1.0 x2FS Pitching Badger

I have not seen much discussion about the role of Executive Function (“EF”) on coaching high school baseball players. (This will take a few posts — i.e. unlikely to for a HS player to complete - not snark -wait for it). @Tread @BluebookBeede (1 of_) (links at end)

Pitching is math, and the math says that unless you are a starter, you are not going to get enough competition throws during games to master your craft. That has to occur in your head, during bullpens. Have a good imagination and make them count! THBMBT youtu.be/kP7NgIeLu84?fe…

I asked 7 North Texas college pitchers the same question: What are 2 things that you know now, that you wish you knew as a HS freshman that would have made you a better pitcher? This is # 6 *They all played HS ball in the DFW area. Most played/still playing in Texas.

“What do we do for an 8:30am game?” We’ve been there. You’ve gotta be at the field by 7:30… It’s an hour drive… You’re leaving the house at 6:30… And the easy answer is fast food but that’s not the right answer. Instead, we prep breakfast taquitos the night before so there’s zero stress in the morning. Eggs + chicken sausage for protein. Tortillas for carbs. A little cheese for flavor and balance. Warm them up, eat them in the car, and you’re good to go. 📌 2 Taquitos: 355 calories 24g protein | 42g carbs | 10g fat This gives your athlete real fuel before the game without feeling heavy or sluggish. No drive-thru. No guessing. No excuses. Early games don’t change the standard they just require better preparation. Parents fuel your athletes. #Prosper #GoEagles #WalnutGrove #RockHill #Baseball #TexasAthlete

I asked 7 North Texas college pitchers the same question: What are 2 things that you know now, that you wish you knew as a HS freshman that would have made you a better pitcher? @BluebookBeede This is # 7 *They all played HS ball in the DFW area. Most played/still playing in Texas.

Yes — freshmen/JV teams should be treated as development teams. If the parents/kids are told “this is a developmental team, with the goal of your student athlete developing off of it. So we are developing lots of players” and just live up to that. 100 pitches against bad hitters proves what?

This goes for HS arms too. Why are we seeing freshman and jv level arms throw 100 pitches every week? Not a scout on earth is watching that game and you’re going to burn an arm before they can get to summer? There needs to be a logical pitch count situation for kids like that in the spring.

Go support the JV red tomorrow against Woodrow!

Tough loss - but we did not hit well against good pitching. Props to Salvy and Venezuela. He’s a good dude for those that don’t know about him. mlb.com/news/salvador-…

@Velo_doc You are past your buy sell date - Old Head!

@Pitchingbadger I wish I knew the benefits of getting into the ground gave from a consistency and performance standpoint Also I wish I knew how juiced the bats were when I played I might’ve tried to lift a few more out lol

I asked 7 North Texas college pitchers the same question: What are 2 things that you know now, that you wish you knew as a HS freshman that would have made you a better pitcher? @Velo_doc This is Number 3.

2027 RHP/INF Jesus Fermines @Jesus195321 16 YO 6-0, 190lbs. - he was sitting 86-87 last week for 3 innings. Throws like the ball is on fire and he’s mad it’s not hotter. 11Ks on the day making his pitch to @5ATxHSBaseball for pitcher of the week. Dallas, TX @WoodrowBaseball #uncommitted @FiveToolTexas

@BluebookBeede @Velo_doc They all have different, but somewhat overlapping takes. But you can tell the older guys when you see what they write.

@Pitchingbadger @Velo_doc Fascinating

Another big day for @Jesus195321 2-3 with a single and huge Home Run Also pitched 6 1/3 innings with 11 Ks!! @BUncommitted

@BluebookBeede @Velo_doc Yes - sir — mostly 2025 and 2024 guys. All from the DFW Metroplex. The above is a 2025.

@Pitchingbadger @Velo_doc This was a discussion with current college baseball athletes?

See y’all there! @dallasathletics @FiveToolTexas @dallasschools

I asked 7 North Texas college pitchers: “What are 2 things that you know now, that you wish you knew as a HS freshman that would have made you a better pitcher?” This is Number 4: @BluebookBeede I pull them out sometimes when I want to demonstrate a point. I never pitched in college. But I can tell you what it takes by asking the right questions. THBM BadgerTalk

@CoachMarcusHill @BodzinPitching Do these 8s and 10s use weighted balls? If they did they wouldn’t need 50 games.

There are too many people involved in youth baseball that shouldn’t be involved in youth baseball. I don’t mean any offense I know it’s because you think it’s what the people want but it’s your job as the development person to tell parents what is best for young athletes and if you didn’t know this already, there is no circumstance where a 10 year old needs to play 50 baseball games. That’s a college baseball season. Most of them are 22 years old.

It doesn’t matter what you want to call it: • Travel ball • Select ball • Tournament ball • League ball • City League ball • Little League ball It’s still youth baseball. It’s a hard game being played by kids. That alone is a challenge but then add in adult emotions and intentions of wanting to be “superior” and you have a recipe for disaster. Keep those expectations realistic. Even though some of these kids have grown quicker than others, were born with different abilities than their peers, they are still kids. They will make mistakes (a lot), struggle with focus, look amazing one second then trip on nothing the next, have poor body language, tear up and do many other things that get under us adults skin. Yep, they are kids! Funny thing is once upon a time we were them and did the same things, made off the wall comments, had squirrel moments and drove our parents, coaches and teachers crazy. So in reality, we get frustrated with them for the same things we did 🤔. This is youth baseball. No matter how we want to spin it and give it a title that implies we are better than the others, I would slow down and remember that this phase in their lives is not about us. Not about our experience but all about them, their personal growth as young athletes and people and we are here to help them get the most out of it for as long as they would like to play the game. In fact, we have an opportunity to enjoy something with them that many of us enjoyed growing up. And for a few of them, their ability will grow into something amazing which will lead to opportunities they dream of. Grow the game!

So young pitchers could learn a lot from LHP Joe Allen’s mechanics - @joe_allen2024 - but for me the coolest thing - time to footstrike/and his mechanics WITH or WITHOUT runners on are nearly identical.

LHP Joe Allen @joe_allen2024 -with another efficient inning - making the most of his opportunities! instagram.com/stories/pitchi…

Most think when we slump, have a rough game or tournament, we need a mechanical adjustment, or multiple adjustments. Truth is more often than not the adjustment needed is between the ears. Confidence is broken. Approach is non existent. Routines have holes. Self talk is horrible. Excuses are winning. Coaches and parents, in the long run this game is won and lost between the ears. To help them be smarter more prepared players who become great at handling the inevitable lows, we need to learn about and live this part of the game with them. Careful of always talking mechanics, mechanics, mechanics. There’s a great chance you’re paying attention to the wrong thing. 🧠 💪🏼