The Skillsets of Starting Pitchers, Short Relievers vs Long Relievers

[@Bentley7Cruize]

As a new baseball fan I appreciate this a lot. It's hard to find breakdowns like this online, everyone wants to just break down pitch types and styles. But now I understand. as a Phillies fan, watching Nola destroy inning after inning and walk off calm gunslinger out west is so cool. He's what you say a starter should be, in control and confident through the good and the bad. But then seeing Alvarado close and yell and fist pump when getting us out of bad situations while throwing over 100 consistently is so hype. His emotions like a fire the crowd and team feeds on. But like you said, the mentality is one of the key differences and I could picture that in my mind immediately. In the last game, when things went bad Alvarado lost his cool and had to be taken out but that's just how the closer mentality is I assume. When they're on that fire will destroy the batters, but if they can't control it the coach has to save the team from being burned. I'm sure there are large pitching differences, but the emotional difference jumps off the screen to a casual.

[@LDQBBQ]

I have to vouch for the mop up guy. It takes a special dude whose job it is to come in and just take it on the chin for the team. He might give up a few runs but he gets outs and saves the rest of the bullpen. He knows he's not coming out unless the wheels absolutely fall off. His stat line will look terrible but he does a tremendous service for the team. I admire the mop up man.

[@BachBeethovenBerg]

If the wheels fall off with the mop up guy he’s getting relieved by the third baseman.

[@Jackson_ML]

came to this video trying to understand the differences in the pitching roles, not as a coach or a player. as a former athlete and someone who works with youth, i love that you're encouraging coaches to slot kids in where they want to be and where they seem to fit. so much of youth sports is just getting kids involved, and letting kids sort of figure out what role works for them as a pitcher, is a great way to make sure they continue pitching.

[@DanBlewett]

thanks, I wish I had known a lot of this earlier - I was much better as a reliever than a starter - my ability and personality really shined in short outings vs longer starts

[@chigbungus5257]

Really great information, cant wait to implement this in Road to the Show

[@DanBlewett]

Best of luck!

[@JoshuaTraffanstedt]

I have a cousin that had a huge arm growing up. He eventually had a terrible arm injury due to pitching. Like he was throwing insane high speed pitches when he was 15. He ended up having surgery on his throwing arm and never pitched again. Its almost like it can be as much a curse as a blessing to be able to pitch like that.

[@jaimecerino6564]

I am a mrp i was a starter but I don’t get rattled I have great command and I throw a little slower but all my pitches have great movement and I throw people off balance. I don’t get a lot of strikeouts but if people make contact it is really weak contact

[@jaimecerino6564]

I always get put in the worst situations,bases loaded no outs and I strike everyone out

[@fah924]

Great info. I really appreciate your videos thanks for putting this info out there!

[@AbelWall]

Thanks for the video

[@zachallen4895]

I'm 13 and throw around 70 and throw a 4 seam changeup and knuckle curve and I'm working on a cutter

[@stuffandthingyoutube]

Damn I’m 13 throwing low to mid 60s but I’m from Canada

[@dariomarmotavaldez2492]

Has un vídeo de como mejorar el comando de tus lanzamientos

[@royn8032]

Hey Coach Dan! Can you make a video talking about the potential extinction of the SP role and the ongoing move towards a bunch of relievers?

[@DanBlewett]

thanks for the suggestion, but that's not really a relevant discussion for amateur baseball - that will not happen at either the pro or amateur level. starting pitchers are still incredibly valuable, and are not going extinct, especially as relievers continue to get injured at increasing rates

[@royn8032]

@DanBlewett I see! I guess the Tigers are just an anomaly=)

[@DanBlewett]

One team = 3%, so yes I'd call that an anomaly and not an indication of "extinction"

[@royn8032]

@DanBlewett Another point to support your theory is that the Astros will probably win again LOL. But I did bring it up seriously because in the last several years SP role has decreased statistically but I do hope you are right! I loved Maddux and he was my favorite

[@DanBlewett]

the book "The Book" By Tom Tango explains the immense statistical value of starting pitchers - they are incredibly valuable. The only problem is they're getting harder to come by, but at the same time, relievers have shorter lifespans than ever. But thats just at the MLB level. In amateur baseball, the value of starters is just as high, if not higher, because the lower-ability pitchers on a staff are usually so much farther down in ability compared to the top few. Starters are here to stay, but I do appreciate the suggestion.

