Taking little time between pitches can help a pitcher in several ways and mainly helps him be more effective:
1. First and extremely important, pitchers who work fast usually have a better defense playing behind them. Fielders relax and lose their focus and mental and physical readiness when a pitcher takes his time between pitches. Fielders are more alert when playing behind a fast-working pitcher.
2. Umpires tend to call more strikes on border-line pitches when a fast-working pitcher is on the mound.
3. Usually, when a successful pitcher is working fast, it has a hypnotic effect on the oppossing team. Before the opposing team's hitters figure out what's going on, it's late in the game and usually to late to recover.
4. When the pitcher works fast, hitters have trouble getting ready to hit, it makes them uncomfortable and they tend to get upset.
5. A fast-working pitcher allows his team to get off the field in a shorter length of time and this can help everyone on the team.
6. The faster a pitcher can get his defense off the field, the sooner they can start scoring runs.
Don't confuse working fast with rushing. When the pitcher works fast he uses his regular delivery, he just takes less time between pitches. When receiving the ball back from the catcher, the pitcher should quickly check his fielders and any base runners, get his sign and make the pitch.
Examples of Major League pitchers who work fast include: Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees, Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers and Mariano Rivera, Yankees, to name a few.
Bob Harris
Former Pro Scout
