A hypothetical question concerning college level BP

 A few thoughts:

Video of BP is not going to give you the best idea of where pitches are, especially on curves and sliders going outside from the same-side pitcher.

A great deal of pitches off the plate or low are hittable with current bats. He needs to learn how to do something with those if only to prevent him from being set up out there.

What anyone thinks here is irrelevant. Does the coaching staff feel he is getting adequate preparation?

Not sure it's throwing around him....it's early, and if it's anything like my son's team, pitchers are just not game ready yet.  Son's team didn't get to practice outside before leaving for their opening weekend road trip the past two seasons.  Pitching struggled.  It took a month until they started looking better.   I wouldn't worry about it...if he's hitting strikes, that's all you can hope for at this point

Pitchers are also trying to earn playing time. 

He should use it as an opportunity to improve hitting those pitches if he is seeing those all the time. Sounds like the pitchers are giving him an opportunity to improve. Hit it where it’s pitched.

Matt13 posted:

  Does the coaching staff feel he is getting adequate preparation?

Good question. That's a conversation I feel the player might have to have and goes to the heart of this post.

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Not sure it's throwing around him....it's early, and if it's anything like my son's team, pitchers are just not game ready yet.  Son's team didn't get to practice outside before leaving for their opening weekend road trip the past two seasons.  Pitching struggled.  It took a month until they started looking better.   I wouldn't worry about it...if he's hitting strikes, that's all you can hope for at this point

They are throwing around him. I had my doubts but after watching video it is what it is. Can't hit a strike if one isn't thrown.

2022OFDad posted:

He should use it as an opportunity to improve hitting those pitches if he is seeing those all the time. Sounds like the pitchers are giving him an opportunity to improve. Hit it where it’s pitched.

Asking a player to chase. I don't feel comfortable doing that. Player has two strengths at the plate. Easy bat speed and a very good eye for balls and strikes. 

SomeBaseballDad posted:

2022OFDad posted:

He should use it as an opportunity to improve hitting those pitches if he is seeing those all the time. Sounds like the pitchers are giving him an opportunity to improve. Hit it where it’s pitched.

Asking a player to chase. I don't feel comfortable doing that. Player has two strengths at the plate. Easy bat speed and a very good eye for balls and strikes. 

A good eye for balls and strikes can be a disadvantage if he limits his swings to what he perceives to be strikes. The probability of a productive outcome varies from situation to situation, but sometimes putting a bat to a ball outside has a better outcome probability than adding a ball to the count. Being able to take advantage of those situations will make him a better hitter.

And like I alluded to above, if pitchers know he can't/won't do anything with certain pitches, that allows them to set him up there and come back elsewhere on subsequent pitches.

A lot of valued points.  I have noticed clutch hitters can do damage out of the zone.  Asking hitters to chase is not the same as asking hitters not to be afraid to hit balls outside of the zone.  As far as these live bp’s.  Are they resulting in walks?

SomeBaseballDad posted:

2022OFDad posted:

He should use it as an opportunity to improve hitting those pitches if he is seeing those all the time. Sounds like the pitchers are giving him an opportunity to improve. Hit it where it’s pitched.

Asking a player to chase. I don't feel comfortable doing that. Player has two strengths at the plate. Easy bat speed and a very good eye for balls and strikes. 

Didn’t you say it’s batting practice? I don’t see the harm as long as he can maintain plate discipline otherwise.

I spoke with my son last night. He said that batters get a lot of BP but when pitchers are throwing to batters it is a scrimmage not BP. He it trying to get every batter out and every batter is trying to drive the ball. The pitching coach calls the pitches so I would beat he would challenge the batters weakness. Also pitchers have to do some type of conditioning drill for walks so they are trying to throw strikes, just not strikes they can drive.

SomeBaseballDad posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Not sure it's throwing around him....it's early, and if it's anything like my son's team, pitchers are just not game ready yet.  Son's team didn't get to practice outside before leaving for their opening weekend road trip the past two seasons.  Pitching struggled.  It took a month until they started looking better.   I wouldn't worry about it...if he's hitting strikes, that's all you can hope for at this point

They are throwing around him. I had my doubts but after watching video it is what it is. Can't hit a strike if one isn't thrown.

