As pitchers log more and more innings this season and are starting to show more consistency in their ability to throw strikes, I often get asked whether or not it's appropriate to start practicing "hitting the corners."

The primary goal for all young pitchers should be to throw as many strikes as possible, constantly challenging hitters. What often happens as a result of this "aggressive in the zone" attitude, however, is that pitchers who throw more strikes at this age, also give up more hits. This is a good thing! As infielders and outfielders improve their defensive skills over the coming years, many of those "hits" will become "outs," so keep pounding the zone!

That said, I know it can be frustrating to throw lots of strikes and give up lots hits and runs as a result - that's why I am often asked if pitching to the corners is a good idea. The answer is yes, but usually not until a pitcher can consistently command his ball down in the zone first.

If your son is showing the desire and ability to begin placing the ball in the strike zone, first learning to keep the ball down is much more important than learning to paint the black. As pitchers, we want to pitch to contact and balls thrown consistently at the bottom of the strike zone are much more likely to result in an out. Watch any big league catcher and notice how low a target he gives his pitcher. Of course, at that level, they are also moving the target in and out, but for little leaguers, learning to pitch down the zone is significantly more important to their development than moving the ball in and out.

A final reason for aiming down the middle of the plate, but also down in the zone, is that many little leaguers (even those who throw lots of strikes) have unintentional movement on their ball. If a young pitcher aims down the middle and his ball moves a few inches left or right of his target, the ball will end up on the corners anyway. If the ball stays straight, but remains down, then he'll be ok anyway as the worst that will usually happen is a hard hit ground ball. When young pitchers start aiming for the corners, the unintentional movement will take the ball either out of the strike zone or back down the middle of the plate. And, as a result of focusing on hitting the corners rather than focusing on keeping the ball down, it is more likely that the pitch will be up in the zone often leading to extra-base hits.

All pitchers get in trouble when they leave the ball up in the zone, so if you want to start working on pitch locations with your son, focus on keeping the ball "at the knees."

Good luck in the second half of the season and see you this summer!

- Coach Spring