- Aug 21, 2008
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Throw riseballs. It's a fallacy to think you'll hit it before it goes up, at least a good rise.Because you'll do what (as a pitcher)?
Without going into the whole debate about a riseball's movement, even the most staunch advocate believers that the ball actually goes up SHOULD admit that the ball needs help from trajectory. I don't think anyone believes the ball could be going down, then suddenly pop back up like an airplane aborting a landing. Regardless of where you on the riseball debate, anyone who believes that type of movement needs to give their heads a shake.
But what can't really be debated is, a trajectory is needed. So, if you are buying this so far, then immediately out of the hand the ball should be on an incline. Which means you're basically trying to hit the ball as it's moving through the zone. I can tell you from experience, both in the batter's box and in the pitcher's circle, moving up in the box doesn't work. Not against a GOOD riseball.
A better argument could be made about doing this for a dropball, since those typically have a later break than a riseball which is (or should be) moving continuously. However....
I've never seen an elite hitter in men's fastpitch or on the US women's Olympic team who doesn't stay as far back as they possibly can. Slappers will usually try to kick out the front line of the batter's box to obscure where their feet are when they make contact, most everyone else is in the far back and they kick out the back line of the batter's box so they can keep moving back. About once a game my catcher would have to make the umpire get the hitter to move up, and try to be level with where they think the line should be or where it is in the other side batter's box. Come to think of it, I've never seen anyone in MLB who didn't go to the back of the box either.