re: Looking for some pitching sequence tips for youth baseball...

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This thread is gold.

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Do you disagree? Most pitchers who get relegated to bullpen is because of a few reasons:

1. They don't have a changeup.

2. Their breaking stuff isn't as good.

3. Endurance

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Change Up is down the list a little further

Physical Attributes
Health
Intagibles
Velocity
Movement
Control
Mechanics

Are all more important to Scouts. IF the kid has a change-up, they are concerned about his control with it...yes

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OH, I 100% agree. I'm talking about after they draft them and begin to develop them. The big thing they look for is to develop a changeup, as that tells them whether they have a starter or reliever on their hands in many cases.

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There are some pretty good hitters and talent on those teams who can absolutely scope out arm action. I know I did.

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Oh Lord. I'm talking Uncle Rico about his glory days of playing travel ball.

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You ever coached or played on a travel team of 12 year olds?

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Yes. I played baseball at a high level.

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I do agree that the change should be taught before the curve at 11-12 years old

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Ok and that's what your boy was trying to argue earlier in the thread. Said 99% of kids can't throw a changeup.

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And a curve is absolutely easier to control than a changeup,

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LOL. I'm really not sure how you get this, but I really don't care. To each their own.

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Or they can't get people out after batters see their pitches once through a line-up.

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And a large reason for that would be....their secondary stuff. You've seen great relief pitchers with fastballs of 97+ and a great breaking ball. What holds them back from being a starter?

Anyone who knows baseball knows how important it is for a pitcher to try to gain at least a mediocre changeup in their arsenal.

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Oh Lord. I'm talking Uncle Rico about his glory days of playing travel ball.

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Oh give me a fricking break. I'm not proclaiming my greatness, as I was merely an average HS player. But you're totally underestimating a lot of kids if you believe they don't look at the delivery and arm of the opposing pitcher.

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Ok and that's what your boy was trying to argue earlier in the thread. Said 99% of kids can't throw a changeup.

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Never said he was my "boy." I'm not sure where you're getting this from. You like to put words in people's and take things out of context. Just like my other thread about the size of players. I merely said there was a correlation between size and power. You acted like that was the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard in your life. And then you bowed out when the top 10 HR leaders and K leaders from the MLB supported my statement.

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LOL. I'm really not sure how you get this, but I really don't care. To each their own.

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I'm not sure how you don't get this.

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11-12 y.o. pitchers should learn how to locate a fastball. If they can place the pitch exactly where they want, they don't even need a 2nd pitch.

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I agree with this. I even said it in my first post that addressed the OP.

I don't believe a curve should be taught or thrown until in the teens. Change-up should be the 2nd pitch thrown, though it's not as easy as many on here believe it is.

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Ok so maybe your little leaguers slow their windup down and throw a slower pitch. If that's what you want to call a change up. That doesn't work in a good all star or travel league. And especially by 13-14 that doesn't fool anyone when the mound is pushed back.

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I think that's where the disconnect is. Lots of people calling a slower pitch a changeup.

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I am calling pitches for my 11-12 yo team. Have had some good success so far but wanted to confirm some strategies. For those that have called pitches in the past, what are some of your tried and true strategies, assuming you know nothing about the batter prior to the game? We have been working on going outside twice and then coming inside...obviously, if batter is fouling back or pulling the fastball foul, then an offspeed pitch should mess the batter up...never want to give a good batter anything to hit on 0-2 or even 1-2... I know you want to keep the batter off balance, but would be interested to know some thoughts on the subject.

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Level of completion would be helpful. League ball, Select, Premier Elite, etc. At that age the pitcher should only be throwing a fastball and change. The most important thing is for the pitcher to throw strikes. For the top half of the line-up it's ok to throw change-ups early in the count. For the bottom half of the line-up I would stick with mostly fastballs.

At that age the umpires seem to give the pitcher the benefit of the doubt if he hits the catchers glove, even if it's 8 inches outside. You should try to figure out the umps zone early and use it to your advantage.

If your pitchers have a hard time with a change-up tell them its better to hit the plate than come in waist high. LOTS of big hits with waist high change ups.

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And then you bowed out when the top 10 HR leaders and K leaders from the MLB supported my statement.

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I "bow out" because you typically turn shite into an abortion of a thread just like this. Why would I want to waste my time debating this with you anymore?

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You like to put words in people's and take things out of context.

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I put absolutely nothing in your mouth.

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You acted like that was the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard in your life.

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No, I said it was stupid. It was.