White Sox Pitching Coach Launches Instructional Pitching Website

Don Cooper, former MLB pitcher and current pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox, has launched a website targeted at young pitchers looking to improve their game. The site, DonCooperBaseball.com, offers private video analysis of pitchers. The analysis includes evaluation of a pitcher’s style and offers a side-by-side comparison to another pitcher who is properly demonstrating their suggestions for improvement. This personal analysis offers pitchers many benefits. First, a tried and true expert explains what is being done wrong and how to improve. Second, this correction of improper technique potentially prevents future injuries. Finally, this site offers pitchers the all-important exposure to a major league coach.

In addition to a side-by-side comparison for visual learners, Cooper’s analysis will suggest drills used in professional baseball to help shake the bad habits and instill some stronger practices. Bad habits are hard to break, but Cooper’s hope is to mechanically instill the appropriate methods to keep people healthy and hopefully set them up for a successful future.

By simply uploading videos of yourself pitching, (3 pitches from two viewpoints, side and front views) the site’s team will be able to judge your current ability and make suggestions for improvement. The instruction does not have to stop after the initial analysis either (which costs $149.99). Players can continue to correct their pitching and receive further instruction with follow-up analysis ($99.50). According to Wired.com, Cooper “hopes his clients will stick with him for years; he said he’ll go as far as to recommend successful high school players to his numerous contacts in the college ranks.”

This is a fascinating business plan. I believe the spirit is 100% right on. Too many youth are not properly instructed on the mechanics of pitching and will either not reach their full potential or worse, hurt themselves. As a White Sox fan I am biased, but if you are looking for tips on pitching, you cannot get a much better source than an MLB pitching coach. Furthermore, the low injury rate of White Sox pitchers since Cooper took over full-time in 2003 (including winning the 2005 World Series on the backs of their pitchers) only strengthens his credibility. I cannot wait to see how this takes off, and if video analyzing as a service business will explode into other sports (golf, tennis). Ref. DonCooperBaseball.com, Wired.com, Picture: DonCooperBaseball.com