnson has developed Vanderbilt into one of the best pitching staffs in the nation year in and year out. Most recently, he aided in the development of 2007 overall #1 pick David Price.
