One of our most important Pitching Strategies is to throw the first pitch for a strike. So important! WHY? The reason is that if we are pitching ahead in THE COUNT, we are pitching in OUR favor. In other words, look at the data below. WE have to pitch ahead in the COUNT. Focus hard on “Throwing the First Pitch for a Strike!” You have to develop a MINDSET that allows you to throw strikes. This involves proper practice, throwing set-ups, etc.

 

The HITTER’s “BATTING AVERAGE” at different PITCH COUNTS

PITCHER ahead in the count:  “PITCHER's COUNT”

Count Batting Average

                                0-0   .186 (1st pitch hitter)

0-2    .118

1-2    .151

2-2    .169

3-2    .192

0-1    .199

 

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HITTER ahead in the count:      “HITTER’s COUNT”

Count Batting Average

3-0   .267

1-1   .269

2-1   .290

3-1   .329

1-0   .342

2-0   .386

 

A) The data tells us that there are two different types of Pitch Counts: A “Pitcher’s Count” and a “Hitter’s Count”. If the Pitcher is ahead in the count: (0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 0-0, 3-2, 0-1), then the Hitter’s Batting Average is less than .200.

B) If the Hitter is ahead in the count: (3-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 1-0, 2-0), then the Hitter’s Batting Average is greater than .267 and as high as .386. 

As you can see from the data above, we have to focus on one aspect of pitching that is critical at any level of baseball, and that is getting ahead in the “Pitch Count” and staying ahead in the “Pitch Count”.

Our Coaching Point is to make sure our young pitcher understands the importance of Pitch Control (controlling every pitch) and getting ahead in the Pitch Count and staying ahead in the Pitch Count.

We want the pitcher to understand the importance of “control” and the ability to locate their pitches to each type of hitter’s weakness. Make sure that our pitcher is working on two good pitches and is adding a third pitch.