Posted by: jalal leach (jdleachy@bmp18.com) on Fri Sep 30 22:09:47 2005

> > > > > > > i am 16 and a highschool baseball player. How can i improve off speed pitches?
> > > > >
> > > > > Being an ex-major league player. I think the way I improved on hitting breaking balls is having either my BP coach throw them to me in batting practice or having your coach throw you some up close (about 10 feet or so away). The key to hitting breaking balls is looking for the red dot. Remember, hitters hit the hanging breaking balls, not the nasty ones. Those we take or try to foul off. Trust your hands and practice always hitting thru the middle of the field. And always be ready for the fastball. Sometimes if you aren't hitting breaking balls it's because you aren't ready for the fastball.
> > > > >
> > > > > Good luck
> > > > >
> > > > > Jalal Leach
> > > > > San Francisco Giants 2001
> > > > > www.bmp18.com
> > > >
> > > > A great answer. Take more bp and you'll get better.............how about some specifics Mr. MLB.
> > >
> > > How do you want me to be more specific? When I first went to Triple A with the Yankees, I think I struck out 125 times mostly on breaking balls. But as the years went on and I saw more off-speed pitches, I started to recognize them more and more and I became a really good breaking ball hitter. There is no secret to hitting just, HITTING, HITTING, AND MORE HITTING! If you are ever in Sacramento come see me and I'll show you what I mean.
> > >
> > > Have Fun!!
> > >
> > > Jalal Leach
> > > www.bmp18.com
> >
> > Thanks for the proof.
>
>
> problem is kids dont throw breaking balls in the USA,SO our kids never get to see them until about 13 yrs old.But in the Dominican everbody throws junk too..cant get off the island with one pitch.

Sir-

Not trying to be cynical, but have you been to Dominica?

Name me 10 (no name me 5) Dominican Pitchers in the Majors that throw under 90 mph. NONE!!

I've played in Dominica and the way off the island is not throwing breaking ball, it's the fastball. The harder the better!! Now I'm going to get deep with you guys. Did you know for a US club to sign a Latin Player, the Latin player has certain guidelines. Height, age, velocity, to name a few. Why do you think they all change their ages? Latin American baseball, other than Mexico is about the fastball, that's it.

When I played in Dominica one year we had a play-off game in which both pitchers were steadily throwing between 97 and 99 mph. The game was won on solo homer by Luis Polonia (remember him). He can still hit and I don't know how old he is.

On my team we had Neifi Perez, Rafael Furcal, David Ortiz, Jose Guillen, to name a few. The winning team had Miguel Tejada and some other front line big league players. Those guys play some serious baseball in the winter down there and they ain't throwin no breakin balls like you think.

This is another subject, but the Latin player plays with a different mindset than the American player. Baseball can be the only way out of poverty down there. Another hot-bed is Venezuela. I played in Venny for 6 years and I love that place. Baseball is the number one sport in the country and all ballplayers are treated like royalty. They can throw the fastball as well.

To answer your question about American kids don't throw breaking balls, oh yes they do. Did you watch the Little League World Series. Way to many. Most of those kids will be done before High School. The breaking ball is something that should be thrown later in life. The best pitch in baseball always has been and will forever be the fastball. You can ask anyone who's ever played. So, teach your kid how to locate his heater and a good change-up ala Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine (can you say longevity).

Hope this answers your question.

Jalal Leach
www.bmp18.com