What's The Count?
04/01/2010, 12:17pm (EST)
By BPM
The count is 0-2. The bases are loaded. There are two outs. Your best hitter is at the plate. It's a late October night in 2006. A trip to the World Series is on the line. He takes strike one. He fouls off the next pitch. The stadium is shaking. Here comes the third pitch. The bat doesn't leave his shoulder. The fans are stunned. Their World Series dreams broken with one of the most haunting pitches in Mets history. Should Beltran be scorned for not swinging or should Wainwright be credited for probably making, what will be the most brilliant pitch of his career? BPM asked hitting specialist, Joe Francisco and pitching specialist Hector Duprey to give us an inside look as to what goes through the mind of both the pitcher and hitter in this ultimate baseball battle.
Pitcher’s Perspective
Teddy Rohrs, Adelphi University
There are many variables taken into consideration when a pitcher is deciding how to throw to a hitter. He needs to know the inning, the score, and the type of hitter; gap to gap, power or situational, and of course if there are runners on, or if there is an open base. All in all, it's a mind game. Let's take a look at each count (0-2, 3-1, 3-2), the technical advantage, the potential outcome, and a few suggestions that might help you throughout the battle.
0-2: ADVANTAGE PITCHER
The 0-2 count is an ideal count for a pitcher. You should be in complete control of this matchup and its outcome. You have an abundance of options of how to pitch to the batter. At this moment, you now consider and analyze the type of hitter you're facing and develop the course of action. The most conventional idea would be to move the hitters' eye levels around by pitching up, down, in or out with what we call a “waste pitch.” The waste pitch will help create our “out pitch” by allowing you to go the complete opposite way from the previous waste pitch. The “out pitch” typically means fastball high or in, or off speed pitch down or away.
This scenario, if done correctly by the pitcher, would be most effective. However, occasionally in a game we can do the complete opposite and not waste a pitch. The pitcher and catcher notice tendencies throughout the at bat and recognize that the hitter is guessing each pitch or just being completely dominated on the previous pitches. This will have the catcher make the pitcher shake him off multiple times to have him freeze the hitter with a fastball. Strike three!
According to Joe Posnanski at SI.com, “Batters in the last ten years average .162 with an 0-2 count.”
3-1: ADVANTAGE HITTER
You're behind in the count and variables must be considered. Who's at the plate? Have you faced this batter before and do you know his strengths and weaknesses? What if there is an open base? In a situation where the hitter is one of the stronger in the line up, you may decide to “pitch backwards.” Both you and hitter are looking to be aggressive, and you want to use this to your advantage. The hitter may be looking for his pitch, which many times is a fastball, middle in. You throw him an off speed pitch and he many swing through, pop up or ground out. When the gap to gap hitter comes to the plate most pitchers usually like to attack with something he's willing to hit. Because of his willingness to hit to all fields, you must try and win the guessing game and keep him off balance. To do this you must be aware of his tendencies and how he has been taking the previous pitches. Is he stepping in the bucket, dropping his hands, taking a long stride or moving his head? With that in account you can choose to use your fastball effectively by hitting your desired location or get him to use his aggressiveness to swing at an off speed pitch for a ground out or a fly out. Out of a jam!
3-2: ADVANTAGE TOSS UP
Don't be afraid. This is the win the battle situation! You’re one pitch from an out, a walk or a hit. The assumption is that it's a fastball count. This creates a bit of pressure on the pitcher because the guessing game at this point is now virtually gone. You have to battle and make a great pitch here. Bring out your great fastball and win this battle! You do not want to give in and walk the hitter, or allow him to beat you on your second best fastball. Step up to the challenge and win. Nonetheless, if you're a crafty and confident pitcher and you know you can control any pitch in most situations, then you can really cross a hitter up in this spot with a nasty off speed pitch. Take your time prior to this pitch. You must relax yourself. When you feel completely ready to throw, get on the mound and finish the job. Get tough!
As a pitcher you must always feel like you are in control no matter how bad the situation may look. Remember, it's still nine against one, he's trying to hit a round ball with a round bat and you know what pitch you're throwing, he doesn't. With percentages in your favor, you have to maintain confidence and exude mental toughness.
For any pitching questions or comments. Please email BPM at info@baseballplayermagazine.com.
Hitter’s Perspective
Matt Barle, Adelphi University
There is no doubt baseball is a team sport, but at the heart of the game is a one-on-one battle between pitcher and hitter. In this issue, we will focus on the hitter's perspective when facing 3 different counts: 0-2, 3-1 and 3-2.
Here are 3 things we want to focus on regardless of the count and situation that surrounds it:
APPROACH: The pitch you look for and the pitch you get can and will vary from pitcher to pitcher and count to count.
SWING: NEVER changes. You are to always have an easy, repeatable, explosive, compact, consistent swing, AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL COUNTS! I repeat the swing NEVER changes!
