Feb. 14, 2007
Pitching coach Sherard Clinkscales is the second of the four Notre Dame baseball coaches to stop by for a preseason practice report, passing on his thoughts from the fall and winter workouts as he gets the Irish pitching staff ready for the approaching season opener. Scott Lawler earlier filed his practice report, with John Fitzgerald and Dave Schrage set to check in later this week.
Note: complete biographies – with bonus quotes and other links – have been updated on und.com for each of the Notre Dame baseball coaches. The bio’s can be accessed by clicking on a coach’s underlined name (also linked via the team roster page, as are updated bio’s on the current players).
Notre Dame Baseball 2007 Preseason Practice Report #2 – Sherard Clinkscales (Feb. 14)
“Hello Baseball Irish Fans!
“We are about ready to go into the 2007 season and our pitching staff can’t wait to face its ‘real competition.” I often say to our pitchers, ‘You must earn the right to play.’ Our guys have done that and more!
“The fall ended up on a solid note, with all of our staff feeling good physically and mentally.Led by our upperclassmen – such as Dan Kapala, Wade Korpi and Mike Dury – the staff eagerly took to our focus on conditioning, controlling the running game and pitching with the fastball.
“Following the fall,our gears shifted to strength training, flexibility, and motor skill development. Mike Joseph, our strength and conditioning coach, worked closely with me at this time. We felt it was important that our guys develop their fine motor skills, as I worked with them on rhythm and balance in their deliveries. Being able to stay over the rubber and and stay close until the arm gets in strike position takes athleticism,and that dynamic will enhance the overall “stuff” of all of our pitchers – not to mention the consistency they will have with their control and command.
“The winter break afforded the pitchers an opportunity to rest their arms before getting geared up again for the spring season. The day after Christmas signaled the beginning of their throwing/conditioning program. This is a gradual building up of the looseness and strength of the arm and overall conditioning of the lower body. The goal of our winter program is to build confidence, continuity and focus as they begin more rigorous workouts.
“In late January, we began to throw off the mound twice a week to work through five pitch sequences to get a certain hitter out. For example, one scenario would involve facing a lefthanded leadoff hitter and another might be a righthanded power hitter. This allows our guys to begin the process of pitching to a specific hitter, and it allows me to track their command of pitches and give them measurable results.
“We also videotaped these sessions to pinpoint mechanical adjustments, tipping of pitches, and overall confidence in making a particular pitch. The first week of February, we began to throw live to hitters, beginning with 50 pitches and finishing the week before our opening trip with 80 pitches for the starters and 30-40 for the relievers.
“With a weekto go to the opener, our guys are in line for opening day. We will have the starters share time early in the season, so they each can get plenty of work and can continue to build their endurance. Additionally, it will give all of them a chance to ‘earn the right to play’ by getting outs, obviously, but also do the little things coach Schrage has emphasized that must be done in order to be a championship team.
“We are blessed with good arms that will keep me on the edge of my seat or enable me to sit back and admire the talent that is before me. Either way, our guys will compete and give our team a chance to be successful in the end.
“This will be a fun year for me – as I am usually in Florida or Arizona at this time for Major League spring training, watching games as an evaluator. Now I will be not just an evaluator, but have the privilege of helping these young men get the most out of their God-given ability.
“Thank you all for your support, and I look forward to seeing you all at the ball park.”
Go Irish!”
Sherard Clinkscales