"True Story"
In my first years with USA Baseball I was invited to the International event in Ohio.
A friend of mine Marshall Brant was playing for the Columbus AAA team and visited the game with the Rochester team.
Already famous was Cal Ripken and I watched him at his 1st AB. The pitcher threw a slider on the outside corner "STRIKE ONE", then a fast ball on the inside corner "STRIKE TWO" and repeated the 1st pitch for "Strike three". He took all three pitches.
I am thinking, Cal is not as good as advertised.
The second AB he "handcuffs" the RF with a line drive on the slider. The 3rd AB he hit the inside pitch over the LF wall. and the 4th AB he singles thru the middle.
He was gathering information.
Question: "what is my role as a hitter"
Bob