Improving throwing/pitching?

Question
Hello, Mr. Girardi. I'll give a short introduction of myself.
First of all, I decided to ask you these questions even though I'm 14 (you said that you specialize little league), because I probably can't play baseball better than any little leaguer. I decided to play baseball for my school(trying out next year) after being captivated by it for five years. Although unathletic, I have tried really hard to make myself more fit/stronger, and have shortened my normal mile time from 10 minutes to around 8. As for what I aim to do with baseball, I can't really say confidently, because I can't even throw well from the little league distance of the mound to the plate. But of course, in the event that I get better, I wish to play at least college baseball, and see if I can get in the minors. I know how ridiculous this sounds coming from a 14 year old who never played baseball.

Anyways, I really want to play pitcher, but I decided to put that aside for the time being. Why? I can't even throw properly. As I said, my throwing mechanics/strength/etc is really poor. I can practice fielding/etc, but no one around me can teach me how to throw.

So, here are some questions.

1. As for endurance, is it wise to run every morning about a mile? Will that do much? Should I increase my running distance every month or so?

2. Can you please give me a basic conditioning schedule (no weights please) I can do every day or every other day/etc? Since I'm unathletic (and very skinny, without much muscle), I feel that I should condition my body and become "buffer." Push-ups? Squats? What should I do?

3. Do hand grippers (if you're not familiar with what they are, you can google) do much to help you in baseball?

4. How do I catch a baseball properly? I tend to, 50 percent of the time, catch the ball not in the net, but in or around my palm, causing stinging. I catch the baseball properly (glove open side... you know what I mean), but it apepars that the ball always hits the palm of my hand.

5. What can I do to improve my throwing distance/speed? Right now, i can't even throw the distance from pitcher to catcher.

6. Is there a proper way to hold a baseball, not just for pitching?

7. When I throw, a couple things happen. One type of throw that I throw tends to go in a straight line, but drops extremely heavily, and basically goes straight to the ground. It usually lands 6 feet away from catcher. The second throw I throw boasts distance, but it's ridiculous. Basically, imagine that I am throwing the baseball like a catapult. It goes up in the air, and falls in a huge arc. It goes pretty far. However, realistically speaking, this is making me mad, because in real baseball, nobody throws arcs like that, because it takes too long for it to fly. Also, that type of throw basically kills the very idea of "pitching." What can I practice/exercise in order to throw the ball straight, far, and into the catcher's mitt?

8. Is weight training vital for baseball success?

9. What's the differences between a glove with an open net, and one with a closed, checkered net?

10. Is 14 too late to start baseball and hope to play in college?

Thank you for your time. Sorry for the long questions.


Answer
Hey Raymond,
Yes, 14 is too late to think that you can make a college baseball team. Baseball, like anything worth having, takes years and years of practice. You should have started at about 8 or nine years old. You are about 5 or 6 years behind in experience alone.. Isn't there another sport you can concentrate on?
I'm afraid you're dreaming, son..
Dennis