Pitching off of the Fastball?

[Steve Huff]

Just for the sake of debate, I would like to ask opinion about pitching off of the fastball. In other words the Fastball is the pitcher's primary pitch. I get asked this question a lot in Europe, and I enjoy answering it.

Allowing that her fastball is AT or above average in speed.
And allowing that she has very good control of her fastball.
And finally it is the ONE pitch she can throw over 80% of the time for a strike on the corner, touching or splitting the "black" at the knees.

At what level do you think this pitcher must stop pitching off of her fastball? When does she look effectiveness against good hitters or competitive edge?

 

[CoachFP]

What do you mean by "pitching off of her fastball". If you mean that it is her primary pitch that she excells in above all of the others then the answer is never.

 

[Steve Huff]

What do you mean by "pitching off of her fastball". If you mean that it is her primary pitch that she excells in above all of the others then the answer is never.

I think I need to reword it and will!

 

[cshilt]

If she can hit the four corners of the strike zone on the black 80% of the time, I'm not going to tell her to stop unless it is getting crushed.

 

[Lozza]

Just for clarification case SB are you saying that pitchers stop throwing fastballs full stop? They only throw drops and change ups at 13?

 

[Steve Huff]

I want them to stop throwing low fastballs around age 13 in favor of a drop. Or a change as situation permits. So that takes the low knees fastball out of the equation.

The fastball disappears for good travel pitchers as a junior in HS and certainly by college, so I am not sure why everyone is so attached to discussing it.

If the pitcher can't throw the so-called 80% perfect placement fastball (which I think is a myth) then she must throw a fastball until when, senior in HS? Old age? Do you tell her to quit,, then?

Can you really see that and do the math from the dugout? If so then umps should stand there too.

Well it appears there is a mixed response to your view, which I knew would happen, and that is why I brought it up. I will wait a few days before I weigh in.

 

[lhowser]

So far the highest level I have coached and called pitches is high level travel 16u. With that as my experience I think:

1) If you can throw that fastball to both sides of the plate 80% of the time you can be very successful pitching off of it.

2) Just because you are pitching off of it doesn't mean it has to be your first pitch in the count

3) You have to have another very good pitch that changes speed and thus plane. This will effect timing and keep 'em guessing.

4) You have to be able to throw that fast ball with command up and in. Throwing in and off the plate is important to get some foul ball strikes off the handle and take some ownership of the plate.

5) Just because she can throw strikes 80% of the time doesn't mean she should.

At what level do you think this pitcher must stop pitching off of her fastball? When does she lack effectiveness against good hitters or competitive edge?

Never if that is her style and she has learned to make the most of it.

 

[RubberBiscuit]

So I have seen a couple "great" fastball placement pitchers be stars of the local (and big) hs conference and find themselves ROCKED at the CO sparkler. To me, for the national level, great fastball pitchers will not cut it.

 

[CoachFP]

I will say this again and again. If you have a very good fastball and can spot it on a dime and have an idea how to pitch, you can be an elite pitcher. I am not talking about a 55 mph fastball. If you can get it 63-64 and have excellent control and a good changeup you can dominate college hitters. I say this from a vantage point of having pitched hundreds and hundreds of games myself. Don't get me wrong, movement is great, location is much better.

 

[GOINGDEEP]

Great topic Steve. This is my favorite pitching argument with FP people.

First let's get the equation out of the way.

A world class female pitcher who throws a 68mph pitch released at 38 ft would allow the hitter .381 of a second to react, which equates to a 95 MPH pitch in baseball.
A world class male windmill pitcher who throws an 80mph pitch released at 40 feet would allow the hitter . 341 of a second, which relates to a 106mph pitch in baseball.
An 80mph pitch in the men's fastpitch game is 117.33 ft/second which gives the batter standing 40ft from the release point .341 of a second to hit the ball.
A 95mph pitch is 139.33 ft/sec, which gives the batter standing 53ft from the release point .380 of a second to hit the ball. A baseball pitcher would have to throw the ball 155.42 ft/sec to accomplish the .341 reaction time for the baseball batter. This equates to a 106 mph fastball.

As the FP game is set up now, do you want a specialized FB "only" pitcher? not really If the specialized pitcher could be used correctly and face certain batters in the line up and situations like in BB? yes I think the FP game is moving in that direction, the bats and batters are getting hotter and hotter through advanced training techniques. Whoever starts the trend will be considered a genius once they work out the bugs. Can you imagine going to the bullpen for a left-handed specialist, a setup relief pitcher, and then a closer. All who specialize with 2 or less effective pitches. ( and usually one of those is a FB )

The FB should be used in 2 scenarios. As a set up pitch or a knock out pitch. ( but not everyone can sell and deliver the product.

1. As a knock out example. I'm going to get my DD to start off with a screw ( LH pitcher ) on the outside corner. ( a curve for RH pitcher ) If we get the called strike, or batter is "wanting" I'm going with more heat ( FB ) off the plate for a chase. Then I might go with CU on the corner. ( at that time DD has worked 3 different speeds to keep them guessing ) But I've also set a mind plunk by working on one corner. If the outside CU was my last pitch and the count is whatever and 2, I may be inclined to go "turbo" with a inside screaming FB. The batter has seen at least 3 speeds all in same general location and the lowest speed last, I'm going opposite with 2 factors " inside and my fastest pitch ". this pitcher usually has more mojo than the set up pitcher

2. As a set up example. Some use the FB to set up their best breaking pitch. The key here is keeping the FB away from the zone. Back in my day we called it "nibbling" at the plate. Let's say you have a drop ball pitcher, I'd probably yo-yo the drop and FB, meaning using the drop in the zone with the FB out of the zone. Same with the corners, "nibble" with a FB and come in with your movement pitches.

A FB is no different than any other pitch. Some can pull it off and use it and some can't. Just like some DD's will never have a good screw or turn over drop. Some have a "tail" on their FB, a late knuckling like effect which makes the pitch even more deadly.

Should most rely on just a FB, no. Should you abandon it's practical and occasional use if used wisely, no.