change up locations.
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I think of it as a backward J-shape. The black portion is a strike at the edge of the strike zoneThe top of the backward-J is just below the batter's belt. The bottom of the backward-J is right at the bottom of the strike zone. Everything in the middle of the J, left of the J and above the J is "the forbidden zone".
The pitcher can throw anywhere on the black or in the green. The red is a no-no, unless you want the outfielders to get a workout by scrambling over the fence to retrieve the ball.
The inside is OK because, if the batter swings, they will almost always pull the ball.
The pitcher can throw anywhere on the black or in the green. The red is a no-no, unless you want the outfielders to get a workout by scrambling over the fence to retrieve the ball.
The inside is OK because, if the batter swings, they will almost always pull the ball.
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I typically call inside, low change ups, to compliment the drop ball.
I seen one of the uf pitchers throwing in the bullpen one day. She was alternating throwing the change up for a strike, above the knee middle, and throwing it low out of the zone in the dirt behind the plate. I don't know exactly what she was working on but it seemed like most were middle of the plate and she was moving it up and down.
Love Sluggers image...
Typically we go fast, high and inside and then throw the change up low and outside.
We also like to go drop ball away, change up away and off the plate. Batters swing at this combo a lot.
We go inside change up if the batter is pulling the ball foul already.
Typically we go fast, high and inside and then throw the change up low and outside.
We also like to go drop ball away, change up away and off the plate. Batters swing at this combo a lot.
We go inside change up if the batter is pulling the ball foul already.
I have found this very effective against a team that is aggressive at the plate. Throw 2 change ups inside which get pulled into the adjacent field as the other coach screams "WE DON'T SWING AT CHANGE UPS!". Now you are up 0 - 2 and they have no idea what to expect.
- Dec 7, 2011
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I also like to do alot of change-ups to coaches that yell this out loud to their batters
But I have to remind everyone - change-ups and dropballs (and riseballs) are as good as the catcher who can keep them IN THE GLOVE!
Looking back at DD's pre-college career it amazed me how many catchers could not stop pitches that one-hopped inbetween the back of the plate and the catchers feet. Leading to less called change-ups and drops.....I know it's hard BUT well trained and skilled catchers do it! I wish catchers training was at the level and consistency of pitchers training.
- Oct 22, 2009
- 1,779
- 0
I also like to do alot of change-ups to coaches that yell this out loud to their batters
But I have to remind everyone - change-ups and dropballs (and riseballs) are as good as the catcher who can keep them IN THE GLOVE!
Looking back at DD's pre-college career it amazed me how many catchers could not stop pitches that one-hopped inbetween the back of the plate and the catchers feet. Leading to less called change-ups and drops.....I know it's hard BUT well trained and skilled catchers do it! I wish catchers training was at the level and consistency of pitchers training.
I'm still getting 16u & 18u pitchers that cannot throw certain pitches because the coaches say the catchers cannot handle it.
I cannot understand why these coaches demand so much from their pitchers but could care less if their catcher can catch or not.
Greenmonsters
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The "backwards J" is also referred to by some as the "L"; regardless its a concept that is applicable to ALL pitches, not just the change up! I do like the J as it visually indicates that there's more area to work with on the outside corner and outside off the plate than with the L; however I like the L inside because the inside pitch can be very effective all the way up to the shoulders and should not be limited to below the belt; however, the danger is that an inside miss at or above the belt that catches too much plate likely will go very far.
Other thoughts:
1. A pitcher only needs to throw the ball over the plate if the umpire isn't calling/the batter isn't swinging at pitches off the plate!
2. "Hard in, soft away", "Up and in, down and away" etc. are good general strategies, but simplified descriptions rather than absolutes! In order to prevent a batter from locking in and sitting on a speed and location,implementing these strategies means that approx. 75-90% of the inside pitches are hard and that approx. 75-90 of the away pitches are soft.
3. A pitcher doesn't truly "have a pitch" if they can't throw it to ANY location i.e., a curve ball is not just thrown low and away.
4. Unless a pitcher has dominating speed or one killer pitcher, and I believe that pitcher is the exception, their success principally will be dependent on mixing speeds, pitches, and locations.
