by Brett Blaske
In his last start, Mallards pitcher Matt Lamothe (Georgia State) was tremendous on the mound pitching a perfect game through six innings. I decided to sit down with Matt and talk about his last outing, and pick his brain about how he feels about his craft and his keys to finding success.
Let’s start with your last outing. Another strong pitching performance, do you consider it one of your best?
Matt LaMothe: Yeah, I was really comfortable with my catcher Mike Reuvekamp (California) and we were on the same page the whole game. I probably only shook him off between five or ten times and I had unbelievable defense behind me. Our hitters came up big and I really couldn’t ask for more.
Any baseball fan knows the unwritten rule when it comes to pitches and perfect games. Did anybody say anything to you?
Not to me. But supposedly the batter before Eau Claire got their first hit, someone in the dugout said something to [Mallards outfielder] Derek Fisher (Virginia) about how he was going to break the perfect game. I didn’t hear it or anything like that but yeah; there was some chatter about it.
Is the number of hits, or like your last outing the lack of hits, something you keep track of, or is your focus just on who’s batting and the best way to get them out?
I keep track of it indirectly. It’s hard not to be on the mound and know after a guy has gotten on base and how he’s gotten there. What I really focus on when I’m pitching is if the batter is a righty or a lefty. After I know that, I focus on what I’m doing well that day on the mound and really try to stay consistent.
Talking about pitching in more depth, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto recently said in an interview that baseball remains a pitchers game. Do you agree that good pitching always beats good hitting?
I do agree with that. Elite pitchers today have gotten so good and have become so consistent at doing the things that give them success. If you look at [Detroit Tigers Pitcher] Justin Verlander in the third or fourth inning his average is right around the nineties and will get angry with himself if he’s overthrowing. He knows if he can keep his velocity down at the beginning of the game, he’ll only get stronger as he goes on so when the 8th inning comes, he has his mid ninety fastball working great for him and he can close the game out strong. When I’m having success on the mound, it’s because I’m staying consistent. Playing within myself, knowing what I can do, and more importantly when I should doing it.
Do you have a routine before games that will help you get into that pitching mindset that you are looking for?
Not so much a routine, but I do have some things that I’ll do before games and during games. After every inning I’ll always walk down the line and slap guy’s hands and let them know I like their defense and things like that. For me, it’s not staying consistent before a game and having a routine, it’s when I’m on the mound facing hitters when I want to have a routine. Not become a creature of habit- like throwing the same pitches to get guys out but get in sync with my catcher and hit the spots I know will get me strikes and hopefully, outs.
