Sunday, April 18, 2021

Swing to the Count

     In the box you should have a plan for each pitch. Count, score, number of outs are important but #1 is always see the ball out of the pitchers hand with both your eyes. Most hitters turn their head at release point so they see the ball with one eye. That's a huge advantage you give to the pitcher. Fix it. 

     0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-0, 3-1 bases empty=Do Damage(extra base hits). You are in a position to swing hard. It's not your most accurate swing but if you square the ball up you should hit it hard. Try to get the ball in the air. The worst AB is an easy out on a roll over ground ball on an 0-0 pitch. "Thanks for nothing meat, doesn't help us win at all" Everything changes with guys in scoring position. If I can hit it on the barrel in the air I'm swinging at it to get my STEAKS=RBI. Be aggressive and see it up. The pitcher locks it in because those guys in scoring position effect his ERA. Ruin his ERA and his day. Bad dudes love hitting when the pitcher is trying the most, go to work.

        Early in the game I think 0-1, 1-1 are takes, unless there are guys in scoring position. You want to know how the pitcher is going to try to execute on you all day. Pitchers pitch in patterns almost always, find out his game plan as a lineup. Work as a group, talk to each other about what you see.  Gain info early. Talk about how his pitches move and the umpire's zone. If the 1-1 pitch is a strike, tap in and go to work. If the 1-1 pitch is a ball, you're in a great position 2-1. Listen to what Johnny College pitching coach says to his pitcher. If he gets super pissed when his guy walks people, thats good for you to know. 3-0 is a Gangster hack if you get the green light. I think if the game is close it should be a take but if you are up, 3-0 is a good spot to let it eat. 3-1 is a good count but I like to take with guys on base, because you can start the runner(s) 3-2 and open up holes for the hitter. If you are taking for sure you don't have to load much but stand right on the plate and see the ball out of the pitchers hand. Gain info that you can use later in the game. A Strike out is an out, it's the same thing as grounding out to SS. It's a part of the game, just like every other failure that's inevitable. Coaches, stop over emphasizing the K. It makes your kids say "Don't Strike Out" every time they get 2 strikes. Your brain can't process the NT so it says "Strike Out" Instead, encourage them to relax and having a quality AB.

Pitchers are taught to throw strikes. Walks are the worst thing a pitcher can do. WAIT WHAT? A HOMER scores a run, a walk could be a double play 2 pitches later. Pitch to win the game. At the plate, a K is looked at as a bad out however grounding out to the pitcher because "you put it in play"is a better out. The worst out is a double play. Be patient early, make the pitcher prove to you he can throw strikes. Tap in and go to work with 2 strikes early so you can see how the pitcher and the Johnny College Coach calling pitches are going to try to get you out. Foul off executed pitches with 2 strikes. Love hitting 0-2, it's usually going to be a ball, especially if the pitching coach is calling pitches. 0-2 is the best time to steal. See it up, if the ball bounces before the catcher, the ump can't call it a strike. If you are 0-2, work the count back to 2-2 and you win. Get drilled, walk or get a 2 strike knock and you crush the pitchers Soul, yup! You need walks and HBP to win games. Take pride in finding ways on base. 

    Stand on the plate with 2 strikes. You won't because you are scared of the ball but trust me it doesn't hurt that bad even if the dude is bringing it. When you stand on the plate with 2 strikes and choke up you are taking half the plate away from the pitcher. 

Have consistent good abs. A lot more on this but the result doesn't matter. Control what you can control. Have a plan for this pitch. Practice your different count swings. Be a tough out. Make the pitcher say to himself in his head, when you are walking up to the dish. "Not this Dude again."

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