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Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do.
-John Wooden
All of us who have been around this game for any time at all have witnessed pitchers who struggle with confidence when a pitch doesn't show up on a given day. While I certainly believe in corrective checklists to help solve specific pitch problems, and often times they work, the between-the-lines blood chemistry is literally different and the hype can sometimes get in the way.
I have started telling pitchers and catchers to look at the attack-plan the same way a general would in the midst of a battle. While their strategy may look great on paper, certain problems can arise and adjustments need to be made "on the fly." If the breaking ball doesn't show up, for instance, the game plan needs to change. But entering the fight on the mound without that particular "weapon" must not interfere with a pitcher's confidence. And this needs to be practiced.
In practice settings, the following can be helpful:
* Have your pitchers repeat checklist items per each pitch for troubleshooting purposes.
* Practice bullpen sequences without a breaking ball and without a change or split.
* Arm your catcher with supportive words to say to a struggling pitcher in game settings.
* Recognize every pitcher will deal with this in advance, and when it does, be a part of the solution and not the problem. Help him relax and remain focused on what he can do, not what he can't.
