Nick Walters: Former A's Minor league LHP, AZ Camp Instructor

 

1. Could you tell us your story on dropping down?

I've always been a sidearm pitcher. It was my natural arm angle and my dad didn't try to change me to be like everyone else. As i got  older i lowered my angle just a little to get more movement and have a better advantage over the hitters.

 

2. What are some of the advantages you have from your arm angle?

being a left handed pitcher i have a huge advantage over the left handed batters, with my angle the ball starts behind them and comes across the plate making it harder for the hitter to judge the pitch. Also the movement that sidearm puts on the ball gives me another upperhand making it that much more difficult for the hitter to try and judge how much the ball is going to move.

3. If you didn't drop down, do you think you would have had the same success?

If i was not throwing side arm i don't believe i would have had the same success or been able to play as many years as i did. If i was throwing over the top at average to below average height for a pitcher throwing lower upper 80's i believe doesn't give me any advantages. there is a million other guys out there doing that but very few doing it sidearm.

4. What would you tell someone debating on changing their arm angle?

i believe in pitching with conviction weather its a pitch or an arm angle. If you are debating on dropping down you have to want to and believe its the right choice. If you have doubts about dropping down you cannot pitch with conviction and without believing in yourself on the mound there will never be any success.

5. Are there any mechanical tips that you'd give to someone throwing sidearm/submarine?

Mechanical tips I would give is every single sidearm pitcher has a unique style and form, the trick is mastering the same style and form every single pitch. You can't be all over the place on the mound and expect the ball not to do the same.

6. What pitches do you throw?

i throw 4 seam, 2 seam, slider and change up

7. How do you pitch to lefties/righties?

pitching to righties i like showing my 4 seam early inside so they think my ball doesn't have much movement on it and then maybe an off speed followed by a 2 seam away since it has more movement and try to get them to roll over and hit a ground ball. pitching to lefties my specialty was my slider, so facing lefties they might have gotten 1 fastball from me but it was all sliders starting off with a get ahead slider and progressing to a chase slider. 

8. Lastly what is your favorite part about pitching from down there?

My favorite part about sidearm is watching the batter see me running down from the bullpen to come into the game and the look on his face of great i don't want to face this guy. Also throwing my sliders when they knew that's what i was going to throw and they still can't hit it. Seeing the hitter getting frustrated means you beat him mentally and he has no chance standing in that box.