MrHittingCoach wrote:rediman wrote:MrHittingCoach wrote:
Tip of the week: "hit your pitch, not hers!"
What if she doesn't throw your pitch, do you wait for your next at bat?
Good question Rediman.
I wouldn't recommend that approach.
How many pitchers have you seen hit the corners all game? Most hitters will see 1 good pitch to hit per ab, if you're lucky 2, depending on the level of play. What I am talking about is being aggressive on your pitch. Laying off her pitch early in the count and especially when you're ahead. Too many times hitters take a pitch down the middle, then swing at a tough one or vice-versa, to go down 0-2 or 1-2. Pitchers make mistakes. A lot of times people think you are teaching hitters to be unaggressive by telling them to lay off the pitcher's pitch. not so. It doesn't make sense to approach your entire ab like you have 2 strikes. pitchers love that...
I teach: 0-0, look for your pitch, if you get it, drive it! if she paints the corner away knee high, tip your hat and expand your zone. Then as the count progresses you adjust accordingly.
Be aggressive, but not for aggressiveness sake. You don't have to swing at every strike- don't let 'your' pitch go by either, it might be the only one you see that ab.
Thats all I'm sayin...
I agree to what you are saying up to a certain level of play. That approach works in rec ball and "B" level travel ball. You ask "How many pitchers have you seen hit the corners all game?" On "A" teams, most of them, and if you are looking for that mistake down the middle, your going to have a bad day. I teach "be aggressive from the time you step in the box. The first strike you see may be the best pitch you will see to hit, and it is probably on the black. And it won't get any better. You may see a mistake, but if you are looking for one, good luck.
I teach "your pitch is the one on the outside corner, on the black, look for it and drive it between the gaps. If she does make a mistake down the middle, turn on it, and put it over the fence" JMO
