The Mound Visit
Command Data You're Probably Not Tracking
October 19, 2026 · 5 min read · Jared Gaynor
Over the past several years, "stuff" has been the primary focus for player development.
And for good reason.
Velocity and your ability to throw nasty pitches largely influences your ability to get batters out.
But, we can't forget about the importance of command.
As we all know, it doesn't matter how good your stuff is if you can't throw strikes.
At PCU we have been developing ways to track this and as a result, have created new ways to train it.
The main driver of this has been intended targets.
Are you executing the pitch to the location you intended?
How much are you missing by and in what direction?
We have been breaking this down by pitch type and batter handedness.
But, you could go even deeper with this.
Do your miss directions change based on where the target is?
Or how about when there are runners on base or it's a specific count?
The levels of analysis are limitless.
There are 3 reasons I think this information is useful.
1. Catcher Set Up
One of our go to cues for pitchers is to throw the pitch where you want it to start, not where you want it to finish.
But, in order to know where you need to start it, you do need to know where you want it to finish.
Example:
If I want to throw my curveball down and away to a right handed batter as a right handed pitcher, my starting point might be at the umpires mask.
But, if I want it to end below the zone, I might need to start it at the catchers mask.
What the intended zones will do is give you objective information on where you should start each pitch based on the desired location.
Here is an example of a chart showing where a player should start his fastball based on the desired location.
Based on this, he tends to miss up and a little arm side (LHP) relative to where he is trying to throw it.
Think about how useful this is for a catcher to know where he needs to flash his glove or how he needs to set up!
2. Pitch Calling
We've now seen the benefit for the catcher to know how he can set up and positively impact the pitcher throwing the pitch to the intended target.
Now, how can a pitching coach use this information for calling pitches?
Fundamentally, you have to pitch to the pitcher's strengths. The intended zones give you another indicator of what each pitcher does well.
If I know that the pitcher does not execute fastballs to the glove side very well, and tends to miss arm side relative to the target, then that location probably shouldn't be called very often.
At least not in pivotal moments.
One of the other ways we evaluate how our pitchers execute location by pitch type is with our miss direction grid.
This becomes super useful when calling pitches and locations.
If an arm side missed fastball is the last thing I want on this pitch, and this pitcher tends to do that, then it will likely impact my pitch call.
This is providing detailed information to make more successful pitch calls.
Training
We now understand how to use the information that tells us what the pitcher can currently do, but how do we actually improve his command and reduce the size of his misses?
A full training plan is a post for another day, but I'll give you one of my favorite ways to train this.
Differential Balls
These are one of my favorite ways to work on command and increasing "feel" for the baseball.
Differential balls are balls that are either a different size or weight from a baseball.
You might be asking yourself, why would I want to throw something other than a baseball to improve my command?
The truth is, every time you throw a baseball there is some variability or noise that isn't exactly the same as the last pitch you made.
We know that from a mechanical standpoint no two pitches are ever the same. There are minor differences every time you throw.
On a broader view there is variance in the mound you throw on, the weather, how your body feels, the pitch you are throwing, etc. The list could go on and on.
Because no two pitches are the same we want to train ourselves to handle as much variability as we can, so that we are adaptable and resilient.
If I can throw multiple pitches to the same location with different implements, arm angles, slopes, etc., how much easier do you think it will be when I am on the same mound throwing a baseball every pitch?
We are essentially increasing our bandwidth and ability to adapt.
This doesn't mean we go crazy and make things random and as difficult as possible.
There is a process and levels to this.
If we make it so hard and the player constantly fails, now they are losing confidence and ultimately not getting better.
Also, there needs to be intention and a purpose behind the variables we are adding. It should drive adaptation to the areas the pitcher needs to improve.
Simple way to understand this with differential balls:
If the pitcher tends to miss arm side or up, a heavier or bigger ball might be the right tool.
If he tends to miss down or to the glove side, a lighter or smaller ball could be beneficial.
The reason for this is by "feeding the mistake", the pitcher will have to exaggerate the adjustment to throw it to the intend target.
Over time this should make it easier with the baseball.
In Summary
Command isn't as sexy as "stuff", but it is an essential ingredient to pitching success.
Using intended targets in your training and tracking in game will improve catcher set ups, pitch calling, and impact how you train!
To help with this process, I have created an intended zone tracker insider our FREE bullpen script builder.
Enter your email below and we'll get you set up!
- Jared
P.S. If you are a coach at a school or facility and want to go deeper with intended targets and data in general, our software company, Pearl PD might be for you.
P.S.S. I am preparing to launch several resources for pitching coaches. Can you help me by voting which educational platform you would prefer?
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Whenever you are ready, there 3 main ways we can help you:
Walk away knowing who YOU are as a pitcher and with a road map to become the best version of yourself. Force plates, TrackMan, edger, and more will be used to collect data and evaluate who you are as a pitcher.
A training plan built specifically for you, not a cookie cutter program. Using the Pearl PD app you will have all of your programming, data, and feedback in one location.
A complete blueprint for developing nasty pitches and optimizing how you use your stuff. 3+ hours of easy to follow video lessons.