NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: <6> Coaching
Chapter 6: Coaching
"Listen carefully, Sendo. The catcher is the core commander of the team."
"He's the only player who can see the entire field and all the defensive positions."
"That's why the catcher, who can see the big picture, is best suited to lead the defense."
"However, this is something you'll need to learn over time. First, I'll teach you some core concepts about pitch-calling, along with some basic knowledge..." Then followed a bunch of fundamental explanations.
He could tell that Sendo was a smart kid, so he provided a lot of detailed explanations.
From time to time, he'd ask questions to gauge Sendo's understanding and decide whether to continue.
But it wasn't until he started discussing how to use inside and outside pitches, along with bad balls, to get a batter out that Sendo showed no sign of confusion. So, the coach couldn't help but ask for Sendo's opinion.
"Coach, from everything you've said about a catcher's pitch-calling, it seems like the goal is to make the batter swing at a pitch they aren't aiming for, throw off their stance, or mess up their depth perception, making them swing and miss or hit an easy ball, right?"
"Exactly!"
"But what if the batter isn't aiming for any specific pitch and can hit anything that comes their way?"
"In that case, they wouldn't need to adjust their stance to target a specific pitch, would they?"
"Then you'd have to rely on throwing tricky pitches to beat them."
"For example, an outside pitch that's clearly a ball—you're not aiming to make them swing, but to create a sense of distance."
"Even if it's obviously outside the strike zone, it doesn't matter. You want to make them feel like the ball is far away. That way, even if their stance doesn't change, their subconscious will register it."
"Then, when you throw another outside pitch, it reinforces that impression. After that, the next time they swing, their body will instinctively lean forward."
"Even for a top-tier hitter, their eyes will start to extend outward, even if their body stays still."
"That's when you throw an inside pitch."
"Even if it's a strike, they'll feel like it's way too close, like it's coming straight at them."
"By using the edges of the strike zone to create a sense of space, you can make the batter believe the strike zone is bigger than it really is."
"Later, when you introduce breaking balls, you can mix in pitches from different angles and speeds, making the batter completely lose track."
"If even these edge-based tactics don't confuse a batter, then it's rare—even among high school's best hitters—let alone when they face breaking balls later."
"I'm just giving an example, but it opens up a whole variety of pitch-calling strategies, and there's always a psychological battle involved."
"There's no fixed pattern; you have to adjust based on the situation."
"So pitch-calling is actually pretty simple, huh?"
"It's just using mind games to trick the batter's thinking, right?"
"If you can read the batter's thoughts, you don't need all those fancy tricks to take them down, do you?"
"Fancy tricks..." Just as Coach Nakani was about to apologize for making things too complicated, he was at a loss for words.
This kid wasn't confused—he was deliberately throwing out some twisted logic to trip him up.
However, Coach Nakani couldn't really argue with that. If you could truly read what pitch a batter was looking for, it would indeed be easy to strike them out.
Unless it's one of those batters who can adjust mid-swing, even if there's a big difference between the pitch they're expecting and the actual location.
For example, if they're aiming for an inside pitch but can change their stance to hit an outside one.
If a batter can do that, why aim for any pitch at all? Just swing at whatever looks hittable, right?
Coach Nakani himself felt that kind of batter was a fantasy, unless their skill level was way above the pitcher and catcher's.
Like a Major League Silver Slugger going up against high school pitches—that's the only scenario where that might happen.
Now, he realized this kid was full of mischief, in every sense.
"Can you really do that? Read a batter's thoughts like you said?"
"Well, if it's those simple-minded guys out there, it's a piece of cake."
So, this kid was zoning out all the time because he was always observing others and had his own unique way of analyzing their behavior.
That's a real talent.
His sharp observation and analytical abilities were like those of a psychologist, predicting the opponent's thoughts—abilities that couldn't be easily replicated by others.
"It seems you've already grasped the basics. These are choices that require experience to internalize."
"For now, I'm just giving you an introduction. As for the 'fancy stuff' you mentioned, it will help you analyze unfamiliar opponents faster and gain strikes, after all, it takes three strikes to strike out a batter."
"I understand!" Sendo bowed in gratitude.
"Good, as long as you get the point of why I taught you all this. Now, let's move on to some basic catching techniques. Follow me!"
The earlier lessons were meant to prevent Sendo from developing rigid thinking. Especially as a catcher—once your thinking becomes predictable, you're finished if the opponent figures you out.
Coach Nakani then brought out a set of catching gear and returned with Sendo to the batting area.
"In a moment, you'll catch pitches from the pitching machine. I'll set it so the machine doesn't throw strikes, and you need to catch them as quickly as possible. Then, like this..."
He demonstrated the prelude to throwing a pick-off throw—the moment you catch the ball, standing up and preparing to throw immediately.
He explained how to use limited space to generate maximum power while simultaneously increasing speed and how to utilize the body's strength to boost throw velocity.
A professional catcher knows how to make the most efficient use of every muscle, performing the most precise and effective movements.
"Once you've mastered these, we'll move on to refining your throwing motion and training methods. I'll write up a training plan for you."
"I'll show you how to strengthen your body and shoulders. Your strength lies in your explosive power, and this plan will enhance that advantage."
"Whether you're a pitcher, catcher, or hitter, you need the ability to instantly activate all your muscles for explosive power."
"These exercises require the most standard and efficient movements to bring out your body's full potential. Understand?"
"And what about hitting?"
"For hitting, it's mostly about correcting your stance. After that, just do what you've been doing. Trust your instincts—other people's gradual methods won't suit you."
"Once you've mastered the basics of pitching and catching, I'll put you in a game. Competing is the fastest way to improve."
"Once your body adapts, we can figure out the best hitting stance for you. Now, keep practicing!"
Without saying much, Sendo bowed deeply.
Even though he had no other particular thoughts about baseball, he was genuinely grateful for Coach Nakani's guidance.
As he left, Sendo took with him several introductory books on catching, as well as Coach Nakani's personal notes and the training plan.
-------------
If you want to read 20 chapters advanced.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Shu_21