Just throw strikes...........

[Boomers2012]

Hal, great article. I know you and I dont always agree but on that topic, I agree one thousand percent. Thanks for sharing.

 

[WinThemAll]

Hate to state the obvious, BUT at the younger age levels, throwing strikes will win you games against most teams. Pitchers who pick around the plate against weak teams can easily be beat.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

When my DD is fortunate enough to get ahead in the count when pitching (0-2, 1-2) I sometimes find myself yelling, "Just throw balls!".

I hate giving up hits on 0-2 and 1-2.

Sometimes they have to learn the hard way.

 

[Robert Thiebeau]

I have 4 head coaches on my team: (the headcoach) 1 from the Highschool(helperdad), One from 10u(helperdad), 1 12u(helperdad).
I rake the dirt and teach pitching.. I've had to talk to each of them about being capt. obvious (telling those that they will have to donate a dollar to the jar for our end of season dinner).. we could go to a brazillion steakhouse.
What they normally do when telling them to just "Play catch with the catcher" "Just pitch Stricke" "Just throw it to the glove" is to slow down the arm and watch that ball go 2' higher.

My favorite statement to the girls:
10yr old: (mine)Go back to your wii bowling if you get flustered.
The other pitcher its "Flamingo's" as her step gets smaller by the minute.
Just hearing those keys gets them back into rhythm.

(Yesterdays 12u game they threw 7 strikeouts (1d3s) 2walks in 4 innings. We let the catcher pitch in the 5th as it was 14-2.

 

[Lenski]

The truth of the matter is the further ahead the pitcher is in the count, the less likely the batter will get a hit. The further behind the pitcher gets in the count, the more likely the batter will get a hit.

MLB stats by count

Count 2000 2007 2008 2009
0-0 .336 .344 .337 .338
1-0 .343 .341 .339 .340
2-0 .360 .350 .355 .368
3-0 xxxx .396 .370 .395
0-1 .324 .324 .339 .317
1-1 .325 .327 .329 .332
2-1 .340 .339 .339 .339
3-1 .344 .368 .350 .352
0-2 .160 .164 .160 .156
1-2 .178 .170 .179 .171
2-2 .195 .191 .194 .189
Full .234 .230 .227 .233

 

[Robert Thiebeau]

so far in 10u and 12u: House league
The coaches cause more strike outs than anyone: How often have you heard yelled across the field.
Coach - "Aimee! Aimee!!! "It's 2 strikes, swing if its close!!!"
My second stat is below the knees is 70%+ of the strikes as quite a few girls can hit from their waist to just a foot over their helmet .
I've not had any 14u/18u experience. other than watching local HS.

 

[chinamigarden]

The truth of the matter is the further ahead the pitcher is in the count, the less likely the batter will get a hit. The further behind the pitcher gets in the count, the more likely the batter will get a hit.

MLB stats by count

Count 2000 2007 2008 2009
0-0 .336 .344 .337 .338
1-0 .343 .341 .339 .340
2-0 .360 .350 .355 .368
3-0 xxxx .396 .370 .395
0-1 .324 .324 .339 .317
1-1 .325 .327 .329 .332
2-1 .340 .339 .339 .339
3-1 .344 .368 .350 .352
0-2 .160 .164 .160 .156
1-2 .178 .170 .179 .171
2-2 .195 .191 .194 .189
Full .234 .230 .227 .233

Ever see the batting average for MLB on balls right down the middle?

 

[chinamigarden]

so far in 10u and 12u: House league
The coaches cause more strike outs than anyone: How often have you heard yelled across the field.
Coach - "Aimee! Aimee!!! "It's 2 strikes, swing if its close!!!"
My second stat is below the knees is 70%+ of the strikes as quite a few girls can hit from their waist to just a foot over their helmet .
I've not had any 14u/18u experience. other than watching local HS.

And some of those same coaches are telling the kids to not swing until there is 2 strikes because they are hoping for walks.

 

[NVfishing]

My DD had her first meltdown on the rubber this weekend. Some of it is the just throw strikes mentality from league coaches. I could see her demeanor change during the game. She came in during the 4th inning down 8-2 with the weight of the game on her shoulders. She allowed 1 run in her first inning and kind of fell apart in the 2nd. Trying to aim pitches instead of letting it rip. Her bad pitching is always when she slows down instead of explodes forward. I can tell instantly when she loses the leg drive. She steps to the left of the power line. Her hips close to quickly. It always happens when she thinks about the pitch more than just trusing in her ability.

 

[Hit by the Pitch]

Her bad pitching is always when she slows down instead of explodes forward. I can tell instantly when she loses the leg drive. She steps to the left of the power line. Her hips close to quickly. It always happens when she thinks about the pitch more than just trusing in her ability.

There is a lot going on here.