Art generally refers to aesthetically pleasing principles ranging from interpreting tangible masterpieces to the eloquence of purposefully flowing works of genius. Some see the Mona Lisa as the epitome of beauty and pure magic drizzled from da Vinci’s fingertips, or Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony as rhythmic depictions of what would be a breathtaking vision. Regardless of the canvas, artists share in the pursuit of beauty and attainment of perfection however varied the method. Although I can essentially guarantee Leonardo and Ludwig’s image of perfection to be drastically different than Roy Halladay’s, it is inarguable that pitching is also an art.

In baseball just like every other venue of art, each artist has a different perspective and overall image they wish to portray. In my field of art, individuals from countless backgrounds and work ethics are brought together to toe the same rubber, sixty feet six inches away, chasing their own interpretations of perfection. Every pitcher has a different paintbrush, whether it be a heavy fastball or a wipeout slider, but regardless of the weapon of choice, beauty is in the eye of the ‘ball’holder.

For the onlooker, pitching can appear as an ideal portrayal of one man competing against another when in reality, there is much more that goes into the complexities of putting zeros on the scoreboard. There are countless hours of relentless and meticulous physical preparation, but it is a mental edge that separates the ‘throwers’ serving up dingers from the ‘pitchers’ masterfully slicing through lineups.
It is no secret that pitching coaches coexist, each of them with differing opinions and philosophies, some more valued than others.

...