Six Pack Abs Never Made a Big Leaguer
Newsletter 37/100
Not all my advice is great advice, but this is pretty good.
“keep the main thing the main thing”
In short it means you need to be worried about the end result, and not about the minutiae that you will undoubtedly come across on the way to trying to accomplish the thing you want to accomplish.
Meaning: When you're focused on throwing harder, don't be focusing on short term fluctuations in command, or the way your mechanics “look”. If the readings on the radar gun are increasing, your current goal is being accomplished.
“oH bUt MaN iF yOu WaLk GuYs ThEn WhO cArEs?”
Everyone. Everyone cares how hard you throw.
Nearly every single scouting report of a pitcher lists velocity as the very first talent based trait, the only things listed before them are Height/Weight and Personal information.
No, I am not saying that velocity is the end all be all, and i'm certainly not saying you shouldn’t practice command.
I am saying: “Keep the main thing the main thing”
You work on your velocity, it improves and you're at a place that its no longer the #1 priority.
THEN, you pick the next thing. Possibly command, possibly a nasty offspeed pitch.
And here is the kicker: all of these things are under THE REAL MAIN THING of getting better at baseball.
Because: no one cares how hard you throw if you walk the house. AND even less people care how well you command the ball if you get shelled because your heater is flat and you have no offspeed.
Maybe in this new span of throwing harder your armslot slightly shifts, and your offspeed suffers. That's fine… it doesn't matter. Because…. You're not worried about your offspeed right now. You're worried about throwing the ball as hard as you can, and when you accomplish that you'll find a way to have a new offspeed pitch from your new armslot.
Here is a great quote i just saw, from a former Director of Minor League pitching for an MLB organization:
“The only thing a pitcher with no command and tons of velocity and a pitcher with great command and zero stuff/velocity have in common is this: Neither will ever pitch in the big leagues”
OH BUT GREG MADDUX
Greg topped 94 when he made his debut, and by all modern measurements had really nasty stuff due to absurd movement profiles. There are more ways to be a “power pitcher” than strictly velocity.
He also pitched in an era with a strike zone that was infinitely larger.
This is not a “greg maddux wouldn't make it in today's game” statement, because he's one of the greatest ever and anyone who says that is foolish. BUT, to say that he's the easiest way to be a big leaguer is foolish as well.
The truth is, Greg Maddux's command + movement is equally as rare if not more rare than an Aroldis Chapman fastball. (Most people who think they have his quality command don't, they just throw a bunch of meatballs over the plate)
Back to the point:
If you fail to keep the main thing the main thing, tons of bad things can happen. Most likely you'll never make the progress you want to make, you'll spiral around and around and never achieve the improvements you want and are working for because you cannot improve velocity when your head isn't fully committed to doing so, how are you supposed to fully send a heater when you’re trying to baby it because you're worried about hitting a spot.
This only lasts for a little bit though, sooner or later itll improve enough to not be priority #1.
Eventually, your command will inhibit your velocity if you don’t have good enough command. It takes an absolute psycho to rip a heater with no regard to the hitters wellbeing. If you don't have at least decent faith it'll be near the zone.
For example: My velocity on fastballs in counts that i am ahead (0-1, 0-2, 1-2) is about 2 mph harder than when i'm behind (1-0, 2-0, 3-0) and even counts are right between the two velocity wise.
This is standard for most pitchers, as they can't truly commit to a max velocity fastball if they are walking the house.
The biggest impediment to this is usually parents and coaches, who put doubts into their athletes by saying things along the line of “Well i hope you don't lose your command” or “well you'd better throw strikes if you're gonna be trying to throw it that hard.”
Kids don't need to hear these things, they're either going to realize it on their own or their command won't diminish because they're not overly cautious about walking guys.
Generally, I recommend working on velocity out of season. But there are times in which you have to do what you gotta do and that means getting a little aggressive in games.
This extends all across the player development sphere: if you are 150 pounds soaking wet and can't hit a ball out of the infield or throw 75mph, its time to get in the gym and push some weight around.
Keep getting stronger the main thing.
This means:
Don't worry about being sore during the game, as long as you're smart with overusing your grip strength (fatigued grip can lead to elbow injuries), and timing your lifting days you shouldn't be in a bad place. Especially as a position player, if you're a little sore at the plate its not the end of the world, your future self will thank you.
It also means:
When you eat the house to gain weight, and in turn gain some bodyfat, don't lose your mind worrying about it. Take it in stride, carry out your strength gaining program and from there you can handle your new body composition. (I threw my hardest when i was chubby, its okay)
Yankees Strength Coach Eric Cressey (Baseball legend) said “no one ever made it to the show because of their six pack”
For the record: I would trade the chance of ever having abs if it meant pitching in the show.
Keep the main thing the main thing.
There are an endless amount of examples for this advice, but understanding that getting better takes time, especially if you're young.
I gained velocity at an ABSURDLY fast rate, and that rate was 7 MPH over the course of 1.5 years.
And: I got injured within a year, because I didn't keep the main thing the main thing. And did not take the steps to prevent injury.
Go get better, there is no time like the present.
John Creel
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