So if a pitcher is throwing over 80% strikes, what else can they do to make it so they “pitch to contact?” If the batters are swinging and missing or fouling pitches off that are in the zone what should change? I’m trying to just understand better.
Honestly, I think it's garbage. A great pitcher can have a 3 pitch inning or a 20 pitch inning. It's not that much in her control, and not much she can do about it.
We've all see a great pitcher go against a great batter, and the pitcher hits her spots with spin and speed and the batter fouls off 5 in a row. Anyone blaming the pitcher for that just doesn't understand, IMO.
I once had a mom of a 12U pitcher tell me her daughter was a ground ball pitcher. I had to hold back a laugh. I might believe calling a softball pitcher a ground ball pitcher if she's older and has a drop ball she uses a lot and uses effectively. But when you look at the stats of a 12U girl they give up fly balls, line drives and ground balls with the same percentages as most any 12U pitcher. And that's more about the batter's swings (or lack of swing mechanics) than anything the pitcher is doing.
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