Back
to Listen Up!
Main Menu
The
Lessons of Pedro Martinez (and there
are many!)
You don't have to be a Red Sox fan to realize and admit that Pedro Martinez has produced the best pitching season in 20 years or more. In particular, Martinez's post season, super-human hurling against the Indians and Yankee's was magical and educational. Any young pitcher should pay attention to more than the strikeouts! This is what I noticed most...
1. Work on a changeup. If you can locate a good fastball and have a changeup, you don't need a curve very often. Pedro struck out Tino Martinez on a pitch that was the 4th consecutive changeup and all were at different speeds. The changeup set up the changeup! Martinez has mastered the ability to show arm action that appears to be a fastball only to deliver a change. He also has several different grips and locations. A change is easy on the arm, hard to pick up for the hitter and can make an average fastball appear above average.
2. Team. Team. Team. Playing injured because the team needs you is a selfless act that all players should applaud. You should never risk serious injury, but playing with pain or discomfort is sometimes required. As a team leader Pedro put his money where his mouth was and the whole Red Sox team followed suit.
3. Study the opposition. Martinez is such a student of the game that he knows all of his enemies strength's and weaknesses. For example, in the second inning of game three vs. New York, he struck out the heart of the Yankee order with three different pitches. Tino Martinez with a change-up, Bernie Williams with a low curve and Chili Davis with a blistering fastball. He can throw any pitch at any time.
4. Place your fastball. As Detroit Tiger Pitching coach Jon Matlack say's in his interview with the Athletes Advisor, "Learn to place your fastball where you want it, work on a change-up and that is all you really need. You can learn other pitches later but you can't learn a fastball." Martinez has amazing control of his fastball and it sets up the rest of his pitches, especially his change-up. Develop supreme command and confidence in your fastball.
5. You don't have to be 6'2" and 210 to throw hard. Call it genetics if you want but Pedro is small as power pitchers go. He maintains a rigorous training program all season and off season. Your physical stature should never determine what you can do on the field.
Since I live in Boston, I have had the opportunity to watch Pedro pitch quite often. While most of us are not as gifted as he is, much of his success is a function of his amazing work ethic, constant studying of his game and his opponents, and his pure love for the game of baseball. How hard are you working? What does it take to be the best at something? Don't know. Then study the best and do what they do.
