Two Questions to consider:

1. What pitches do you throw?

2. What pitches are you extremely confident in throwing?

Notice the difference in the wording of the questions…

The first question inquired about the collection of pitches in a pitcher’s repertoire...

What pitches do you have the potential of throwing?

Maybe the answer to this question is inspired by a favorite MLB pitcher that a young pitcher is hoping to emulate…

Maybe the answer is inspired by a teammate that you have played catch with and admire the shape of their slider…

The second question inquired about mastery…

Of all the pitches that you possess in your arsenal, which do you have the most confidence in?

These are the pitches that can be thrown anytime in the count and in any situation…

These are the pitches that can be thrown when the hitter is expecting the complete opposite….

These are the pitches that a pitcher visualizes the night before when focusing on attacking an 0-2 count against a defensive hitter…

Capable vs. Confident

Of course, you technically could throw any pitch that you set your mind to throwing…but would you have the confidence to throw this pitch in a 3-2 count against a five-hole hitter sitting on your Fastball?

The key to designing and confirming your pitch arsenal is to think in terms of “Owning vs. Renting” your pitches…

Rented Pitches:

Low Strike Percentage

Hittable

Low Confidence

Owned Pitches:

High Strike Percentage

Above-Average Movement

Above-Average Command

High Confidence to throw in Any Count

High Confidence to throw in Any Situation

YOUR pitches are YOUR pitches to OWN!