The game of baseball cannot begin without the action of one position.

In basketball, there is a lot of focus on the point guard. In football, there is a lot of focus on the quarterback.

These are important positions, but there is no position that is more important than a pitcher in baseball.

You can look for the baseball training program at www.standoutbaseball.com/training.

A baseball coach teaching a young player

There is so much responsibility that involves a pitcher. From throwing different pitches, knowing the various hitters, fielding their position, and pickoff moves, to controlling the running game, to dealing with adversity, mental focus, and dealing with fatigue, a pitcher has a lot to deal with.

If one of these important parts of pitching is missing, you do not have a complete pitcher. Missing one of these components negatively affects all of the other components.

Most pitchers are not advanced to be good in all of these areas, however, when you realize what areas a pitcher is weak in you can begin to attack it and improve.

The mental game in pitching is so important, oftentimes more important than the physical part.

Andy Pettitte, great guy who I hung out with in the Dominican

You must teach your pitchers to think one pitch at a time. It is very easy to think about the past or future, and this inhibits your ability to be best the possible in the present.

Cues such as getting to the top of the baseball, or take a deep breath and focusing on executing the pitch, create movement at release are great for creating the right type of focus.

Attempting to throw harder in times of struggle or getting mad at infielders or the umpire are typical things that make a pitcher's struggle even worse.

Teach your pitchers how to coach themselves and watch them develop right under your eyes