- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
- 48
Anyone agree with this advice? Like to hear your reasoning either way.
It depends on the pitch location. If it a low outside changeup take it. If its a high hanging changeup let it rip.Anyone agree with this advice? Like to hear your reasoning either way.
Depends. If the hitter has the adjustability in their swing to be able to hit it hard, do it. If you can't make a decent swing, gamble for another chance at something better.
If you are prepared to hit it, why not? And I agree with your other point. DD is a pitcher so I am perfectly fine if the other team refuses to swing at her change upMy thought is if you never swing at a change-up with less than 2 strikes, as a pitching coach, guess what two pitches I'm going to call to get ahead in the count? As a batter if I can recognize a pitch as a change-up and I can get a good swing on it, why in the world would I just let it go by and get behind 0-2?
There's a frequent poster in the technical hitting forum that swears by the phrase "don't swing at change-ups unless you have 2 strikes" because you want to hit "your" pitch not the pitcher's pitch. Was just curious what others teach and why?
If you don't swing at the change and I identify that as your strategy you will see nothing but change-ups early in the count. Defensively we are tracking pitches so it becomes apparent quickly who is swinging at what.
If you face a pitcher who's primary pitch is her change-up (60% of her pitches are change ups) you are in trouble.
The reason coaches don't want you to swing at the change-up with less than two strikes is that the batter(s) do not know how to resist and properly hit a change-up (so what difference does it make).
A pitcher that throws a good change-up isn't betting that someone can't hit it. They are betting that three hitters in a row can't do it (which would lead to runs being scored).