VISION: Locate the pitcher's arm slot, release point and rotation. The earlier you know the pitch and location the better chance you have of driving the ball with authority.
Before we can discuss what a hitter should do in these counts, we have to ask ourselves some questions:
• Who is pitching?
• Is the pitcher righty or lefty?
• Does he throw over the top, 3-quarters, or submarine?
• What pitches does he throw?
• What inning is it?
• What is the score?
• Who is on base?
• Where am I batting in the lineup?
• Have I faced this pitcher before?
• How many at bats have I had in this game?
• How have I been hitting lately?
The scary part is that this is just the short list of the questions that need to be addressed before even picking up a bat. But for the purpose of this article, we will give a broad idea of what to look for and how to approach each of these counts regardless of the questions above.
BEHIND 0-2
Typically, this is a set-up count. Pitchers like to show hard and in, then try and get batters to swing at pitches soft and away. Most pitchers don't try and put you away in this count, rather make you chase a pitch or set you up and put you away in the 1-2 count. Let's remember on 0-2 they have 2 pitches to nibble on corners and play with before we are even in the count again.
Pitchers are creatures of habit. You need to pay attention to how they have worked batters in this count before you and anticipate that they will try and do the same to you.
Let's look to expand our strike zone slightly and drive the ball to the opposite field gap. We can react to anything inside. We want to be comfortable and confident in all 2 strike counts, but we’d rather just stay out of them all together!
TWO PITCHES HITTERS STRIKE OUT ON MOST OFTEN:
1. Most hitters can't lay off and strike out on curveballs that land in the dirt.
2. Most hitters give up on, or back out on curveballs that look high and in and then drop right back into the strike zone.
CURVEBALL 101:
1. If a curveball looks like a strike at the halfway point, it is going to typically land in the dirt.
2. If a curveball looks like a ball high in the zone at the halfway point, lick your chops, it's going to hang up. Keep your hands back and unload on it!
TIP: Keep an eye on the pitchers throwing forearm and glove while they take signs. Most pitchers will tip their pitches by digging in the glove for off-speed stuff and not for fastballs.
Watch for any changes in arm slot and arm speed. Most pitchers give away their pitches by slowing down or speeding up their arm or throwing different pitches from different arm slots.
KEY: All of this needs to be figured out way before you enter the batters box. Be alert in the dugout and on deck. Most of your information can be picked up in these 2 spots.
ABSOLUTE WRONG TWO STRIKE APPROACH
“Put the ball in play” is not the most aggressive approach. Just putting the ball in play doesn't really work. At higher levels when you put the ball in play fielders catch the ball and throw you out. Let's file this one with “swing down”, “squash the bug” and “knocking knuckles” in the “Your careers going to be over soon” section.
“Choke up” Why? Is the bat too big? Get a smaller bat then, so you'll have better bat control. You should have bat control at all times, not just in a 2 strike count. Either choke up or don't choke up it doesn't matter. Just find a way that's comfortable for you and go with it.
“Shorten up your swing” If you need to shorten up your swing now, it's too long to begin with. Just to make sure everyone gets it, YOU NEVER CHANGE YOUR SWING! If you swing correctly to begin with, it will be short and compact.
“Go down swinging” Ohhhhh man! I guess if you're going down anyway you might as well go down swinging. Let's try battling, fighting off tough pitches and make the pitcher pay for a mistake instead.
AHEAD 3-1
This is the ideal driver's seat count. We can start to eliminate pitches and locations and lock into a certain zone. If the pitcher tries to be too perfect and lays one in, we drill it; if he misses we get a free pass. This is a win-win situation. Most pitchers here will come right after you and challenge you with a fastball, BIG MISTAKE! When they come into your zone, and they will, punish that pitch.
CARDINAL SIN: Sitting there and taking a 3-1 pitch right down the heart of the plate while looking to work the count or get a walk.
TIP: Relax, the pressure is off you. It is now all on the pitcher. Know the pitches you hit well and look for them in this count. If you don't get a pitch you can drive, lay off and reset yourself for the 3-2 count.
EVEN 3-2
This is the ultimate even count. The battle is either won or lost on this pitch. The pitch you get here will vary from pitcher to pitcher on ability and command, as well as your skill as a hitter and the situation itself. With all things considered here we are going to look fastball and react to any off-speed pitches.
TIP: If you can spoil
and foul off tough pitches here eventually the pitcher will give in and challenge you. Let your instincts take over and look to drive the ball to the opposite field gap, and again reacting to the inside pitch. Be confident and win the battle!
SOMETHING TO THING ABOUT
Every pitching coach in America teaches to get ahead in the count, get strike one. Our hitters get taught to take the first pitch, take a strike and work the count. Something's wrong here!
We want your feedback. Email your comments to BPM at info@baseballplayermagazine.com.
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