At the end of the day, the pitcher is all alone out on the hill. They are master and commander of their fate, the ultimate sign of freedom.

The pitcher starts all the action and when done correctly, can determine what happens next. Or at least that’s the way it’s drawn up beforehand, discussed in meetings on the mound and displayed in the monitor of the mind.

The best pitchers have a script they’d like to stick to, but understand the importance of improv and are willing to incorporate that into their act. Others go the opposite, throwing with a general idea of what they want to do, then reacting and adjusting as needed.

But despite all this independence, every pitcher is completely dependent upon those around him.

They need the coaching staff to trust in their ability to get batters out.

They need a catcher to be in sync with their ideas and guide their accordingly.

They need the fielders to be prepared for what may come and when it does, to act appropriately and avoid extra outs.

They need the fans to rise up with them, adding tension to the opponent’s at bat in dicey situations.

OK, they don’t need the last one, but it certainly makes the final strike that much better when 50,000 are in complete agreement with you.