Tagged With "pitchout"

There are multiple scenarios in baseball that call for certain strategies. The pitchout play being one of them. Whether I am watching MLB or youth and HS baseball, I just do not see the pitch out being executed. Some folks say they don't run as much as they used to in MLB, which is true. Sometimes they say HS and youth pitchers are not able to perform the task at hand. In my opinion it's not really an issue in MLB. You could probably watch about 10 games and see them pitchout in 1, maybe 2...

Problem is at the youth level pitch outs often don't really give the catcher a chance if the pitcher is too slow plus going down 1-0 increases the chance of a walk at the youth level because pitchers don't have good control.

Travel programs won't use them. Player's don't get recruited for pitch outs, travel teams won't work on them.

True, there are very few pitchouts in HS baseball, but you may not be aware that HS teams will sometimes do what I call a "pitch-in"--that is, in an offspeed stealing count (usually 1-2), they'll cross up the offensive team by quick-pitching a fastball up-and-away, etc.

The only way to truly master the pitchout is to make it part of standard in-game procedure. We realized that when done in simulated circumstances, it becomes more akin to simply playing catch and our players cannot maintain the proper level of concentration. To combat this, we always call a pitchout when the count is 0-2 at any time or circumstance in the first three innings. This ensures maximum concentration and also lets the other team know that it's part of our arsenal.

MDS1 I concur with you...You used the word " standard ", and that's exactly what coaches should do, set standards. Standards are a belief in philosophy for players to go by. Your program uses this play, everyone who is involved in this play will learn it. Standards are not optional, they are for everybody. It's a great example of organized baseball, coach. Making the pitchout part of your regimen and arsenal is refreshing when most others don't. When teams can have that certain trait , it...