Padres Spring Training Report – Feb.16, 2014:

First, my apologies for not having any fresh images for you today on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or here.  I was having terrible technical difficulties with my camera today.  Ok…the truth is I left my phone at home.  There, now I can type with a clear conscience!

So, what was going on in Pads training camp today that I couldn’t share with you through photos? Plenty.  It was a normal 3rd day of workouts for pitchers and catchers, with the obligatory round of PFP (Pitchers fielding Practice) to start the day.  But what followed that was quite interesting.

After PFP the pitchers routinely break up into groups to rotate through various training stations for hitting, bunting, additional fielding drills, and bullpen sessions for those scheduled to throw that day.  One of the new stations today, however, was a meeting with the pitchers, catchers, and coaching staff to go over what each pitcher throws.  This is not the first year Buddy Black has had his potential battery mates do this , but it is not done in every camp as I never remember doing it at any time during my career.  All the catchers in camp are present at the meeting, and the pitchers, who are in groups of 6 or 7, each take their turn in describing to the group what their repertoire is and how they like to use it.  It sounds pretty basic, and functionally makes a lot of sense so that each catcher and coach understands what each guy features without a pitcher having to have 10 separate meetings.  But the exercise goes much deeper that that.

What ends up being created is one of the best pitching classrooms you could ever create.  Here’s why:

• From a team building concept with young guys there for their first big league camp, and for the new guys to the organization it immediately helps everyone to open up a little, and get to know each other better.  The common language of baseball is being shared, and it can break down the early awkwardness of being the new guy on the block.
• In order for a pitcher to explain to others what he has, and how he likes to use it he must first understand those dynamics himself.  For some of the younger hurlers, this conversation has probably never taken place with more than one person at a time (usually a catcher who he’s throwing to for the first time), and has rarely gone beyond, “1’s a fastball, 2’s a curve, 3 slider, wiggle change but I don’t use it much to righties.”  This group conversation forces the young pitcher to go deeper than that, and verbalize what he believes are his strengths, and share what his philosophy is about what he needs to do to get hitters out.  Not only does it crystalize for himself what his beliefs are about his abilities and approach, but it gives the coaches an important and better understanding as well.
• Once the young pitcher has revealed what he believes he knows about himself (sometimes takes 30-seconds), the doors are open for the teaching to begin.  Usually it starts with a question from one often veteran catchers such as, “Do you like to use that slider back door to lefties too, or more down and in with 2 strikes?”, “Where do you want me to set up when you’re throwing that cutter?”, or “Are you using your 4 seam FB mostly to your glove side, or will you go arm side with it as well?”.  With this questioning, and the answers that are given more is revealed about what the pitcher is capable of doing, how well he can command his repertoire, does he understand how his pitches best compliment each other, and does he know how to instruct his catcher on how to set up and best use his stuff.  More is learned about the young pitcher, his understanding of himself, his ability to communicate, and possibly weaknesses and limitations are revealed…but not in a negative way!
• At this point the stage is perfectly set for Buddy, pitching coach Darren Balsley, bullpen coach Willie Blair, or any of the other coaches to ask questions, or make suggestions in a comfortable and open forum.  “Hey, Joe, our reports on you say that your 4-seam FB is really explosive upstairs.  Don’t be afraid to use that pitch with 2 strikes! Make sure you get it up here though (demonstrating above the letters), and catchers make sure you give him a good target.  Joe, how do you want your catcher signaling for that elevated FB, and where do want to see him set his glove?”  Teaching through a group conversation, and creating a mutual understanding that we are all in this thing together to help each other succeed is very powerful, and it creates a sense of mutual accountability.
• Now a more veteran pitcher steps up to share, and the teaching continues.  What is usually revealed is that, as expected, the vet has a far better understanding of what his pitches do, how to use them, and how to direct his catcher to call a game and set up behind the plate.  He can explain exactly when he will use his 4-seam and 2- seam FB’s, and how much each will move depending on whether he is changing the eye level of the right hand batter to set up a slider away, or going for the punch out looking on a front hip 2-seamer to a lefty.  He tells the catchers exactly where to set up on the SL for a strike versus the 2-strike put away off the plate.  He talks about how he throws his breaking ball at two different speeds depending on the situation, and how the catcher can anticipate which it will be.  He warns that sometimes he’ll use a little finger pressure on the ball to make sure he gets his 4-seamer in on the left hand batter, and it may cut in sometimes so catchers be aware.  He goes on to explain that in general he’s not going to throw his SL after a CB, as that combination for him sometimes slows that hitter’s bat down into the speed he throws that slider, “unless we’ve already shown him a good FB in, and you think we can get him so swing over the top of a good slider on his back foot.  Then go ahead and call it.”  He goes over what signals he likes his catcher to use, and how to signal location with a runner on second.  He may even talk about how he’ll use a slide step with runners on base, and which counts he’ll use it, and what pitches he prefers to throw when using it.  The conversation can go on for several minutes about what pitches he prefers to use in different counts, to certain batters, depending on the situation, and all of it is great information to be absorbed by everyone in the meeting.  Even if some the information is above the heads of some of the young bucks, it’s ok for them to realize that they may not even know what they don’t yet know.

