UTK Special 1/6/25
Command Performance
Driveline Baseball’s latest innovation, Intended Zone Command Training, could represent a turning point in how we approach command training for pitchers. For years, the focus in pitching development has revolved around velocity and movement. The mantra "throw hard to the middle, let your movement work" has dominated training philosophies. But this approach assumes a baseline level of command that simply doesn’t exist for many pitchers, from Little League to the professional level. The Intended Zone Trainer - boy, that needs a nickname or acronym - seems poised to address this gap, and its implications for the development of pitchers could be profound.
Command remains one of the most elusive and poorly understood aspects of pitching. With the advent of modern tracking technologies, we can measure virtually every aspect of a pitch. Spin rate, spin axis, vertical and horizontal movement, release point—all of these metrics have become part of the vernacular. Yet, none of them truly capture a pitcher’s ability to "hit spots." We know where the ball ends up and how it moves along its path. What we don’t know—and what the Intended Zone Trainer might help illuminate—is whether the ball went where the pitcher intended it to go.
This question of intent versus execution lies at the heart of command. Pitchers, catchers, coaches, and strategists work together to design a plan for each pitch - its location, its movement profile, its intended result. But for those of us outside the dugout, that intent remains a mystery. Even within teams, understanding intent doesn’t always provide a clear picture of a pitcher’s true command. A pitcher might consistently miss a target by a few inches yet still generate weak contact, while another might miss by the same margin and get shelled. Command isn’t just about precision; it’s about controlling outcomes.
Consider Greg Maddux. Often held up as the gold standard for command, Maddux wasn’t just precise; he was precise with purpose. He could place a two-seamer on the inside corner, inducing weak contact from a left-handed hitter, then follow it with a cutter that painted the outside black. What’s often overlooked is that Maddux, early in his career, threw in the mid-90s. His legendary success wasn’t a product of diminished velocity; it was a choice. He mastered command, movement, and sequencing to the point where velocity became a secondary concern.
Now contrast that with the current generation of pitchers, many of whom have been trained in systems that prioritize velocity above all else. The results are undeniable—average fastball velocities have climbed steadily over the past decade, and strikeout rates have followed suit. But this approach has its limitations. Not every pitcher can throw 100 mph, and even those who can often struggle with command. Velocity can mask command issues to a point, but it’s not a panacea. The Intended Zone Trainer might offer a way to bridge this gap, helping pitchers develop the kind of precision that turns raw stuff into elite performance.
The device itself appears to be deceptively simple. From the available materials, it’s clear that the Intended Zone Training is designed to provide immediate feedback on whether a pitch hits its intended target. This kind of feedback loop is critical for skill development. It’s one thing to know where the ball ended up; it’s another to know whether it went where it was supposed to go. By training pitchers to focus on intent as well as execution, this program could help them internalize the connection between mechanics, release point, and outcomes.
What’s particularly intriguing is how this technology might influence the way we evaluate pitchers. Right now, most of the data available to teams and analysts comes from tracking systems like Statcast, which provide a wealth of information about pitch characteristics but say nothing about intent. Teams have their own methods for assessing command, often based on proprietary data and subjective evaluations. But even these methods have limitations. Sources within MLB organizations have acknowledged that intent data, while valuable, doesn’t always correlate perfectly with on-field results. Command is more art than science, and the Intended Zone Trainer could help bring some of that art into the realm of measurable skill.
The potential benefits extend beyond the individual pitcher. Imagine a future where teams can develop entire pitching staffs with Maddux-like precision. It’s not just about hitting spots; it’s about hitting spots with movement, about turning every pitch into a weapon. Driveline has already played a key role in revolutionizing velocity training, helping to produce a generation of pitchers who can light up radar guns. If the Intended Zone Trainer can do for command what Driveline’s other programs have done for velocity, it could fundamentally change the way the game is pitched. Look, I’ve known Kyle Boddy for twenty years now and here’s the one thing I know - do not bet against him.
Of course, there are challenges. Command is inherently harder to train than velocity. Throwing harder is a straightforward proposition: build strength, refine mechanics, and maximize efficiency. Command, by contrast, requires an intricate interplay of physical and mental skills. It demands consistency, focus, and the ability to adapt to different situations. Training command isn’t just about repetition; it’s about purposeful repetition. That’s where the Intended Zone Trainer might have its greatest impact, providing a framework for pitchers to train with intent and accountability.
Downside? This isn’t something that’s going to scale down very well. It’s well and good for those that can head to one of Driveline’s facilities - they have three now - and they’ve done a lot to democratize training previously. Their work, spearheaded by Deven Morgan, on youth baseball hasn’t gotten enough notice. I’m sure people will figure ways to knock this off, some good, some bad. But the framework looks solid for the training end, if not the data side.
The baseball world has long been chasing velocity, and for good reason. But velocity is only one piece of the puzzle. The ability to throw 100 mph means little if you can’t hit the broad side of a barn. The Intended Zone Trainer offers a tantalizing glimpse of what might be possible if we shift some of that focus toward command. The holy grail of pitching isn’t just throwing hard; it’s throwing hard and hitting your spots. Driveline has helped create a generation of Nolan Ryans. Perhaps their latest innovation will help produce the next Greg Maddux.