ANTHONY DEL GROSSO
 

LHP, NEW JERSEY
 

“The more I threw whether it’s good or bad I feel that I am getting

mentally stronger.
June 2003
 

I e-mailed Dr. Crowley June 12th. 2003:
 

I need help!  Next year I will be a senior at a Division I college.  I am a 21 year old,  6’ 3’, 2201b LHP who has seemed to have forgotten how to throw the ball. I work my ass off and can do it in practice when it’s just me and the catcher... no coaches. In the game it’s a different story. I am currently being scouted by numerous teams. In my last successful outing I was by far my best. I struck out 3 out of4 hitters that I faced with my fast ball touching 90+ mph and my curve falling off the table. After that I began talking to a lot of scouts and former players.
 

Ever since then I cannot find that comfort zone. I have read books about anxiety problems and all types of mental things. but cannot find a cure. It seems that after every good day. a horrible day will follow. Can you please give me some advice

 

Anthony Del Grosso.
 

Dr.  Crowley was kind enough to contact me the very next day on the telephone. I told him that I throw heat and spots in the bullpen and I’m smooth. But during a game I can’t remember my name. One day I’m OK. the next day I’m awful. It’s like I’m afraid of success. Right after my best outing the beginning of the season my confidence took a nose dive.
 

Dr. Crowley had me deal with my being so tight. and squeezing the ball too tightly when I’d throw it. Next he had me go after my robotic-like movement that occurs when I find myself thinking about it. We then focused on my confidence issues that had begun to erode as well as my fear of success. He used what he called the Crowley Method on all these problems. It all took place in about an hour.
 

The very next day, June 13th I e-mailed Dr. Crowley what I had already
experienced from the work we just did the day before.

 

“I threw last night and I had great control for 21/3 innings of work. I felt pretty good.  I was focused and hit my spots good. I saw the minimum of 6 batters and I got the 6 of them out in a row! I came out for a third inning and the first guy got a hit then I hit a guy trying to come inside. Then I walked a guy then hit another. I think I was just starting to labor. I felt extremely clear mentally. but not 100 percent. I was focused like in the past and I felt good. but I was concentrating on staying clear and was a little afraid to cut it loose, but my velocity was good... around 86-SS. I had good command of it. Thanks for the help so far. Every time I had a second thought about a pitch I was able to use your technique and reminded myself that I had killed that thought already. Hope to hear from you soon. Anthony.
 

That same day, June 13th. Dr. Crowley telephoned me and we worked on the matter of the ball hitting the backstop which was a problem too. It went well.
 

The next e-mail to Dr. Crowley was June 16th:
 

‘The tryouts went extremely well. I threw hard and hit my spots. It was probably the best I have ever thrown control-wise. The Braves are going to follow me throughout the summer and their scout told me that he was going to call their area scout near my college to follow me during the season. He also said he would be in touch. I talked to the Devil Rays scout and he also was interested and said that he was going to follow me in the summer and during the college season.  

 

I had a game today and threw and had a little set back. I am not sure what it was but I don’t think it was mental. I was tired from throwing so much and I changed my mechanics to protect my arm for some reason. I am not worried, just frustrated.
 

Oh, and another thing. during the tryout I was able to cut it loose and throw
strikes. It felt great! And I was completely calm .. even with everyone there
watching. I just need to develop consistency in my thought patterns. I still have a little hesitation that I need to get rid of. Other than that I feel much better
Anthony
 

It’s July 6th and I’m playing pretty good. I’m able to clear everything out. I threw the other day in relief for my team and finally threw strikes and got the win. The more I throw whether it’s good or bad. I feel that I am getting mentally stronger.
 

Thanks for the help so far,
 

Anthony Del Grasso

Dr. Richard Crowley

Sportsmaker

dr@sportsmaker.com

Full Transcript and Testimonial of

Anthony DelGrasso

LHP, NEW JERSEY