Targeted pitching strategy

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Mar 20, 2017
47
8
Madison, WI
DD pitches for a good second-year 12A team. Twice in a row, they've found themselves facing the same team late on Sunday, and walked away on the losing end. We will see this team again, and DD has asked what she can do to have a better chance of beating them next time.

I would like to use this as a learning opportunity if possible, and am curious if anyone has any suggestions. She's already gone through the pitch tracking and GameChanger stats and written down what pitches/locations worked and didn't work against certain batters. She talked in detail with her pitching coach about the game and how to approach the hitters that gave her trouble. She found a couple of their games on YouTube and suggested we watch them together and take notes. I'm thrilled at her passion for this, but want to channel her energy in the right direction. Any thoughts on whether this is time well spent focusing so much on one opponent?

Thanks!
JF
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
This should be the pitching coaches job (assuming that team has one) That's the whole point of tracking pitches is to get an upper hand on the opponents. I love the fact your DD is doing this, there's not enough of that in my opinion. Also pay attention to the batters feet placement in the box, how they stride, how they swing (cast or over rotated) hands low or high, over stride, bat drag, wrist roll. Etc....
Take notes on this stuff and have a game plan the second time through the line up. Or from pitch to pitch...
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,218
113
USA
This should be the pitching coaches job (assuming that team has one) That's the whole point of tracking pitches is to get an upper hand on the opponents. I love the fact your DD is doing this, there's not enough of that in my opinion. Also pay attention to the batters feet placement in the box, how they stride, how they swing (cast or over rotated) hands low or high, over stride, bat drag, wrist roll. Etc....
Take notes on this stuff and have a game plan the second time through the line up. Or from pitch to pitch...

.....and to go along with the above advice, have her go through it with the team's catchers.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
My DD found this out pitching on Sunday in the SEC. They have seen you for a day or two so now you have to mix it up. More off speed, change planes more often, and sometimes just pitch to contact. It is better to throw something that they cannot hit well, than to tube one trying to get one by them. Sometimes she would hold a pitch in reserve and not throw it until the 2nd or 3rd look. This is why most top level programs are build pitching staffs similar to baseball. SC played Oklahoma twice and each game when Lowary came in late they could not hit her. Not only was it their first look at her, they had just faced a pitcher that was very different.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
For a strategy to work, the pitcher has to be able to hit her spots 90% of the time.

Perhaps it would be best for her to work mainly on location, speed and movement rather than strategy and tactics.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
For a strategy to work, the pitcher has to be able to hit her spots 90% of the time.

Perhaps it would be best for her to work mainly on location, speed and movement rather than strategy and tactics.

I would agree with this 100% if we weren't talking about 12u A level... In my opinion, an A level pitcher should be able to hit her spots more times than not.
However, like Sluggers said, all of that tracking is moot if she's not hitting her spots!
For example, If I've studied a batter and see that she steps out in her stride, and over rotates. It's clear to me that she'll struggle with outside pitches... so, I'll call an away pitch. We now have to trust that the pitcher will stay on that outside edge. If she misses and throws inside, she's now in that hitters wheel house to pull a ball down the left line. OOPS! If she'd stayed outside it'd probably have been a swing and miss or a weak dribbler to the 2B....
The priority of all pitchers should be the 3 S's... Spin, Spot, and Speed. If she can control these at least 75% of the time, then tracking becomes a valuable tool.
 
Mar 20, 2017
47
8
Madison, WI
Thanks for all of the responses, very helpful. In my case, DD is taking this on because she wants to improve, and hates the thought of losing to this team again. I want to help channel her energy in a way that makes sense based on her age/ability, but nothing decided here will take away from her every day regimen of pitching at practice, lessons and at home. What I'm not going to say is, "sorry but you only hit your spots about 80% of the time, so any strategy you come up with is useless". If anything, if she leaves a low and away fastball over the plate and watches it get whacked, it will reinforce the importance of hitting her spots and the fact that her game plan is useless without proper execution. If I can get her at 11YO to think about how pitch location impacts the result, and then introduce the things coach james mentioned around batter location in the box, swing mechanics, etc. I feel like she's probably headed in the right direction from a pitcher maturity perspective.

Thanks again...really appreciate everyone taking the time to reply.

JF
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
It's a fantastic opportunity, but after the first spring tournament I know she's feeling the pressure that comes with an expectation to win.

You may want to encourage her to not focus on winning, but rather on throwing good pitches. Throw good pitches and the winning will take care of itself. Control the controlables!
 

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