Bill asks the legitimate question, “How exactly does one "go for the strikeout"?” I have asked the converse question several times, how does one pitch to put the ball in play, or more specifically to hit the bat? The real question should be is there a significant difference between how one approaches an at bat if the intent is to strike the batter out or have them put the ball in play for a specific outcome?
Doesn’t a pitcher working for a strike out pitch away from the batters strength? Does a pitcher working for a ground ball only throw pitches that will be hit on the ground no matter what? What happens when the pitcher’s strength is the batters strength and vice versa, when the pitchers weakness is the batters weakness? How does the count affect the strategy? How do the previous pitch/pitches affect the strategy?
Is there a significant difference in how one sequences an at bat?
How does one resolve the following scenario: 3-2 count; bases loaded and game on the line; tough batter-tough pitcher, no real weaknesses; the batter fouls off the previous pitch which is just off the plate and the pitch was the strike out pitch and/or the pitch that was suppose to be put in play for the final out. Is the next pitch different if the intent is to get a strike out or to put the ball in play for the out?
To be frank, I believe that both mentalities are flawed. The pitcher’s mentality should be to work effectively and efficiently – one pitch at a time. The next pitch will be my best pitch. Most pitchers will have a chance at success if they develop a routine that gives them confidence - that includes how they practice, warm-up and what they do between pitches without any preconceived notion of outcome.
A pitchers job is to make the batter miss and that includes anything that is not hit well. A pitcher can be very successful with a 1 strike out and 1 hit per inning average if they don’t walk anyone and have a decent defense. A pitcher can lose with a 2+ strike outs per inning average for a variety of reasons.
A pitcher’s focus should be on process not outcome. To that end I suggest a third mentality: approach the game as if every pitch is a 3-0 count. How many times have you seen a pitcher get in a 3-0 count and battle back to a successful conclusion? It happens enough to make you wonder what changed. Sometimes it is a strikeout, sometimes it is a 1 pitch popup and sometimes it is a battle. But, in every case the pitcher’s focus and mentality changed after throwing 3 wasted pitches. It proves that it can be called up on command. It proves that a pitcher can make every pitch count and typically not every pitch is in the strike zone if the at-bat lasts for several pitches. It proves that a pitcher can work without wasting any pitches. It is a process driven scenario rather than outcome driven. The next pitch has to be good enough for the batter to swing and miss or the umpire to call it a strike. It has to be my best pitch. Why not have that mentality on every pitch?
What is the 3-0 mentality and how do you practice it and repeat it for 7 innings?
Doesn’t a pitcher working for a strike out pitch away from the batters strength? Does a pitcher working for a ground ball only throw pitches that will be hit on the ground no matter what? What happens when the pitcher’s strength is the batters strength and vice versa, when the pitchers weakness is the batters weakness? How does the count affect the strategy? How do the previous pitch/pitches affect the strategy?
Is there a significant difference in how one sequences an at bat?
How does one resolve the following scenario: 3-2 count; bases loaded and game on the line; tough batter-tough pitcher, no real weaknesses; the batter fouls off the previous pitch which is just off the plate and the pitch was the strike out pitch and/or the pitch that was suppose to be put in play for the final out. Is the next pitch different if the intent is to get a strike out or to put the ball in play for the out?
To be frank, I believe that both mentalities are flawed. The pitcher’s mentality should be to work effectively and efficiently – one pitch at a time. The next pitch will be my best pitch. Most pitchers will have a chance at success if they develop a routine that gives them confidence - that includes how they practice, warm-up and what they do between pitches without any preconceived notion of outcome.
A pitchers job is to make the batter miss and that includes anything that is not hit well. A pitcher can be very successful with a 1 strike out and 1 hit per inning average if they don’t walk anyone and have a decent defense. A pitcher can lose with a 2+ strike outs per inning average for a variety of reasons.
A pitcher’s focus should be on process not outcome. To that end I suggest a third mentality: approach the game as if every pitch is a 3-0 count. How many times have you seen a pitcher get in a 3-0 count and battle back to a successful conclusion? It happens enough to make you wonder what changed. Sometimes it is a strikeout, sometimes it is a 1 pitch popup and sometimes it is a battle. But, in every case the pitcher’s focus and mentality changed after throwing 3 wasted pitches. It proves that it can be called up on command. It proves that a pitcher can make every pitch count and typically not every pitch is in the strike zone if the at-bat lasts for several pitches. It proves that a pitcher can work without wasting any pitches. It is a process driven scenario rather than outcome driven. The next pitch has to be good enough for the batter to swing and miss or the umpire to call it a strike. It has to be my best pitch. Why not have that mentality on every pitch?
What is the 3-0 mentality and how do you practice it and repeat it for 7 innings?