I guess I'm confused.....and maybe I'm not clear on your questions.  Are you talking about in BP....or in "game situation" hitting.  Even if it's indoors, it's two different things.  BP normally is thrown by a coach.....if my son is pitching to a batter in the pre-season, his pitching coach is watching him...not the batter.  No different than if it was a real game, it's his job to get batters out.   He can't "pitch around" a guy....the pitching coach would see that as a walk....and my son would be penalized for it.  If your son is batting in a case like this, it's no different than a game....the pitcher is trying to get him out.  Both sides are getting work in.  I wouldn't swing at junk if I'm your son....he'll look bad to the hitting coaches.  They don't care what the pitcher is doing, they are watching your son.  If your son doesn't get anything to hit...that's a walk.   Coaches would rather see that....even in practice than see him swinging at anything that moves and ending up with what would be a K in a game.

My son went back to being a 2 way guy last season (DH and P).  He hadn't really had any game at bats since HS (8 AB's his freshman year).  I would talk to him this time last year about how he hit.  He'd tell me..."John struck me out...I got a hit against Timmy........Jimmy struck me out.   Dang, they know I can't hit curve balls so that's all I get".   Well guess what....John and Jimmy looked good to the pitching coach.....and my son looked bad to the hitting coach.  That's how it works.  He kept working....eventually got back to his HS form at the plate and ended up DH'ing quite a bit.  If those guys had thrown him FB's down the middle all the time he'd have looked like a fool when the season started. 

Keep in mind also that it's not like HS....where a pitcher throws his best stuff and if you hit it you hit it.  Usually that "best stuff" is a FB....so you wait for one...even if it means taking a couple pitches to get to it.  In college, pitchers can throw any of their pitches for strikes.  Heck, if a team sees you struggle on your first AB with off-speed, you're not likely to see another FB the rest of the game....maybe not the rest of the series.  As a hitter you have 2 choices....hit the off-speed when you get a chance...or walk back to the dugout.  I'd tell your son to stop feeling like the pitchers are against him (even though they are...because that's THEIR JOB)...and start figuring out what to do about it. 

You said your son struggled with off speed stuff during the fall.  Any chance the coach told the pitchers to throw nothing but during these drills?  After all, a pitcher wants his off speed to either start off the plate and end up a strike, or start as a strike and end up off the plate.

Maybe he has a real good eye, can pick up the spin and take.  Or he has trouble pulling the trigger.

Don't swing at balls unless you are a really, really good power hitter.  It's ok to be on base all of the time.

As a pitcher's dad, it's advantage pitcher if you swing at balls.

Go44dad posted:

Don't swing at balls unless you are a really, really good power hitter.  It's ok to be on base all of the time.

As a pitcher's dad, it's advantage pitcher if you swing at balls.

The average impact of a ball equates to 1/15th of a runner. There are many times where that added value is less than that of making contact. It's not that someone always has to swing at balls; it's that the tool adds value to the toolbox--particularly with runners in scoring position. 

Good question.  As a few mentioned previously pitchers are being evaluated as much as batters are.  They are working on off speed pitches, using strategy, and capitalizing on the batter's weaknesses.  This is the time the hitter, your son, to show patience at the plate as long as the count dictates it. If he swings at a marginal strike then one point for pitcher, if he gets you to hit a marginal/out of the zone strike then objective accomplished by pitcher since good chance you made a weak contact.  In college once a batter's weakness is known, it spreads like wildfire.  You can count on the rest of the teams in conference will use it.  I will use my son as an example.  He was taught NOT to swing at marginal strikes with less than 2 strikes.  If he made contact a good chance it will be a lazy pop fly or weak grounder.  With 2 strikes it's a different story.  Frequently he found himself 0-2, 1-2 in the count.  He has confidence he can put the bat on the ball and in play.  Yes he did K at times.  I didn't keep stats but it seemed quite a few HRs or extra base hits occurred with 2 strikes.  It was disheartening to watch D1 players swing at marginal strikes early in the count and make a weak routine out.  Your son should work on his "weaknesses" as a hitter during extra practice time thus during games he can identify the pitch early and learn to drive the ball when needed.  Even out of the zone pitches are a learning experience.

