Peterson's Training

SNY did a interesting piece showing some of Rick Peterson's unusual training methods.

The first thing he said was that he tries to establish the movements necessary to pitch in each pitcher's muscle memory. So pitchers would practice, taking their stride to homeplate again and again, without throwing, just striding.

Then he talked about the .220 line, an imaginary line of demarcation at the bottom of the strike zone where batters only hit .220 on balls pitched below that line.

To train his pitchers to pitch at or below that line he strings a rope across home plate in front of the catcher. He also has the catcher move in a few feet, which also emphasizes the need to get the ball down.

The most fascinating thing they showed was that Peterson likes the guys to throw with their eyes closed. At first they said it took time, Billy Wagner was firing the ball all over the place, but now most of the pitchers can go into their windup, close their eyes as they come down and throw a strike without seeing the target.

They never did explain why the schmuck wears a jacket in 100 degree weather.