- Aug 21, 2008
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Well, I try to keep the change up low. In fact, I tell my pitchers that I want them to bounce it on the plate. They should throw it for a ball, not a strike. If they throw it for a called strike by the ump, then ok you got lucky. But I want my change to be down low (usually away instead of inside).
When do we throw a change? It's when we're calculating and betting the hitter is going to swing. This is the cat and mouse part of it. So If I'm betting he's going to swing, I don't want the ball where he can hit it. Which means, they are first fooled by the speed difference. But then the ball down low, as low as possible means the hitter is now going to have a very awkward swing. Even if they do hit the ball, it's not likely to be very solid considering the pitch's speed and location. However, the higher the change up, the easier it is for the hitter to still make better contact. Even being off balance on his/her front foot due to the speed difference, if they can hold their hands back enough, a change up that hangs too long can be punched over the shortstop's head. But, if the pitch is low, that secondary movement the hitter needs to do just to make contact isn't going to result in a solid hit.
If anyone tries telling you "if you throw it for a ball they won't swing at it" simply doesn't know what they're talking about. Anyone who's ever played fastpitch will tell you that we've all looked like absolute fools swinging at change ups, including ones that are no where near the strike zone. Is there a such thing as a "change rise" and can it get someone out? Of course. Situationally any pitch can get anyone out. But, I play the percentages and I always go back to this: in 2024 with the bats and balls used today, a pop fly is dangerous. Even by a 12 yr old, 90 lbs slapper can hit a ball 250' these days. All she's gotta do is get the ball in the air, and as I said with the bats and balls of today there's a decent shot to take it yard.
Percentage wise, a change up that hangs, floats or is just simply high has a better chance of being hit well than a change that is kept as low as possible. If you are betting the hitter is going to swing, which pitch has the better chance to get someone out?
This is also starts to go into the topic of picking pitches. Picking the pitcher is almost the only way anyone is going to step in the box and hit an 88 mph Adam Folkard riseball. The ability to pick pitchers is an art form. I know guys who keep notebooks in their bags, listing all the top pitchers. They write down their tendencies like which pitches they tend to throw in certain counts or situations. And they'll write down their pick they have on said pitcher. The pitcher may hold their glove different on one pitch vs. another, the hand can be buried further into the glove on a change up, etc. These are things the guys keep in their notebooks which are guarded like Ft. Knox. They will not share their info. But a coach who can pick the change up in particular is absolutely massive. That not only helps the hitter to know what's coming but, it can really mess with the pitcher's head. Pitchers are usually pretty good at picking other pitchers.
