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Bunting the ball down either line or the swinging bunt down either line during practice for the pitcher really helps a pitcher get used to the worst of the all scenarios. The best scenario of course is tap out or light liner back to the pitcher. More often then not however the ball will be placed either directly to your left, right, left front quadrant, and right front quadrant. When a pitcher is familiarized with the territory around him that he will need to defend he will begin to have positive in-grown tendencies. Pitchers are incredible athletes in most cases and have great hand eye coordination and so if you condition them to defend their surroundings they should have no problem adapting in a positive fashion. Greg Maddux is a well-known pitcher who has won gold gloves left and right and when it comes to him it is just built in.

Hit balls back at the pitcher to get them warmed up during practice and then move on to hitting these balls that only the pitcher can get to. If the third baseman and the first baseman are playing back then there is even more responsibility on the pitcher to cover his territory with poise. The rest of the time you should be stressing the importance of the pitcher covering the first base bag in the event of a ball hit to the first baseman. The pitcher must always be ready to cover first base because alot of the time in the process of a play the first baseman cant make it back to the bag. For example imagine a ball grounded sharply down the first base line. The first baseman has to dive to stop the ball and gets up to find he is not rewarded for his great play as there was nobody there to cover the bag. You don't want to give any team an extra out.

The pitcher must also practice backing up the catcher at home plate in the event of a play at home plate and in order to make sure any runners don't move up a position or two. Muscle memory and mental memory kick in and the pitcher then feels a oneness with all that is going on around him. The game is in his hands. Have your pitcher practice his pick-off moves as well. You want the pitchers to be able to keep runners as close to the bags as possible. The pitchers should practice pick-off moves to first base, second base, and third base, although you don't see alot of guys getting picked off third base. Teach your pitchers to use pitching mechanics that leave them in the best possible position to field the ball. Many pitchers have the problem of flying off to one side after releasing the ball. Unless they are incredible athletes this will not work. Finally, do drills between the catcher and the pitcher in which you hit a high near foul ball and get them to practice calling for the ball. Have a great season.

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