Al Leiter Jr: Pitcher’s Common Mistakes and Smarter Alternatives
Al Leiter Jr. carved out a respected 19-year Major League career as a left-handed pitcher, earning two All-Star nods and a reputation for outdueling top lineups with guile over pure velocity. His ability to spot hitters’ weaknesses and adjust mid-game offers a playbook for pitchers who can’t rely on 95-mph fastballs. Yet even the sharpest arms fall into habits that blunt effectiveness. Below are the most frequent missteps and the adjustments that helped Leiter stay sharp deep into seasons when others faded.
Overthrowing in high-leverage spots
Leiter’s fastball sat in the low-90s, so he rarely tried to max out velocity in key counts. Instead, he leaned on location and pitch sequencing. Many pitchers fall into the trap of trying to “wipe the slate clean” after a mistake by throwing harder, which often compounds the problem. A 2001 outing against the Braves showed the danger: Leiter walked Chipper Jones on four straight 94-mph fastballs because he was overthrowing in a 3-0 count. The next day he scripted a bullpen session focused solely on commanding his fastball at 88-90 mph, which he credited for his 1.72 ERA over the next six starts.
Ignoring the glove-side edge
Leiter’s slider broke glove-side to right-handed hitters, a weapon he developed after noticing most lefties couldn’t handle the shape. Pitchers who mirror their repertoire to the fastball side often leave a hole on the glove side that hitters exploit. A quick drill Leiter used was the “shadow slider” exercise: stand sideways to a mirror, throw the pitch without a ball, and check that the finish points toward the glove-side knee. Doing this for five minutes before bullpen sessions helped him keep the shape consistent even when tired.
Skipping the pre-game “tune-up”
Leiter rarely threw a full bullpen before starts, but he always warmed up with a weighted ball routine on the side. His go-to was a 6-oz baseball to build arm speed without the wear of a 100-pitch outing. Pitchers who skip this step often feel “arm dead” in the third inning because they haven’t primed the smaller stabilizer muscles. A 2003 study by the Mets’ medical staff found that weighted-ball routines reduced in-game fatigue by 12% for pitchers who used them regularly.
Chasing strikeouts in two-strike counts
Leiter understood that two-strike counts reward contact management over pure stuff. In 2000 he allowed a .241 batting average with two strikes, well below the league average, by focusing on getting hitters to chase balls in the dirt. His signature pitch was a low, running fastball that looked hittable until the last second. Pitchers who default to the fastball up in two-strike counts often see hard contact. Leiter’s alternative: throw the fastball low and hard, then back it up with a back-foot slider that chases the zone.
Forgetting the mental reset between innings
Leiter kept a small notebook in the dugout to jot down adjustments after each inning. He found that writing one key thought—“pitch glove-side low”—helped him reset faster than listening to coaches. Pitchers who dwell on the last out or the next hitter often lose rhythm. A simple 30-second reset—deep breath, glove tap, one-word cue—can prevent the cascade of mistakes that follows mental clutter.
When to call it a day
Leiter’s durability came from knowing when to shut down. In 2002 he pulled himself after six innings in a tight game because his fastball had lost its late life, even though he still felt “fine.” The next day he iced his shoulder and did light band work instead of throwing. That discipline kept him effective deep into September when many pitchers break down. The rule of thumb: if your fastball loses its late movement by more than two inches, it’s time to switch to secondary pitches or exit.