As the Dad of a pitcher I loved it when kids changed their approach on 2 strikes.
How would you take advantage as a pitcher if the batter changed to a pre-launch position with 2 strikes against?As the Dad of a pitcher I loved it when kids changed their approach on 2 strikes.
I am just suggesting with 2 strikes and as a defensive move not to strike out, presetting at launch may work. With pitchers throwing harder and bats with extreme pop it doesn't take much to line one up the middle.
I am just suggesting with 2 strikes and as a defensive move not to strike out, presetting at launch may work. With pitchers throwing harder and bats with extreme pop it doesn't take much to line one up the middle.
But some batters do this, some go to a no stride approach with 2 strikes against, heck some major leaguers do it from time to time. And I would assume that in a game wouldn't be the first time they practiced this situation. It wouldn't be something that they rarely/never practiced, that would be insane.... It would be a situation that they planed forThe advantage is that the hitter has now switched to a style that they never/rarely practice, their timing will by definition be off, they have shown they are afraid, and they will now be swinging with their arms so the pitcher has no fear of a home run.
My point is the pitcher doesn't have to change her game at all on 2 strikes. Here is an example baseball chart that shows how dramatic this is.
BA sinks from 3s to below 2s for 2 strike counts. SLG goes from 5s-8s, to less than 3, which proves that most are just trying to poke the ball.
The pitcher needs to do nothing different - that's the point. Of course some hitters change their stance, but it hardly ever works out.
Hitters are stupid. They should keep the same approach on 2 strikes.
When ahead, a pitcher can use this to their advantage by trying to get the hitter to extend too much (swinging at a pitch off the plate or out of the zone).