Tag: rapsodo

Boys host the State Liners

The Greenville Flyboys host the Bristol State Liners for a two game set at Pioneer Park on the campus of Historic Tusculum University. Bristol is an hour Northeast of G’ville. The city is home of the Bristol Motor Speedway. This track is one of the most popular on the NASCAR schedule mostly due of it’s distinct features. The popular track includes extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads. The track is billed as “The world’s fastest half mile”. Thunder Valley, as it is sometimes called, highlights the city of Bristol, Tn. Not to be confused with Bristol, Va- a sister city across the state line. Oh, State Liners, now I get it.

We have good weather for the first time in a week. The Flyboys staff strikes out 15 but we drop this game to Bristol. We need to split the series Wednesday and we will send Greenville’s opening night starter, Bryce Mayer, to the hill. On this night Bryce dazzles through four innings. He strikes out a season high 9 batters. On the night the FlyBoyz pitching staff strikes out a season high 20 Bristol hitters in a one run nail biting victory . The art of pitching could be debated for days, especially in this age of social media pitching circles. But, the fact is, the pitcher needs to get ahead in the count, expand the strike zone and make the batter swing at his or her pitch. The act of getting ahead becomes more refined as the competition improves. Expand the zone doesn’t mean doing so in 0-1 and 1-1 counts but refers to when the pitcher is in favorable counts. The ability to measure ball spin and pitched ball movements has made it simpler for the pitcher to discover who he is as a pitcher. The pitchers and coaches here utilize Rapsodo and Trakman to enhance player development. These tools aid the catchers in calling the correct pitch in the correct location,as well.

Hitting philosophies have also changed in recent years. First pitch of the at bat swings have soared over the last view years. With that data also comes with chases of pitches out of the strike zone on the initial pitch. Remember how important getting ahead in the count is to the pitcher? First pitch of the at bat swings amd misses has also increased substantially. Hitters are trying to “do damage” but honestly the group is going about it the wrong way. This isn’t my opinion, look at the rising batter strikeouts and the descending batting averages.

Well, the Boys are off to begin a two game set at Elizabethton. Let’s see if they fixed the scoreboard. The team sits in first place currently but it is early in the season.

Flyboys at work
No Hitter Lineup Card #LG

The Comeback

I am 56 years old, close to 57. I am a former professional baseball player, a pitcher to be exact. My last competitive pitch was 32 or so years ago. I have been a minor league coach, a pitching coordinator and a major league pitching coach over the last 33 years. The reason for the background information lets the reader know where I have been, the Comeback, is where I am going. I am going to have everyone join me on this amazing comeback. The main obstacles, besides the obvious, is that I have had two hip replacements, I have had three knee operations, a shoulder repair, a torn elbow ligament and top of this aging process, arthritis is trying to crawl up my spine and into these long, thin fingers.

First attempt to throw my age in velocity.

Well, you see day one of the comeback, an embarrassing and miserable 53 miles per hour, measured by the amazing pocket radar smart coach app. Another bit of pertinent information is that I am leading an arm care and velocity training class, twice a week at Diamond Fit Performance in North Raleigh, NC. Yes, this former Major League coach of eight years is pouring it out twice a week for his students, aged 11 to 19. Since the 2019 season ended I have received hard earned certifications in Driveline Youth Baseball Training, Rapsodo Pitching, Functional Movement Screen and I have finished all but the the final step of Driveline Foundations of Pitching. Put that on top of 33 years in professional baseball experience and I think we have the makings of a well educated class. The students are posting personal records for velocity each week but the real test will come as I begin to put myself through the rigors of the arm care and velocity training. I have consulted with physical therapists, certified strength and conditioning coaches as well as my knowledge attained from the new certifications for class content. Oh yea, did I say I was a major league pitching coach as recently as 2018? I have some advantages in my class, I once pitched for Dr. Mike Marshall, the creator of weighted ball training. Hmm, the plot thickens doesn’t it? Did you know Mike Marshall pitched in 106 games in 1974, won the Cy Young Award that year. He was 15-12 with 21 saves. He logged 208 innings pitches. Crazy! We cant even get starting pitchers to 200 innings in recent seasons.

I will keep everyone updated as the comeback moves forward. Lets put all the new concepts to the test! Along with some ancient concepts as well. Very few coaches have been privy to work with the hardest thrower ever, Aroldis Chapman, as well as with Dr. Mike Marshall, a Hall of Famer closer and many other of the best pitchers, coaches, people and analysts in the game of baseball. Next time, lets see if I can improve my velocity and throw my age.