Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Have A Pitching Plan

Approach every game with a Plan. Know what you want to do before hand. It's also a good practice to go through a simulated batting order in your mind the night before you're scheduled to pitch. Following is a sample Pitching Plan:

1. Dominate the outer half of the plate - most hitters lay-off the outside pitch early in the count. Most hitters will wait for a pitch they can turn on.

2. Get ahead in the count. Most hitters will take the first pitch. A Typical batting average will drop 100 points if the count starts 0 - 1. A first pitch strike makes a .200 hitter out of a .300 hitter.

3. Use your Fast Ball - both 2 seam and 4 seam. Most high school hitters have slider bat speed and have trouble catching up to a well-placed fast ball! Hang a slider or curve ball and a hitter's eyes light up and so does the score board! Occasionally pitch high and tight, the inside pitch at the letters will make your low and a way fast ball even more dominating. Use a different pitch sequence to set-up the hitter with an 0 - 2 count if you struck him out on that count in previous AB.

4. Keep in mind - "it's harder to hit than to pitch"! Keep the ball down and throw strikes and you will be successful. Hitters have to much to worry about. Remember, a .350 hitter will make an out 65% of the time! The odds for success are in your favor.

5. Work on your mechanics in practice - forget about mechanics during the game..

7. Be confident, pound the strike zone and let your teammates make the plays!

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