[@diegosinapellido9723]

Coach Im 15 almost 16 and don’t understand the Varsity and teams thing, I can still join a “normal baseball team?” Or I MUST join a D1, D2,D3?

[@DanBlewett]

I'm not really sure what you mean, here in the U.S. there aren't really non-competitive teams past age 15 except adult league baseball

[@michaelstefanosky2413]

JV means junior varsity. JV can be thought of as the B team, with Varsity as the A team. After high school, there’s college ball, both for the school and club ball, with the school team being the competitive form. If you aren’t into college ball, there are many summer leagues around the US

[@karlrovey]

Don't rule out NAIA either.

[@crossroads427]

You broke that down in an awesome fashion. Who did you pitch for. Sorry if I’m being too nosey. 😂

[@DanBlewett]

6 different teams in the independent minors.

[@crossroads427]

@@DanBlewett Dan Blewett is a former pro pitcher, baseball academy owner and author of two baseball books. A professional pitcher of six seasons, Dan specializes in pitching and strength and conditioning for baseball and softball players. Damn and you’re an author! Sweet! Nice to meet you, new sub here!

[@DanBlewett]

3rd book is in the works - due out within 4 months

[@nickinportland]

So this is why they made me play 3rd base in elementary school 🤔. It makes sense though. Some people are sprinters and some people are long distance runners. It’s just how your built.

[@danielchapman2266]

When pitching as a lefty, is a 2 seam/cutter considered as a pitch or a fastball? I pitch with a low 3/4 and i throw a 2/4 seam, slider, knuckle curve, and a change up.. Is that 2 much

[@DanBlewett]

drop one of the breaking balls

[@danielchapman2266]

@@DanBlewett thank you

[@jackcerven2415]

This one gonna be a banger 🔥

[@DanBlewett]

nah it was probably boring right

@@DanBlewett no he's right, it was a banger 👍🏿

[@DanBlewett]

haha okay okay well I have some less boring ones planned

[@jackcerven2415]

no, it was a banger! This video might have saved my arm this season. I injured my arm at the beginning of the year as a starter. So I came back as a reliever and I was a good reliever and barely feel any pain after pitching.

[@stuffandthingyoutube]

I don’t have the stamina to go past 3 or 4 innings right now but I’m still young (13) do you think it will increase with growth and more play

[@DanBlewett]

maybe

[@mikeGunzo55]

Good content.

[@samuelwhitman8705]

I’m starting freshman wanting to have 4 but rn have 3 I can throw for strikes I throw like low to mid 70s at 14 think it’d be a good idea to have 4 if I can throw them all for strikes?

[@DanBlewett]

no one needs 4 pitches

[@christianaugustine9490]

There are plenty of amazing pitchers who only throw 2 or 3 pitches… Lance Lynn throws over 90% fastballs and he’s an all star!

[@samuelwhitman8705]

@@christianaugustine9490 yeah ik I think like different types of pitches got to my head and now relying on what I have that obviously works and gets the job done

[@Jimmytheexplorer]

If they are strikes it keeps the hitter on his toes, I'd rather face someone with a nasty curve and a good fastball over a kid with a cutter, sinker, slider, and a 4 seme because it is harder to recognize between 4 pitches Also you dont need it if you are disgusting with 2-3 pitches

[@chromasis10]

I’m definitely a starter

[@12savage68]

There are only 2 types of pitchers... starters and failed starters -casual