Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Quote of the Day!
"I could probably throw harder if I wanted, but why? When they're in a jam, a lot of pitchers...try to throw harder. Me, I try to locate better."
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"There are three types of baseball players: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happens."
ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD SHORTSTOP
Anticipates all defensive plays that could involve him; ready to throw to right base or home plate.
Stays on top of the ball, with most throws. Plants his feet and throws overhand when possible.
Works on holding runners close.
Charges the ball aggressively especially on topped or slow hit balls past the pitcher.
Covers second base when the bunt is on.
When positioning to field the ball, cheats slightly towards his weaker side.
Stays on top of the ball, with most throws. Plants his feet and throws overhand when possible.
Works on holding runners close.
Charges the ball aggressively especially on topped or slow hit balls past the pitcher.
Covers second base when the bunt is on.
When positioning to field the ball, cheats slightly towards his weaker side.
Something Your Hitters Need to know
THEORY
The hitter is more successful if he.
1. Knows what pitch is coming
2. Knows what the action of these pitchers are
3. Knows the pitcher's tendencies in a given situation
INITIAL OBSERVATION
1. Observe the pitcher warming up in the bullpen prior to the game. Train your eye. Take note of the movement of his fastball, angle of the release, movement of the breaking ball, timing of the motion, and repertoire of pitches.
2. Closely observe the pitcher's initial 8 warm-ups to start the game. Here the pitcher will show you with his glove and deliveries what he has on the ball. Take note of his breaking pitches.
3. Observe the first two hitters' reactions to this pitcher's offerings. Take note of the timing of their swings to his pitches. Your reactions could be similar.
SECOND HAND KNOWLEDGE
1. Ask the first two hitters for knowledge as to fastball speed and movement, breaking ball speed and movement, release angle, etc.
FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE
1. Take the first pitch of the game (NOT the first pitch of every at-bat.) This is the lowest percentage pitch as far as getting a base hit. Take it to avoid the bad percentages and accrue first hand knowledge of the pitcher's repertoire.
2. Look for this same pitch on the second delivery. This follows Ted Williams' theory of "Don't swing at anything you haven't seen." If the pitcher throws the same pitch on the second delivery, you should be able to hit it effectively. If not, you accrue more knowledge. Chances are good that both will not be strikes.
PITCHING TENDENCIES
As a dependable rule of thumb, the following counts require the following pitches:
1. Fastball Counts: 3-0, 3-1, 2-0, 2-1, 1-0. This is 42% of the fastball/strike counts.
When the pitcher does not have control of his breaking pitches (less than 50% are strikes), 0-0 and 3-2 become fastball counts. This is 63% of the counts.
2. "Neutral" Counts: when the pitcher can throw anything -- 0-0, 1-1, 2-2. In Neutral Counts the hitter should set the timing of his mechanics between the fastball and the breaking ball and adjust up or down to the pitcher's choice.
3. Breaking Ball Counts: 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, and 3-2 with a runner on second base and first base open. In Breaking Ball Counts the hitter should set the timing of his mechanics to the breaking ball and use his inside-out stroke to adjust to the fastball.
OVERPOWERING PITCHERS OR LEFTY-LEFTY SITUATIONS
1. Look for the fastball up to two strikes. Then protect the outside corner. The odds are against any pitcher choosing to throw and getting over two breaking pitches in a row on his first two deliveries. Therefore the hitter is assured to get at least one pitch he is looking for. He cannot be too choosey when he gets it.
The hitter is more successful if he.
1. Knows what pitch is coming
2. Knows what the action of these pitchers are
3. Knows the pitcher's tendencies in a given situation
INITIAL OBSERVATION
1. Observe the pitcher warming up in the bullpen prior to the game. Train your eye. Take note of the movement of his fastball, angle of the release, movement of the breaking ball, timing of the motion, and repertoire of pitches.
2. Closely observe the pitcher's initial 8 warm-ups to start the game. Here the pitcher will show you with his glove and deliveries what he has on the ball. Take note of his breaking pitches.
3. Observe the first two hitters' reactions to this pitcher's offerings. Take note of the timing of their swings to his pitches. Your reactions could be similar.
SECOND HAND KNOWLEDGE
1. Ask the first two hitters for knowledge as to fastball speed and movement, breaking ball speed and movement, release angle, etc.
FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE
1. Take the first pitch of the game (NOT the first pitch of every at-bat.) This is the lowest percentage pitch as far as getting a base hit. Take it to avoid the bad percentages and accrue first hand knowledge of the pitcher's repertoire.
2. Look for this same pitch on the second delivery. This follows Ted Williams' theory of "Don't swing at anything you haven't seen." If the pitcher throws the same pitch on the second delivery, you should be able to hit it effectively. If not, you accrue more knowledge. Chances are good that both will not be strikes.
PITCHING TENDENCIES
As a dependable rule of thumb, the following counts require the following pitches:
1. Fastball Counts: 3-0, 3-1, 2-0, 2-1, 1-0. This is 42% of the fastball/strike counts.
When the pitcher does not have control of his breaking pitches (less than 50% are strikes), 0-0 and 3-2 become fastball counts. This is 63% of the counts.
2. "Neutral" Counts: when the pitcher can throw anything -- 0-0, 1-1, 2-2. In Neutral Counts the hitter should set the timing of his mechanics between the fastball and the breaking ball and adjust up or down to the pitcher's choice.
3. Breaking Ball Counts: 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, and 3-2 with a runner on second base and first base open. In Breaking Ball Counts the hitter should set the timing of his mechanics to the breaking ball and use his inside-out stroke to adjust to the fastball.
OVERPOWERING PITCHERS OR LEFTY-LEFTY SITUATIONS
1. Look for the fastball up to two strikes. Then protect the outside corner. The odds are against any pitcher choosing to throw and getting over two breaking pitches in a row on his first two deliveries. Therefore the hitter is assured to get at least one pitch he is looking for. He cannot be too choosey when he gets it.
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