Which Pitching Guru Is The Best

I recently read a comment made about my post on Teaching Youth Players To Throw. The post made reference to me being way off mark. I also mentioned Tom House and how I like Dick Mills philosophy on pitching in my comment. The comment he made was Dick Mills has changed his pitching philosophy over the years and wrecked his sons arm.

I thought rather then comment back I would just write a post. Let me start by saying I am not offended or upset by his comments. I want this blog to be an expression of our ideas and philosophies. I encourage everyone whether you agree or disagree on anything to write a comment. It is how we develop our own beliefs. My response is this.

Over the years I have come to realize a few things that have helped me teach players to be successful. The first and foremost is the fact that all players are different. I believe all players have a natural ability and the key is to use what they have and improve it.

For example, I can remember when the drop and drive was the way everyone should pitch. Then it was tall and fall. One instructor says hold a curveball this way and another instructor says his way. I have heard guys preach about arm angles like everyone should throw from the same slot.

I have researched guys who preach straight arm glove hand while others are adamant about it being bent. Some tell you to pull the glove back and others say take your chest to the glove. I won't but I could go on and on about every single little detail of pitching and all the different philosophies.

My take on the whole thing is this. I don't believe there is one right way. I know some of you are believers in certain systems but to fit every player into one box is easier to teach but not the most effective. I'll say it again I have learned that lesson the hard way.

For the few differences I mentioned above there are pitchers who threw in the major league all-star game using that approach. Pitchers who pitched in world series using different styles. Baseball has become such a buy my system sport it's left the players heads spinning. It has left them confused and screwed up. We are doing them a disservice. Let me explain further.

Players can now play organized ball year round. They play their season, summer ball, fall ball, then spend the winter with their instructor. Sounds like a great way for a kid to really develop. It absolutely is if it is done right. However, very rarely is it done right!

Instead what happens is every coach wants to put his stamp on the player. The poor kid, who wants to please everyone, is left changing his fundamentals and approach every 3 months until he gets to the point where he can't get comfortable. If you think that's not happening and causing problems then you are fooling yourself.

Last point, my friend who played in the big leagues for over 10 years was struggling one day with his hitting. We were talking and he said he couldn't hit the ball the other way. I was dumbfounded. The reason is when he was in high school I was so jealous of the way he could drive the ball into right center.

When I asked him why he couldn't hit he response was, I can't remember how to hit. He had gone from high school, to college, to rookie ball, to single A, AA,AAA, and to the bigs. Every stop a hitting coach teaching his philosophy. I am not implying that any of these coaches were not good baseball guys. Nor am I implying that they weren't experts at teaching hitting. I am just saying change is good but too much change and you aren't comfortable anymore.

A went to a game one day when he was playing the Yankees on Yogi Berra day at Yankee stadium. It was an awesome experience. Yogi Berra came back to the Bronx Zoo after a long absence. Don Larsen threw out the first pitch to Yogi in honor of their perfect game in the World Series.

David Cone pitched for the Yanks that day. He threw a perfect game! Can you imagine being the pitcher that day and throwing a perfect game! What made it even more amazing is that he was able to do it with a drop and drive motion. The so called wrong way at the time. There is no right and wrong way in my mind so long as you hit a few base fundamentals.

Baseball has become about pay money for my new system. They make outrages claims like gain 10-15 MPH on your fastball in two weeks. Parents are so eager to hand over their money to these carnies. I tell you what for just $500 I'll guess your weight and hook you up with the bearded woman.

If you are going to pay someone to work with your kid, I am not against that by the way, just make sure he is in it for the right reasons. If they start making big promises stop writing the checks. You want a guy who is there to be honest and teach your kid, not sell his system.

What I like about Dick Mills is his philosophy on keeping it simple and getting away from pitching drills. As far as mechanics go I don't subscribe to one school of thought anymore but rather take what the pitcher brings to me and try to develop it from what he naturally does. If he stays tall fine. If he drops and drives fine. If he is three quarter arm slot fine.

I will simply work to develop base concepts and his mindset. What I totally agree with Mills is the fact that pitching drills have made pitchers robotic. I also agree that some drills are so awkward it retards pitching rather then help it. I believe they are overused and over coached.

I disagree with him on throwing flatground. It is the only pitching drill I will use but I do use it to get comfortable from the wind up and stretch more so then a breakdown drill. Flat ground goes against his belief of explosive movements. I have no scientific research to say why it is effective. I can tell you however, I believe in it. It has worked well for us over the years.

In Conclusion

Every pitching coach out there including Tom House and Dick Mills have changed their philosophies over the years. Some will claim it's the nature of progression while others will say it is to sell a new book. To me I don't know and I don't care. The base concepts will never change!

Also, for every pitching coach out there, there is a pitcher who has a tremendous success and a pitcher that hurt his arm in that system. It all depends on who is telling the story or should I say selling their approach on which they highlight.

I think all the pitching gurus make valid points but to say one way is better then another all depends on who you are working with. Keep the comments coming! I appreciate it!