Trust In Him posted:

Good question.  As a few mentioned previously pitchers are being evaluated as much as batters are.  They are working on off speed pitches, using strategy, and capitalizing on the batter's weaknesses.  This is the time the hitter, your son, to show patience at the plate as long as the count dictates it. If he swings at a marginal strike then one point for pitcher, if he gets you to hit a marginal/out of the zone strike then objective accomplished by pitcher since good chance you made a weak contact.  In college once a batter's weakness is known, it spreads like wildfire.  You can count on the rest of the teams in conference will use it.  I will use my son as an example.  He was taught NOT to swing at marginal strikes with less than 2 strikes.  If he made contact a good chance it will be a lazy pop fly or weak grounder.  With 2 strikes it's a different story.  Frequently he found himself 0-2, 1-2 in the count.  He has confidence he can put the bat on the ball and in play.  Yes he did K at times.  I didn't keep stats but it seemed quite a few HRs or extra base hits occurred with 2 strikes.  It was disheartening to watch D1 players swing at marginal strikes early in the count and make a weak routine out.  Your son should work on his "weaknesses" as a hitter during extra practice time thus during games he can identify the pitch early and learn to drive the ball when needed.  Even out of the zone pitches are a learning experience.

Good point....it's crazy how much other teams know about the teams they are playing.  My son said they get a very detailed "scouting report" on upcoming teams.  I asked him where it comes from....he said "I don't know, but it's got everything on it".  That includes what pitches players can and can't hit. 

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Trust In Him posted:

Good question.  As a few mentioned previously pitchers are being evaluated as much as batters are.  They are working on off speed pitches, using strategy, and capitalizing on the batter's weaknesses.  This is the time the hitter, your son, to show patience at the plate as long as the count dictates it. If he swings at a marginal strike then one point for pitcher, if he gets you to hit a marginal/out of the zone strike then objective accomplished by pitcher since good chance you made a weak contact.  In college once a batter's weakness is known, it spreads like wildfire.  You can count on the rest of the teams in conference will use it.  I will use my son as an example.  He was taught NOT to swing at marginal strikes with less than 2 strikes.  If he made contact a good chance it will be a lazy pop fly or weak grounder.  With 2 strikes it's a different story.  Frequently he found himself 0-2, 1-2 in the count.  He has confidence he can put the bat on the ball and in play.  Yes he did K at times.  I didn't keep stats but it seemed quite a few HRs or extra base hits occurred with 2 strikes.  It was disheartening to watch D1 players swing at marginal strikes early in the count and make a weak routine out.  Your son should work on his "weaknesses" as a hitter during extra practice time thus during games he can identify the pitch early and learn to drive the ball when needed.  Even out of the zone pitches are a learning experience.

Good point....it's crazy how much other teams know about the teams they are playing.  My son said they get a very detailed "scouting report" on upcoming teams.  I asked him where it comes from....he said "I don't know, but it's got everything on it".  That includes what pitches players can and can't hit. 

Spot on Buckeye 2015.  That's how you can really tell who the good hitters are.  For maybe the first 6-9 conference games hitters who have talent will excel.  It's interesting that once you get past the 1/2 way point which of these hitters still excel.  I used to think they were "hot" at the beginning then "cooled off or is in a slump, is tired, etc" the rest of the season.  In all likelihood the remaining teams based on previous scouting reports knew how to pitch to that hitter.  It's also apparent when non-conference teams are played.  My son used to have good games hitting against them, probably due to their lack of scouting reports, top pitchers getting some rest or whatever.  I recall one team putting a "shift" on my son.  Placed 2nd baseman into outfield so now had 4 equally spaced apart outfielders.  SS behind 2nd base on grass.  They would give him a base hit but no extra base gap hits.  Pitcher threw 5 pitches trying to get him to swing, ended up walking.  Oh yes, for the pitchers he faced, detailed scouting reports were available.  It's uncanny that at times son knew what type of pitch the next one was before it was even called. 

Matt13 posted:

Go44dad posted:

Don't swing at balls unless you are a really, really good power hitter.  It's ok to be on base all of the time.

As a pitcher's dad, it's advantage pitcher if you swing at balls.

The average impact of a ball equates to 1/15th of a runner. There are many times where that added value is less than that of making contact. It's not that someone always has to swing at balls; it's that the tool adds value to the toolbox--particularly with runners in scoring position. 

I'll take the hitter that doesn't swing at balls and takes walks.  And I'll also take the doubles and HR's that comes with the "I'm behind, I gotta throw a strike now" pitcher.  And I'll take the pitcher from the stretch.  And the drawn-in infield.  And the pitcher moving to fastballs with runners on. And the pissed off other eight players who lose focus because the pitcher can't throw strikes.

Don't swing at balls.  Unless you know you can drive it over the OF'ers head.  

Be Ted Williams, not Ted Merkle (He works at the grocery store because he swung at balls.)