◆ Sports Hochi Journalist Column "From Ryogoku"
It is often said that "the basics are important" in everything. If baseball, then it is a catch ball. Catch the ball and throw it to the opponent. It's a simple movement that many people have probably done at least once, but it's very important. No matter how well you catch a ground ball, you have to throw it, and if the throw misses, you won't be out. For pitcher, pitching can be said to be a catch ball aimed at the mitt of the catcher. Rakuten Takayuki Kishi pitcher, a veteran right-hander in his 19th year this season, says , "Rhythm, balance, timing, and (ball) line are the same," and he says that he is working with the same awareness as he did pitch.
There are some things that can only be understood through the basics. Rakuten 's first-team pitcher coach, Yuya Kubo, often carries mitt during practice, and is often seen playing catch with pitcher. "I'm bored, and (the players) ask if it's okay, so I think, 'Let's do it.' That's all," he quipped, but he says that he actually uses the sensation of catching the ball to give advice.
"The strength of the ball, the axis of rotation, or if it's breaking ball, where it starts to curve. I'm just saying what I think, but I don't necessarily think it's correct, and it's best to provide an environment and method that makes it easy for the player to do their best." He doesn't just watch, but also conveys what he feels firsthand to encourage growth. He always has a mitt ready so he can respond immediately to the players' requests.
The seemingly simple catch ball is so much deeper. The basics of everything are important. Seeing the efforts of professionals up close made me realize this once again. (Rakuten, Hiroki Ariyoshi, in charge)
Hiroki Ariyoshi (Hiroki Ariyoshi) After working at the Tohoku branch, he is now in charge of professional baseball for the first time this year. He is based in Sendai.
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