In
the pitcher vs hitter scenario, the pitcher has the advantage.
Hitters usually only get a hit every third or fourth time at
bat. You want your pitchers to think that they have a competitive
advantage over the hitters. At the same time they need to respect
their opponents, and to have a specific plan on how to confront
the hitters. Pitchers do not want hitters to get comfortable
in the batter's box when they face them; they want to create
doubt in the hitter's mind and keep them off-balance. Following
are some methods to keep hitters off balance.
Change
of speed
The most common pattern is to establish the fastball away to set-up
the change-up away. By getting the hitter to look for a fastball,
even an average change-up can fool the hitter. A variant of this
would be to establish the change-up away to set-up the fastball
away.
Change
of locations
For pitchers who can throw hard, this can be a very effective
sequence. The most common patterns are to establish fastballs
inside to set-up the fastball away.
Change
of planes
The most common pattern is to establish the fastball low to setup
the fastball high. The opposite is equally effective.
Climb
the ladder
This sequence works well against undisciplined hitters. A common
pattern is to throw a fastball up for a strike. If the batter
swings at it, throw the next one a little higher, if he chases
that, throw the next one a little higher.
Change
of speeds to the opposite location
The most common pattern is to throw a fastball on one side of
the plate to set up the change-up on the opposite side of the
plate.
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