The higher you go the less strikes you want to throw. I'd argue Montana Fouts threw less than 50 percent strikes. The difference is the better teams were disciplined enough to make her through more strikes.
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The higher you go the less strikes you want to throw. I'd argue Montana Fouts threw less than 50 percent strikes. The difference is the better teams were disciplined enough to make her through more strikes.
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Strikes on a stat line aren't the same as throwing a pitch in the strike zone. I feel like you're talking about the zone.
Wrong. Fouts got a tremendous amount of swings and misses out of the zone. The more disciplined teams made her throw it in the zone.
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I still don't think you follow my 60% stat but I don't have any more ways to explain it.
- May 13, 2023
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Add my .02 cents 
there are reasons why pitched/strike percentage can vary.
How strikes shake out are not completely dependent on the accuracy of a pitch.
Because the result of pitching is also reflective of the result of the batters. Means...
Wild pitching can be effective.
(Aka, Less controlled pitching)
Vs.
Basically 2 scenarios that could affect percentage~
Playing against less experienced batters a pitcher has more freedom. Batters are less apt to make good adjustments or swing decisions.
( batter swinging at not a great pitch creates more freedom for the pitcher. Also able to throw strike pitches by batters more easily)
Playing against the top tier hitters would not want to throw as many strikes. Because that would be serving up dinner! Want to make batters make bigger adjustments and smarter decisions.
( better batters can force a pitcher into a pitch count situation to need to throw a strike)
there are reasons why pitched/strike percentage can vary.How strikes shake out are not completely dependent on the accuracy of a pitch.This is an important part. Because sometimes pitches are intended to be strikes are not. And vice versa.
With good reason.
Because the result of pitching is also reflective of the result of the batters. Means...Wild pitching can be effective.
(Aka, Less controlled pitching)
Vs.
Great example how many purposeful strikes need to be thrown is reflective of the Batters actions.
Basically 2 scenarios that could affect percentage~
Playing against less experienced batters a pitcher has more freedom. Batters are less apt to make good adjustments or swing decisions.
( batter swinging at not a great pitch creates more freedom for the pitcher. Also able to throw strike pitches by batters more easily)
Playing against the top tier hitters would not want to throw as many strikes. Because that would be serving up dinner! Want to make batters make bigger adjustments and smarter decisions.
( better batters can force a pitcher into a pitch count situation to need to throw a strike)
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- Apr 14, 2022
- 588
- 63
A couple of thoughts continuing on this. A pitcher facing top hitters, statistically the most important thing is getting ahead. Top hitters do not normally become top hitters by chasing out of the zone particularly early in the count.
I would say the better the hitter, the more important throwing strikes early is.
I looked at 3 HOF pitchers.
Randy Johnson, s% 64. Fpsw% 33%, obp% was .06 lower when batter swung at first pitch (strike% brought down early in career before he became an all star. Probably closer to 65-66 most successful)
Greg Maddux, s% 66. fpsw% 37%, ob% was .01 lower when a hitter swung at first pitch.
Tom Glavin, s% 60, fpsw% 28%, ob% was about .03 lower when a batter swung.
I would say 65% s% +/- 5% is pretty optimal. What% of strikes out of zone I do not know. I would guess top hitters rarely swing outside of the zone.
- May 13, 2023
- 1,538
- 113
Interesting feedback that is relative to what the batter is doing. Result of the batters actions.
It seems pointless to me to talk about strike percentage because when a hitter makes contact it is considered a strike, and when a hitter swings and misses it's also a strike (obviously), but in both cases the pitch may have been out of the zone. Basically we are talking about whether the pitcher can execute their intention, throw a ball to a specific location, but the batter's actions keep us from knowing what the success rate was.
Are you saying most pitchers can't throw a curve? Even at fairly young age most pitchers seem to have a curve. Now some are sharp and move extremely well while others tend to have a much more rounded movement.
But if you're suggesting most kids let's say 14u and beyond don't have a curve I just can't get on board with that. Heck I have seen a few pitchers who throw curve almost exclusively (like 80% of their pitches in game).
- Apr 14, 2022
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Execution % is really more valuable. Strike % is not the best representation, but not horrible; a pitcher is trying to get a strike with almost every pitch even if it outside the zone.
The real issue with strike % is balls left over the plate that get crushed.
I think you can say low strike% a pitcher is missing the zone and/or not tempting the batter out of the zone.
First pitch strike % is a really key stat. You will not find very many successful pitchers with this low.
