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The biggest problem hitters have…….the pitcher! The pitcher has a goal…..and that is to get hitters out.
As hitters, we need to understand how pitchers are trying to get us out and what their decision making process for what pitch they are going to throw.
The first thing that pitchers are reading is the hitter’s setup. This includes the following:
- positioning in the batter’s box
- stance type
- positioning of the hands
These are things most hitters do not think through and it could very well be the reason they are struggling.
Before we dig deeper into how pitchers are reading hitters to pick the best pitch to throw……
………hitters need to understand their decision making process.
The decision making process that pitchers go through to pick the pitch looks like this:
- Situation and Count
- What does he want the hitter to do?
- What is the best pitch to throw?
- What location?
Let’s break this down further:
Situation and Count
As hitters we are hitting to the scoreboard. The scoreboard will tell you what to do, and give you an idea of how the pitcher might approach you.
For example, scoreboard reads:
- Bottom of 6th inning
- 7-3, them
- 1 Out
- Runners on 1st and 2nd
The field situations reads:
- outfield is playing straight up
- infield is playing pull side leaving a big hole between (1st and 2nd)
- wind is blow right to left
The count reads:
- 1-1
Next, he is going to go through what he wants the hitter to do?
What Does He Want The Hitter To Do?
There are four ideal outcomes they want:
- Swing
- Swing and Miss
- Weak Contact
- Take
The outcome decision is based on what he previously read from the hitter on the previous two pitches.
Next, he is going to go through what the best pitch to throw is.
What Is The Best Pitch To Throw?
The best pitch he chooses to throw will be based on what he wants the hitter to do in this certain situation and count.
What he reads from the hitter and how he responded to the previous two pitches, and any adjustments the hitter made will go into this decision making process on what is the best pitch to throw right now.
Lastly, they will figure out the location.
What Location
The location he chooses to pitch to is the strategy that is going to get hitters to do what he wants them to do.
Location is very important for a pitcher if they are going to execute.
So…….
Now that you have an insight into the decision making process pitchers are going through to get you out…..
……..you need to understand that a huge part of it is them reading you.
Where it all starts is how you set up, what adjustments you make or the lack of adjustments you make.
How Pitchers Are Reading Hitters Setup
When discussing the setup, we have to understand that there is no generic setup. Pitchers are reading different things from different hitters.
Every hitter has different strengths and weaknesses. They all have a different idea of what they are trying to do or wanting to do when they are in the batter’s box.
Quick story to illustrate:
We had a college hitter who struggled this past season as his coach forced him to do something that went against……
……what his body was capable of doing
……what he likes to do at the plate
And he never felt comfortable, which caused him to get weak contact and swings and misses on balls in his zone.
He was a hitter that likes the ball down and away. His coach has him:
- sitting on top of the plate
- crouched down
- and getting his hands higher (above his shoulders)
He struggled……
He was embarrassed…..
He wanted to quit….
Until he came across Athletic Mission Tulsa Baseball Academy, in Tulsa Oklahoma.
He thought his issues were mental, which it very well was.
But, he was a rare case where his mechanics were problematic…..
When looking at where he liked his pitches, and what he wanted to do at the plate, he would have been suited more to:
- getting off the plate
- standing up right
- keeping his hands at his side (armpit level)
The exact opposite of what the coaches had him do.
He felt much more comfortable and was driving baseballs again. He was confident and consistent again.
He showed back up to campus driving baseballs. He had a conversation with his coach about what he is trying to do….
….. and the coach was cool with it, because it was working and he could tell him exactly what he was trying to do….. And how he wanted to set up pitchers……
So let’s break this down.
Positioning In The Batter’s Box
Where a hitter sets up in the box it gives pitchers an idea of what they are wanting or trying to do.
This understanding could let a hitter set the pitcher up to get the pitch or location they are looking for…..
…for the situation and count. Too many hitters do not make adjustments. Moving around and changing your positioning in the box is an adjustment.
For example:
- Close to the plate and back in the box
- Eliminate outside; inside
- Away from the plate and in front of the box
- Eliminate inside; inside
- Neutral and in middle of the box
- Eliminate corners, inside; outside
Stance Type
There are certain deficiencies hitters have that put them into positions where……..
…..their stance is listed like any below, as well as their ability to get to certain pitches in certain parts of the zone.
- Open Stance (stride to plate)
- Hard Inside
- Closed Stance (stride away from plate)
- Hard Outside; off-speed away
- Stands Close to Plate (quick hands)
- inside early; off-speed; away late
- Stands away from plate (stride in)
- Inside; Up
- Narrow stance (long stride)
- Off-Speed
- Wide Stance (no stride)
- Mix all pitches well
- Stands Straight Up
- Down in Zone
The stance is the biggest difference you will see from hitter to hitter…..
……and the hitter absolutely needs to make this their own.
But…….
How pitchers are reading them needs to be in the conversation about the stance they choose to have.
Positioning Of The Hands
Where a hitter positions his hands, like everything else, is a personal preference…..
……and different from hitter to hitter, all for its own reason.
Certain hand positioning will allow hitters to take their most instinctive swing smoothly….
….than other positions that work against what he is trying to do.
Example of how pitchers would read certain hand positioning:
- High Hands
- Hard inside; off-speed down and away
- Low Hands
- hard inside; up
- Hands at side
- Hard inside; up; mix all pitches
- Hands away from body
- hard inside; up; off-speed down
Conclusion
This is the initial read, that doesn’t mean that particular hitter can’t handle these pitches……
……..but it gives them an idea of what they may try against them. Hitters also have an idea of where they can set the pitcher up.
Pitchers are trying to group hitters. If they set up in this position in the box, then they are trying to do such.
Then they can take a more individualized approach as they face you in real time and make adjustments.
All in all……
The takeaway is that good pitchers are reading hitters. Good pitchers are watching pitch by pitch….
…..this is an understanding more hitters need to have so they can get themselves in position to have success.
