Pitch Like A Pro: A Guide for Young Pitchers and Their Coaches, Little League Through High School

by Jim Rosenthal and Leo Mazzone

Book Overview

Leo Mazzone was one of pro baseball's premier pitching coaches. In his years with the Atlanta Braves, he trained several Cy Young Award winners and helped lead his team to the World Series. In Pitch... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312199465
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 0.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A common sense approach

Don't let the refreshing lack of complexity fool you. This book provides sound, common sense advice in easy to understand language. Many books on pitching advocate a "cloning approach" to a pitcher's delivery. Other books on pitching drills are confusing and overly technical. As Leo puts it, "Why turn throwing a baseball into a science project?" I got away from attempting to perfect my son's wind-up and delivery after reading this book. As long as the delivery is sound, I really don't think it matters exactly where you break your hands, how far away from the body the hands are when they break, exactly where the glove hand is when this is happening, etc, etc. If you find that other books are confusing you, how confused do you think your youngster is? Give Leo's approach a try.

A good introduction to pitching skills and throwing programs

Reasons to buy this book include: a) its emphasis on THROWING b) the simple presentation of proper technique c) throwing schedules and pitcher checkpoints d) the emphasis on supervision of the pitchers while they throwThis book is not so much about techniques as it is about a developing a philosophy concerning the training and conditioning of pitchers. As Mazzone points out, all the technique in the world is of no use if the pitcher can't go to the post when he is scheduled to. This book is not all inclusive concerning pitching, but how many books are? There is valuable information in this book, and coaches everywhere who are interested in getting the most from the arms on their staff should take the time to read it.

Great information and tips for all ages

Teaches you the different grips, the proper way to the the different pitches, different exercizes, when and how to rest, and much much more all in only 112 pages with pictures on most of them

A must read for all coaches and pitchers.

The book, Pitch Like A Pro, is the result of the experience of sage Coach Leo Mazzone with valuable contributions by veteran pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Denny Neagle. The book provides the reader a common sense, inside look at the coaching philosophy that has produced one of the best pitching staffs of this century.Respectfully, I am concerned with a portion of the weight training section of the book. The strength coach specifically recommends machine and straight bar (Smith machine) lifts. This practice can lead to Bencher's shoulder (acromio-clavicular damage) and subsequent rotator cuff impingement. A safer alternative would replace straight bar training with light dumbbells and cable work to afford movement within physiologic arcs of shoulder movement. In addition, light dumbbell and cable work provides work to secondary agonist stabilizers that may provide better overall results.I am greatly appreciative of the information and insight provided by Coach Leo Mazzone and his All-Star staff.

Learn From Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Neagle

This book has something for everybody. Wether you're a little leagure looking to learn how to throw a curveball or a high school pitcher looking to strenghten your arm, this is the book for you. Has grips of pitches displayed for both righties AND lefties [no more revursing pictures!], has different players' pitching philosophy, instructions on how to field your position, inbetween start scheduels of pitchers in rotation, and photos of their deliveries. Worth every penny.