Customer Reviews

Pitch Like a Pro: A guide for Young Pitchers and their Coaches, Little League through High School

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this book with a leap faith, believing that since it had been authored by one of the most capable, recognizable pitching coaches for the most pre-emininent pitching staffs in all of baseball, it couldn't help but be great. t's full of "Glavine does this, "What Maddux as he..." and "Smoltz is great when he...". The book is of little use for coaches of little league teams who wish to impart valuable information to their players or correct pitching flaws. Maybe coaching the Braves pitchers is the easiest job in baseball because you don't have to tell those players anything at all. Personally, as a coach, I've read quite a few books on the subject and view a number of videos. For step by step, clear instruction, I've found, essentially without exception the best to be ones produced by coaches of little league, high school or college instructors. This book is not for you if you're looking to be helpful to kids with pitching problems and questions. By buying on a leap of faith, I violated one of literature's oldest axioms; you can't tell a book by looking at the cover.

The book, Pitch Like A Pro, is the result of the experience of sage Coach Leo Mazzone with valuable contributions by veteran pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Denny Neagle. The book provides the reader a common sense, inside look at the coaching philosophy that has produced one of the best pitching staffs of this century.

Respectfully, I am concerned with a portion of the weight training section of the book. The strength coach specifically recommends machine and straight bar (Smith machine) lifts. This practice can lead to Bencher's shoulder (acromio-clavicular damage) and subsequent rotator cuff impingement. A safer alternative would replace straight bar training with light dumbbells and cable work to afford movement within physiologic arcs of shoulder movement. In addition, light dumbbell and cable work provides work to secondary agonist stabilizers that may provide better overall results.

I am greatly appreciative of the information and insight provided by Coach Leo Mazzone and his All-Star staff.

Reasons to buy this book include: a) its emphasis on THROWING b) the simple presentation of proper technique c) throwing schedules and pitcher checkpoints d) the emphasis on supervision of the pitchers while they throw

This book is not so much about techniques as it is about a developing a philosophy concerning the training and conditioning of pitchers. As Mazzone points out, all the technique in the world is of no use if the pitcher can't go to the post when he is scheduled to. This book is not all inclusive concerning pitching, but how many books are? There is valuable information in this book, and coaches everywhere who are interested in getting the most from the arms on their staff should take the time to read it.

Teaches you the different grips, the proper way to the the different pitches, different exercizes, when and how to rest, and much much more all in only 112 pages with pictures on most of them

Pitching Like a Pro offers a comprehensive outline of what it takes to be a successful pitcher with longevity, whether at a professional level or starting out as a child (or anywhere in-between). Leo Mazzone was a pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves during their many successive years of making the playoffs as a result of one of the best pitching staffs in major league history; thus the information provided comes from a very qualified source.

The book covers Throwing Programs, which outlines the workout and training regimens enacted by the Braves pitching staff. It also covers how to grip the ball for all the basic pitches, a full chapter on mechanics, another on tactics, full descriptions on how to field at the pitching position, and finally physical conditioning.

Overall this book is as fine a foundation as one will find on becoming an effective pitcher and having a long lasting career without injury. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to improve their pitching performance and avoid injury.

Pitch a lot is the message of this book. OK, Leo has made his point, but if you accept that there's not much else this book has to offer. I was hoping for a bit more insight and didn't get it here.

Don't let the refreshing lack of complexity fool you. This book provides sound, common sense advice in easy to understand language. Many books on pitching advocate a "cloning approach" to a pitcher's delivery. Other books on pitching drills are confusing and overly technical. As Leo puts it, "Why turn throwing a baseball into a science project?" I got away from attempting to perfect my son's wind-up and delivery after reading this book. As long as the delivery is sound, I really don't think it matters exactly where you break your hands, how far away from the body the hands are when they break, exactly where the glove hand is when this is happening, etc, etc. If you find that other books are confusing you, how confused do you think your youngster is? Give Leo's approach a try.

This book has something for everybody. Wether you're a little leagure looking to learn how to throw a curveball or a high school pitcher looking to strenghten your arm, this is the book for you. Has grips of pitches displayed for both righties AND lefties [no more revursing pictures!], has different players' pitching philosophy, instructions on how to field your position, inbetween start scheduels of pitchers in rotation, and photos of their deliveries. Worth every penny.

As a little league coach I had hoped there might be something I could use. There's a good page on the pitcher's fielding obligations, and some good photos. Beyond that though a big part of the book is devoted to telling the reader what the Braves' pitchers do between starts. All in all, though, there isn't much here. Tom House's book, for example, is far more useful.