THE PHILOSOPHY OF SETTING UP THE HITTER
THOUGH EVERY ONCE IN A while, a coach will
inherit a pitcher who can get the batters out by simply blowing the ball by
them, the coach is usually required to develop the pitcher's equipment — his
form, basic pitches, pick-off moves, and essential but often neglected — how to
set up the hitters: what to pitch and where to put it (pitch location).
Every pitcher in the program is required to learn our philosophy of setting up the hitters and to work on it regularly both in practice and games.
All the skills in this philosophy are adapted to
the skill level and age group of each pitcher. Every team is required to have a pitching
coach (usually the head coach), who will call every pitch (through the catcher)
in the game.
We leave nothing to chance. The pitching coach must be totally conversant
with the program and know the ability of every one of his
pitchers. He must teach each of them
exactly how we want him to set up a hitter.
There is no middle ground, no compromising.
The
pitcher must aim for a specific location while getting ahead in the count.
We expect each kid
to study the philosophy until he gets it all down — know the purpose of each
pitch and have total faith in the system.
If he doesn't, he will be open to failure.
The fact that one coach does all the
pitch-calling will free the other coaches to align the defense ahead of time
and prepare them for the hitters.
This is vital as we
expect our pitchers to give the defense a chance to field the ball. Putting defense in predetermined position
gives them a greater chance to make the play.
Coaches who have no assistants will have to
align the defense prior to signaling in the pitch (to the
catcher).
The pitching coach must use a
scouting chart to (1) know what the hitters have done in
previous at bats, (2) evaluate strategy, and make the kind of decision that
will work to the greatest advantage in the situation.
He must also use his expertise based on
experience, to locate the hitter's weakness and determine the pitch selection.
It is extremely important for the pitchers to
realize that their job is one of target practice — aiming for a specific
location while getting ahead in the count.
We employ the "L" pattern of target practice and equip the
pitcher with a total of nine locations to throw to.
We believe that a pitcher, to be successful,
must have three types of pitches — fastball, curveball, and change-up — unless
one of the pitches is of outstanding quality.
We also teach him to get the hitters out by pitching up and down, in and
out, and forward and back.
"In and
out" means working the hitter inside and outside of the plate.
"Up
and down" means working the hitter up and down in a zone.
"Forward and back" means getting the
hitter off balance with change-ups and off-speed pitches.
Strike one is
perhaps the most important pitch in baseball. We don't want the pitcher to get
behind in the count and then try to get even by coming in with a fatter pitch.
If only the fastball is working, the pitcher is
usually going to find it difficult to keep the opponents off the bases.
The pitcher must also be able to throw strikes
with all his pitches. This is
crucial. He must be able to get his
basic pitches over about 65% of the time and get his change-up over about 90%
of the time, and the change-up is meant to be hit.
He must keep practicing these pitches in the
bullpen until he can achieve the requisite percentage of success with them.
If, during a game, the pitcher has trouble with
his curveball, he should do PFP's (Pitcher's Form Practice) or work on it between innings to get it to work
for him. He needs this pitch. If he doesn't establish it, the hitters will
be sitting on his fastball.
Whenever the pitcher falls behind in the count,
we invoke "the Rule of 67" — that is, challenge the hitter with the
fastball to get ahead in the count or give our defense a chance to make a play.
Note: The
"67" refers to the percentage of time that a pitcher can get the
batter out by throwing the fastball when behind in the count.
However, the best way for a pitcher to avoid such predicaments is by having command of all the pitches and getting ahead in the count. To avoid being, predictable, the pitcher must be able to throw quality pitches with the curve, change-up, and fastball — keeping the ball down and avoiding ball-3 counts.
The fastball is the best pitch in baseball, and
we teach our pitchers three types of them:
4-seam, cut (2-seam), and running fastball (2-seam).
The
4-seam fastball up and in (high and tight) is thrown on
an 0-2 or 1-2 count. We don't want our
pitchers to be afraid to throw inside. We want them to throw the
4-seam fastball on the black (inside of the plate) at the hitter's chin and shoulder
zone.
If the hitter refuses to climb the ladder after
the high and tight pitch, the pitcher can go away on the next pitch.
We want our pitcher to throw the 2-seam fastball when ahead or even
in the count, and the 4-seam fastball when behind in the count or throwing up
and in or up and out. Remember, the
4-seam fastball is 2 to 4 miles faster than the 2-seam fastball.
The
running fastball is used by right-handers vs. right-handed
hitters or left-handers vs. left-handed hitters to jam the hitter. The pitch has to be thrown on the inside
half of the plate in order to bring it back into the hitter's hands, knees, or
letter area. (Hit all locations!)
The
cut fastball is used to work away from the hitter on the
outside half of the plate. It is considered
"hard" stuff and can be very effective when properly thrown. The pitcher should work on good down
location and throw strikes.
The
"wave" curve is a very successful pitch that is thrown
off the plate (down and outside) to get the batter to go fishing, particularly
on 0-2 and 1-2 counts.
The pitcher has to be real fine with it — avoid
slipping it over the plate and giving the hitter a chance to make good
aggressive contact. The curve in the
dirt is also an effective pitch.
Every pitcher should have a 3-2 pitch that he
can call on when needed. We want him to
be aggressive and challenge the hitter with his best pitch. Note:
His best pitch may vary on any given day. Our credo is: Hit the
catcher's glove with good "down" location.
We want the pitcher to shake off 2-0, 3-1, and optional 3-2 pitches with a bogus
shake-off, that will keep the hitter "thinking."
We have three patterns with which we go after
the hitters: (1) go right after him,
(2) pitch him according to the book, and (3) pitch around him.
Absolutes
needed by the pitcher:
1. Have faith in the set up routine — gained by execution in the bullpen, and game experience.
2. Scouting
reports.
3. Command of all pitches.
4. Good
preparation and positioning of the defense.
5. Good coaching.
6.
Scouting charts will aid pitch selection.
7. A
motivational and knowledgeable catcher.
8.
Getting ahead in the count.
9. Working fast.
10. Avoiding
3-ball counts.
11. Realizing that nothing is
infallible, but that our philosophy of pitching will work over the long haul.
The sooner a new pitcher buys into the program,
the sooner he will achieve success.
Baseball Coach
Chandler (AZ) High School
SCHOLASTIC COACH JANUARY
1995