When I pitched (yes baseball but I think it translates) if I knew a hitter's intent or strengths one of my favorite approaches was to give them what they want, but just a little too much. For example, if I knew they needed a ground ball to the right side I may give them the outside fastball they needed, but 2 or 3 inches too far outside, or a cutter moving too far off the plate. If he was a high ball hitter I may go up in the zone but just above the letters where it was hard to drive. I like the same approach to slappers. Start a pitch on the outside that moves off the plate or down or both, or a rise just off the outside corner. I also like inside drop curves and inside rise. One aspect I think is sometimes forgotten is adjusting your defense to your pitching approach.
Pitching to a Lefty slapper
- Thread starter dmasterson
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Chris Delorit
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Players like Dean Rice and Paul Rosebush could hit any pitch at any location whether it was in, near or nowhere near the strike zone most of the time. At times it didn't matter, but you also don't want free speed on base in most situations either.
mmeece mentioned some super points above, such as hitter's intent, strengths and defensive arrangement. Pitching to slappers can be a challenging physical and psychological chess match, both for the pitcher and for the hitter. So, outside of physical skills ability, it also can require the mental situational prowess that mmeece alluded to.
Chris
mmeece mentioned some super points above, such as hitter's intent, strengths and defensive arrangement. Pitching to slappers can be a challenging physical and psychological chess match, both for the pitcher and for the hitter. So, outside of physical skills ability, it also can require the mental situational prowess that mmeece alluded to.
Chris
Bill threw this nugget in at the end but it's a good one. Bad slappers are susceptible to change ups but we have definitely learned the hard way that good ones can make a quick adjustment and lay down a bunt that your defense will have zero chance of making a play on. Good stuff.
