by Coach Griff
There is no greater skill in pitching than being able to throw a strike when you need one.
Each and every single pitcher should have a “gimme”, the pitch you throw when you need a strike.
Mastering this pitch will allow you to change the odds, and the count, in your favour.
<aside> 🎾 Think about the second serve in tennis; it’s a slower, high percentage play that forces the opposition to play.
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When you fall behind in the count, you are more likely to give up a hit.
When you get ahead, the odds are stacked massively in your favour.
Understanding the balance of this dynamic and how it changes each pitch will guide your decision on the next. As you get further ahead, you can throw increasingly difficult pitches to hit, especially once they’re on two strikes.
When you throw 4 balls to a hitter, they have a 100% chance of making it to first base. It’s a much higher percentage than when they swing the bat.
Even the best Major League hitters, in the best possible counts, still only hit .407 in the best of circumstances. Less than half the chance of a walk.
You are always better off throwing a slow, easy strike that encourages the hitter to swing than trying to get them to swing and miss on three balls.
Throwing strikes is a habit, a good one to get into.
Most pitchers struggle to throw strikes for the same reasons, and while some of these are mechanics related, the majority are mental.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh7UI7GbJgI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjiN_WiQx6c
Just how throwing strikes is a habit, throwing balls is too.
Suddenly, after pitching well all game, you throw 3, 4, 5, 6 balls in a row and don’t seem to know why.
Learning how to break this funk is key to consistent pitching.