Comments from Kurt. . . .

In the game of baseball, pitchers probably have the toughest job to do. While trying to keep runners off base, the pitchers sole purpose is to keep runs off the board. Today, there are so many young pitchers that try to strike out every batter they face.

My goal as a pitcher is simply to try and place the baseball inside the strike zone where the hitter has a tough time making solid contact. By doing so, I allow my defense to make the out on either a ground ball or a pop fly. Those are the easiest outs in baseball because I am keeping the pitch count low, which allows me to pitch more innings.

Below are some tips for gripping and throwing three different pitches. When learning to throw these pitches make sure to get the proper guidance from your coach.

Pitching Tips:

Tip #1 - The Fastball (Still the Best Pitch in Baseball) There are so many different ways to grip the baseball when throwing a fastball. I throw it while gripping the baseball with two seams. By using just the two seams the baseball will have a little more movement after I deliver it. I try to move it in or away from the batter, which gives our defense a better opportunity of fielding a ground ball verses well-hit baseball. Another way to grip the baseball when preparing to throw a fast ball is to use all four seams. This allows the pitcher to throw the baseball at his or her maximum velocity (fastest) because at the release point the baseball travels straight to the mitt. A lot of pitcher's will use this grip if they try to overpower the hitter.

Tip #2 - The Curveball (A Great Pitch for Two Strikes) A lot of younger pitchers use the curveball way too much. This is a pitch you might want to save until you really need it. Sometimes by throwing a curveball to a hitter with two strikes and one or two balls you get them to chase one that they cannot hit. I like to grip the baseball by putting my index and middle fingers on the hump (between the seems), while applying just a little pressure on the ball. The pressure comes from my middle finger and thumb. Always remember to keep your elbow up when throwing a curve and as you release the ball make sure to pull your arm throughout the pitch and snap the pitch into motion. It's important to always use the proper technique when throwing a curveball, otherwise you could damage your arm. Make sure you have received those techniques from your coach.

Tip #3 - The Change-Up (A Great Pitch for Keeping the Hitter Off-Balance) I feel like the change-up should be a young pitcher's second pitch because if it can be thrown as a strike it will keep the opposing hitter off-balance when they are thinking fastball. This pitch never puts any stress on the arm so pitchers can throw it as often as they need it. When I throw a change-up I use what we call a Circle-Change. That means I grip the ball, putting the tips of my thumb and index finger together on the side of the ball while my other three fingers are applied toward the top. This allows me to vary the velocity of the pitch and when I am throwing the ball well it tends to sink away from the hitter.

A Couple Things to Remember: Take care of your arm. Follow the advice of your coach about icing and stretching procedures. By doing so you will increase your arms durability and it will decrease the chances of injury. The best exercise to increase your arm's strength is to play long toss with a partner. This doesn't mean to throw the ball as high as you can. It simply means to throw it as long (length) as you can by keeping the baseball on a line and not letting it hit the ground. I try to play long toss about three times a week. The last thing to remember about baseball is to HAVE FUN! Baseball is our national pastime and it's a game to be enjoyed by all. I hope these tips have helped and I hope you have a great summer!