Curves at Coors

Bud Black and the Rockies pitching coaches discuss how to throw a curve ball at Coors Field:

Beyond throwing the pitch, the Rockies’ staff wanted their pitchers to focus on where they threw the pitch.

“I’ve heard [Holmes] talk to a lot of our young pitchers, it’s more about your sight line,” Black said. “Every pitcher has a different visual of what they look at when they throw their breaking balls. Some guys look at the catcher’s pads, look at the umpire, look at something off the hitter. Some guys visualize the pitch out of their hand and landing it in a [certain area]. Darren thought for him, and kind of used it as a coaching tool, that if you’re a guy that throws your breaking ball to top of the catcher’s head, lower your sights and try to throw it to his chest. That’s sort of the mindset behind the teaching tool.” After all, the breaking ball breaks less at Coors Field.

So far, it seems to be working for the Rockies pitchers. Check out the chart that shows the Rockies throw the lowest curve balls in the majors. Bud Black learned a bit the two times he pitched at Coors, and Darren Holmes had success with the pitch there. The whole article is worth the read.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2rK1zsQ