calling pitches

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gvm

Sep 3, 2010
311
18
throwing fast, curve, change, drop, for 1st pitch strikes is not being predictable. AND your never going to always get the call from the ump, and your not going to always hit your spot, no matter who you are. Call your pitches using your pitchers strengths. you do not want to face a teams best hitter and your throwing your 4th best pitch.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Our pitchers are throwing about 70-80% strikes with 65-75% first pitch strikes. Those include swing and miss along with looking. Again our pitchers try not to throw the entire ball over the plate. We want a piece of the ball to knick the edge of the plate(our goal, not always accomplished). We hit our spots plenty. Our spots just aren't over the plate.

"Obviously you must be counting on the batters not being selective enough." - No. Actually, we just work the corners. If we get that call or get a swing we work a couple inches off the corners. We keep going, and going until we no longer get either a call or a swing. Then we bring it back in a couple inches. If you move the target in our out a couple inches off the plate at a time, you will be surprised at what you will get someone to swing at and/or what will get called a strike.

Got it ... the notion is to throw 25% of the pitches that would just touch the plate, to work the ball slightly out from there, and in the process collect 70-80% strikes along with 65-75% first-pitch strikes.

I completely agree with well controlled misses and the magic that comes when having the control to throw a 'ball' very close to a 'strike'.

What would you say about a HS Varsity pitcher that finished their season with 57% strikes and 52% first-pitch strikes? How about a different pitcher that finished their season with 61% strikes and 53% first-pitch strikes?
 
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ok so weekend pitching stats for DD using new wristbands which IMO helped greatly so no confusion on which pitch to throw between the catch and pitcher. #P 275, BF 77, IP 14 FPS 50-77 so 65%, K's 20, BB/Inn .536, weak%.852, K/BB 2.7 are those #s where we should be or which ones should I work on with her.? oh also keyed in on her spin for the cu which has bullet spin the same as her fb.
 
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JJS

Jan 9, 2015
276
0
Got it ... the notion is to throw 25% of the pitches that would just touch the plate, to work the ball slightly out from there, and in the process collect 70-80% strikes along with 65-75% first-pitch strikes.

I completely agree with well controlled misses and the magic that comes when having the control to throw a 'ball' very close to a 'strike'.

What would you say about a HS Varsity pitcher that finished their season with 57% strikes and 52% first-pitch strikes? How about a different pitcher that finished their season with 61% strikes and 53% first-pitch strikes?

Sorry. Hadn't checked the site in a while.

I would say that the pitchers you are describing don't subscribe to my pitching philosophy.

Well, there are two options here. They could be average HS athletes that are decent pitchers, but give up too many walks, too many hits and throw some mistakes over the plate. However, that wouldn't be the fun answer.

The other, more exciting option is option #2. They are the extremely successful, All-State caliber pitchers with electric stuff. Runs high in counts. Probably has quite a few walks per game, but still strikes out well more than they walk. Their line would look more like 5 BB, 15 K's, 2 Hits, 0 Runs. They are the type of girl that can walk the bases loaded before striking out 3 straight. At a younger age, as this pitcher is learning they are probably a feast or famine type pitcher. As they get older and experienced they become more refined and limit their misses somewhat to cut down on walks and big hits.

Both the above pitchers are not much different, mentally that is. The difference in pitchers I described are more likely their "stuff".
 
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JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Got it ... the notion is to throw 25% of the pitches that would just touch the plate, to work the ball slightly out from there, and in the process collect 70-80% strikes along with 65-75% first-pitch strikes.

I completely agree with well controlled misses and the magic that comes when having the control to throw a 'ball' very close to a 'strike'.

What would you say about a HS Varsity pitcher that finished their season with 57% strikes and 52% first-pitch strikes? How about a different pitcher that finished their season with 61% strikes and 53% first-pitch strikes?

I would like to point out that HS ball and high level TB are two completely different things. I know the quality of HS ball can vary in different areas of the country, but we typically go after hitters in HS because most teams only have one or two batters that can hurt you. I bet our first strike percentage is @ 80% and overall strike percentage is 70% or better. There is no reason to throw "waste pitches" to a batter who cannot get around on a fastball.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
I would like to point out that HS ball and high level TB are two completely different things. I know the quality of HS ball can vary in different areas of the country, but we typically go after hitters in HS because most teams only have one or two batters that can hurt you. I bet our first strike percentage is @ 80% and overall strike percentage is 70% or better. There is no reason to throw "waste pitches" to a batter who cannot get around on a fastball.


Nor is there a reason to throw strikes if hitters will swing at balls (which still requires good location!). Why push your luck?
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Sorry. Hadn't checked the site in a while.

I would say that the pitchers you are describing don't subscribe to my pitching philosophy.

Well, there are two options here. They could be average HS athletes that are decent pitchers, but give up too many walks, too many hits and throw some mistakes over the plate. However, that wouldn't be the fun answer.

The other, more exciting option is option #2. They are the extremely successful, All-State caliber pitchers with electric stuff. Runs high in counts. Probably has quite a few walks per game, but still strikes out well more than they walk. Their line would look more like 5 BB, 15 K's, 2 Hits, 0 Runs. They are the type of girl that can walk the bases loaded before striking out 3 straight. At a younger age, as this pitcher is learning they are probably a feast or famine type pitcher. As they get older and experienced they become more refined and limit their misses somewhat to cut down on walks and big hits.

Both the above pitchers are not much different, mentally that is. The difference in pitchers I described are more likely their "stuff".

Unfortunately the first answer was correct.
 

JJS

Jan 9, 2015
276
0
Unfortunately the first answer was correct.

So, my next question would be why? What is their weakness? Lack of practice, Lack of talent, lack of coaching, lack of mechanics, lack of mental toughness? Any and all of these things can be corrected. First identify the problem. Then they can solve it if they have the desire to.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
So, my next question would be why? What is their weakness? Lack of practice, Lack of talent, lack of coaching, lack of mechanics, lack of mental toughness? Any and all of these things can be corrected. First identify the problem. Then they can solve it if they have the desire to.

IMO the importance of mastering a few select pitches is not well accepted. Neither is it appreciated that it would take (what would appear to some) many long, boring, and monotonous practices to develop mastery of a few pitches.

It's a tough message to sell.
 
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