Angling for Youngsters

Young pitchers often have difficulty seeing a runner on the base that their back faces if they come to a set position with their shoulders pointing straight at home plate. This is particularly true for a right-hander with a man on first. Keep in mind that once a pitcher is in the set position he cannot turn his shoulders to look at a runner. Thus, young pitchers need to turn their shoulders a bit when bringing the lead leg back before actually getting in the set position. Their shoulders are then already turned a bit when they set rather than pointing straight at the catcher. This allows a right-handed pitcher to get a clear view of a runner on first base while remaining still in the set position.