here's another side that shows baseball "smarts"... regardless of how fat a pitch is shouldnt a aplyer take the first pitch if the previous two batters walked on 8 straight? Shouldnt he take the first pitch if the previous two batters swung at the first pitch and grounded out.. especially if one of those batters was hi pitcher?
I hope this is the type of thing scouts and colleges are looking for as we begin this journey because its how my son has been taught the game.
Maybe I am old fashioned but this reminds me of the story about John McGraw who fined a player who hit a HR because he had given him the bunt sign!