My nephew amazes me yet again and closes the game today–the World Series; and the Dodgers hung on to beat the A’s 7-6. We were up 7-0 and looking good, but then we ran into pitch count issues and tried to leg it to our closer, Max for one inning only. As it turns out, we had to use him for 2, but it ended up being the right call and we kept his count low enough that he can go two more innings in the series.
In the 6th inning, we had no margin for error yet again! Just like the pennant clincher against the Mets. The score was 7-6 and my little buddy had to hold the 3, 4 and 5 hitter and keep them off the board so we could get game 1.
He struck the first kid out on about 4 pitches. We were, ahh, let’s just say, “changing speeds” a bit on him and Max was doing it to perfection. His regular fastball is meat to these good hitters and you have to change speeds to keep them off balance. He did.
Then up stepped a team mate of his from the travel team: The big stud. The pitcher and cleanup hitter. We had an approach with him where we would pitch backwards. Start him off with the off speed pitch and then alternate so as never to throw him the same speed twice. He fouled about 5 pitches into the top of the backstop. Then, on a fastball (cutter Max told me later), he swung through it: 2 outs! Bedlam on the sideline. No one on. Pitch count in tact. 2 dead.
The next hitter offered at the first ball and hit it down first for a 3-Unassisted putout and Game 1 of the series belonged to the Dodgers! Everyone mobbed Max and then we had to do the handshake. Amazing. So, so amazing that an 8-year old is closing the big games and striking out the best kids in town who are a year and a half older! I really can’t believe it. And what makes it better is that really only two people at the game today knew just exactly precisely why those kids struck out. I mean, really knew. Max and I.
I over enlarged this one because I love the expression on his face. Someone has just fouled one off and you read him correctly, he is scared. He told me that after both the pennant clincher and the series game. I told him that he handled the pressure very well and that it’s ok to be nervous but don’t let it get you to where you can’t do your job. Use it and get mad, if anything.
The talk around town is that the Dodgers don’t have really any 4th graders and how the heck are they doing it? And now there’s a buzz that Max struck out big Phil and people are starting to realize that we have something cool going on here. One more to go. Two to play.
I’m loving these stories Fog. It brings back so many memories of little league when I pitched. Then again, I had no idea about mixing up speeds. For me it was fastball, fastball, fastball. I wish I had someone coaching me like this. As I’ve mentioned before, I remember the first time I was thrown an off-speed pitch and I was confounded.
Comment by John Walker — June 17, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
Well, speed changes isn’t maybe the whole story. Perhaps the wind was blowing last night and perhaps the ball was moving a little–who knows? ;o)
Max told me that his cutter was amazing last night and I was just happy that he believed in it so much b/c when you believe in a pitch, you tend to throw it for strikes and that’s what we needed last night. He discovered a grip on his pitchback in his backyard where if he moves his thumb over on the ball and throws it hard, it cuts into the lefty. Last night there was a stiff breeze blowing from 3rd to 1st so he probably saw more movement than the typical 5 inches and then felt good about it. Pitching is 70% mental so you love the good grove and you ride it. His other pitch was featured in a post not too long ago and he was doing very well with that–keeping it mostly down and keeping the hitters off balance with them as a speed-change. He’s amazing to have soaked up this much info and deployed it so quickly. He’s 3 years ahead of any kid as far as understanding these things about pitching. If his arm continues to develop (it’s average really), then look out, because he’s got the other stuff figured out: Jamie Moyer, anyone? Thanks Johnny. If you want to watch Game 2 vs the A’s, it’s Thu night at 6pm. I’ll give you directions. They’re going to pitch big Phil and we might have trouble scoring runs. Dunno. Fingers crossed.
Comment by mcgonnigle — June 18, 2008 @ 8:00 am
This is a great way for Uncle Greg to get the news! Good luck in the next game. Great stuff!
Comment by GregB — June 18, 2008 @ 4:13 pm