Does Poor Command Carry Over to the Next Level?

At any level of baseball too many walks can be devastating to a pitchers overall success.  Any pitching coach in the country would agree that if given the option, you would build your staff with a group of pitchers who can keep walks to a minimum.  In recruiting however, coaches put a premium on attributes like, size, projectability, arm action, and velocity potential.  In many cases, coaches believe if they can get some of these raw tools that they can teach the command/control side of it.  Other coaches view it differently as they will not consider a high school or junior college pitcher if they have a track record of too many walks.  This week in Balls and Strikes we want to look into the tendency of the walk and its carry over into future levels.  Some coaches believe it never changes, while others think they can teach a pitcher command.  We asked our panel of expert coaches to weigh in on the debate.

Spanky McFarland
Head Coach, James Madison University
I don’t think there is a blanket answer for this question. In my opinion, there are 2 major reasons for control problems. 1) they are afraid to challenge hitters. I prefer to not take pitchers who I think have fear issues. 2) most of the time command issues are the result of not staying on line with the lower body. This is fixable but will take some time.the speed gun creates many pitchers who over throw and this cuts down on command as well. We all know that to get noticed at the next level that you have to have some arm strength and many young pitchers put the cart before the horse. Showcase baseball encourages this, as pitchers throw as hard as they can for 2 innings and there are no consequences for losing. It’s all about being seen and hitting 90. so, to answer the question, when I am recruiting I am looking for a pitcher with good feel for command, but must have some potential to throw harder. Occaisionally I will recruit a soft thrower, usually lefthanded who can throw 3 pitches with location.

Derek Johnson
Associate Head Coach, Vanderbilt University
I believe that when recruiting a pitcher for the next level, a “feel” for the strike zone is needed.  “Feel for” may include, but not be limited to, a general level of command with the fastball and a second pitch.  If an acceptable level of command is not present within the pitcher, I have a tendency to stay away from recruiting this pitcher.  I don’t feel as if we have enough time nor waste scholarship money on a pitcher who lacks general strike zone command of his fastball and a “feel” for a second pitch, as this young man might be 2-3 years away from being able to pitch for us – a waste of his time and a waste of ours.

Rob Smith
Associate Head Coach, Creighton University
I would learn towards the thinking that pitchers who have walk issues in high school or junior college will tend to carry that over to the next level.  The issues may vary in terms of why they walk batters such as mechanics, arm action issues, feel for pitches, or overall inability to concentrate at a high level.  In many cases the mechanics can be adjusted, feel can be improved with reps, but if a pitcher has the inability to concentrate for an extended period of time it will be really tough for them to throw strikes consistently.  Any pitching coach in baseball will believe they can fix just about anybody in regards to the physical elements but when there is a concentration issue it can quickly create a losing battle.  Fortunately, we get to choose our players through recruiting and can avoid some of these issues, but a pitchers ability to focus is very difficult to measure.

Chris Maliszewski
Pitching Coach, University of Iowa 
There are many things that can contribute to whether or not a guy has a knack for throwing strikes.  Mechanics, mentality, and “feel” are probably among the three most important in my opinion.  I think that as a pitching coach mechanics are obviously the easiest to address.  With that being said, I also think that mechanics are the least important of the three mentioned as to whether or not a pitcher will be a consistent strike thrower.  I think that if a pitcher has an attacking mentality or a “feel” for pitching his consistency in throwing strikes is greater than if he had “perfect“ mechanics.   All in all, I fell I can enhance a pitcher’s ability to throw strikes by working on mechanics, “feel” or mentality but,  a lot of the overall process depends on what the individual pitcher has inside him as well as what he brought to the program in the first place. 

Greg Moore
Pitching Coach, University of Washington 
When looking at a pitchers ability to throw strikes there are two things I look at; feel and coaching.  I think control can be taught and improved to a degree. It’s on spectrum rather than a pass-fail grade. The natural “feel” for the ball is the first check. Some look like the ball comes off the hand the same way each time. These pitchers throw strikes or are at least consistent even when they are mechanically rough.  This is a terrible looking jump shot that goes in.  For example a pitcher’s head jerks and front side flies, but the ball somehow finds the zone.  In others the ball seems to come off differently each throw, even when mechanics seem sound (beautiful jumper, rarely makes the shot).  They are said to lack feel.   

When a pitcher is inconsistent in the zone I look at the amount of coaching they have received.  If they are “over-coached” the hope is they can return to being athletic on the mound.  Pitch like you are 12 years old.  Freeing it up is the goal.  If he has received very little useful instruction “smoothing out” his delivery is the challenge.  Each can help improve command. In the end I think all pitchers can improve command through freeing it up, smoothing it out or by getting quality reps. The questions then becomes how much and how long will it take.   Steadiness and control in a young pitcher offer good odds that his stuff will improve.  The gamble and payoff are greater when waiting for command to improve.

Ryan Sawyers
Pitching Coach, Purdue University
I strongly think that a pitcher can learn to significantly improve his command. Like everthing else in life there are always exceptions to the rules.  This is one thing that I can speak of personally. As a pitcher I was having trouble with walks and then after some guidance on posture and mindset I lowered my walks to well below acceptable levels.  Improving command is not as easily measured as velocity but it is, in my opinion, more important to the overall development of any pitcher.