MMV #012: How to Overcome 1st Inning Woes

Read time: 2.5 minutes

The 1st inning is statistically the worst inning for starting pitchers.

This might come as a surprise considering the pitcher has as much time as he needs to prepare.

It's also the first time the batters are seeing live pitching that day.

So why is it the worst inning?

 The 1st innings has the highest:

• Walk rate
• FB usage
• WOBA
• ERA

The 2 main things I want to focus on are walks and fastball usage.

Let’s begin.

1. Walks

A higher walk rate in the 1st could be a sign of 3 things:

1. Anxiety
2. Not mentally focused
3. Not physically prepared

Anxiety:

It is completely normal for players to have pre-game jitters.

That’s not the problem.

It becomes a problem when it leads to negative thoughts and uncontrolled breathing.

2 things I think will help:

1. Tell yourself the nerves are a good thing

It shows that you care. This means something to you.

It has an opportunity to enhance your focus on the task at hand.

The mind is powerful. Use it for good.

2. 2 inhale and 1 exhale breathing

Click here to check out this Huberman video on regulating your heart rate.

Not mentally focused:

What does it take for you to be mentally locked in?

Do you need to do meditation prior to the game?

Do you need to be away from your phone?

Figure out what is distracting you and eliminate it.

Not physically prepared:

I specifically want to talk about the bullpen before the game.

Are you throwing out of the stretch at all?

Are you simulating batters?

Is a batter standing in?

After you get feel for your pitches, try finishing the bullpen simulating the first 2-3 batters of the game.

Call balls and strikes.

Have a batter stand in.

Simulate runners.

Throw your first inning in the bullpen so when you take the mound you are already comfortable.

I think the biggest reason pitchers struggle in the 1st is because they aren’t ready for a batter to stand in and for the pitches to mean anything.

This changes that.

2. Fastball Usage

FB usage is the highest in the 1st inning.

This isn’t really a surprise, but should it be this way?

The idea is to save your pitches and to not show the batter everything.

The problem is you can lose a game in the 1st inning.

I’m a believer in giving every inning everything you have.

The pitcher dictates what happens, not the batter.

Make the batter adjust to what you are doing.

Have the mindset of, what is the best pitch to get this batter out right now?

Not thinking about 4 innings from now. Focus on the now.

RECAP:

• 1st inning is the worst for starters
• High walks and high FB usage
• Control anxiety and be mentally prepared
• Throw 1st inning in the bullpen
• Throw best stuff right away
• Don’t “save” pitches

That's all for today.

See you next Monday!

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