By the time the meeting is over not only has a boat load of valuable information been shared, but also seeds have been planted.  Now the door has been opened for the rookie to approach the veteran about how he holds his cutter, or how does he put finger pressure on the ball?  The veteran now knowing that the youngster two lockers down is working on a split finger can share his experiences of learning the pitch, the grips he tried, and tips on how to get the ball to do what he wants it to.  Some of the ideas and suggestions may be over the heads of the younger players now, but the seeds have been planted, and in time will germinate when the conditions are right.  Players often learn as much or more from fellow players as they do from coaches, so for this line of communication to be strengthened is paramount to the development of the dynamic young arms coming up through the system.

Not only do the pitchers benefit from this sharing of knowledge, but the young catcher’s get this same expansion of their knowledge base as well.  They get to hear veteran pitchers and catchers talk about their craft, which they can then share with other pitcher’s they may get to work with during the season at whatever level they may be playing at.

My “classroom” for these lessons was often on the bus rides back from spring training games, or standing in the outfield shagging during batting practice.   I remember after getting my ears pinned back in a rough outing during my first big league spring, the veteran reliever Kent Tekulve was sitting behind me on the bus ride back.  Once the bus started moving he leaned over and said, “Don’t worry kid, it happens to everybody.  Has anyone talked to you about using finger pressure on the ball?”  Class was in session.  Those private lessons between veteran and rookie should still happen, but how smart of Buddy to create that classroom early in camp for everyone of his pitchers and catchers to learn from.

The other highlight of the day was getting to watch Casey Kelly throw off the mound today.  He had mentioned to me that he was already in that stage of his rehab from TJ surgery, but I had no idea he was this far along.  He threw for almost 20 minutes, delivering close to 70 pithes.  It was broken up into two innings to give a little breather at the half way point with the trainers, and “coach” Hoffman (it’s cool just to say that!) looking on.  He appeared to be throwing smoothly and without any signs of pain or discomfort.  The main emphasis was on tempo and smooth mechanics.  In some cases a pitcher will change his mechanics as he is coming back from TJ, as there may have been something in his delivery that caused the stress on the elbow in the fist place, but that’s apparently not the case with Kelly.  He said there is nothing significantly being changed in his delivery, and is just working on getting the strength back.  This was a good work out for him because at this pitch count you really start to notice the fatigue in your entire body, not jus the arm.  Getting back up to game speed is not just about arm strength, but also the legs, the body stamina, and the mind as you need to use that focus muscle again for pitch, after pitch.  It all appears to be going in the right direction for Casey, which is good news for everyone.  If all continues as planned he could be competing full tilt again by May.

Other bullpens I enjoyed watching today included Jesse Hahn (explosive FB), Joe Ross ( better than expected command down and to both sides of the plate of lively FB), and Josh Johnson (second day of cheese at the knees, pitch after pitch).

Fun to see the position players continuing to roll in with Chase Headley and Jedd Gyorko checking in today, and having their turn at marveling at, and getting lost in the grandeur of the new facility.

Everyone appears to be getting their work in, and staying healthy so far (knock on wood).  All continues to go smoothly for the Pads in Peoria.

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