@Good Knight posted:Interesting discussion. Our HS coach does not let my guy throw a CB the first time thru the batting order. FB and CU that both look pretty much the same.
It seems to work but I am not a coach and do not interfere.
But I also do not understand if this is the right thing to do or not.
No cookie cutter approach is right for every game situation - or for any pitcher. If the opposing team can’t catchup to your pitchers FB you are doing them a favor by throwing something else. The reverse is true too. If the opposing team is all over your pitchers FB, and that’s all you feature first time thru the lineup, there is usually a different pitcher on the mound second time thru. Hard and fast rules about how to pitch are a mistake IMO. Pitching is about making adjustments- especially if the initial plan isn’t working. Sometimes those adjustments need to be made in the first inning or else you are behind 3-0 before you know what happened. I’ve seen it happen way too many times.