Here is basically what I teach my players as well as younger kids in pro ball to help out the pitchers not fall behind.. my philosophy is get ahead then get inside
0-0: shade to halves, inner or outer, most important pitch is strike one so give the pitcher a chance to get there
1-0: shade to halves so can get the count even
0-1: when ahead can expand a little bit..go to thirds if its a fastball, down the middle or halves for breaking pitch or change up..great time to come in hard as well
0-2: use this as a purpose, not just elevated FB out over the plate, can go to black or off black if nibbling, can come in hard under the hands, can drop a CB on the plate or just in front.. most kids know that 0-2 is going to be a waste pitch
1-1: stay on thirds for fastball, great opportunity for change up.. sliders are an option if guys in scoring position with base open to at least see how hitter reacts
2-1: love change ups here but must throw down the middle so looks like a mistake out of the hand, if need to even count stay on outer third.. hitter in pull attack mode
1-2: lots of options so can play around, can do a double shake then go for FB inside, can elevate FB in then double up for strike inside, slider away happens a lot
2-2: hitter is back in charge, outer thirds if a FB or slider away for a strikeout, CH if you have confidence but better make sure its down.. expand the zone with a base open and have confidence to throw 3-2
3-2: depends on score, inning and if there is a base open, hitters looking to drive not protect.. stay outer third on FB, slider away or if you have some marbles throw a CH
typically, CB are used early in the count as a get me over or to expand zone when ahead.. however if you leave it up its going to get hammered ..unless you have a hammer you can throw
do not adjust to the hitter.. if they look bad on a take or on a swing in general then throw it again and again until they lay off of it.. the old term of dont throw same thing 3 times in a row never made sense to me since its the other pitch that always gets hit due to bad location
I spent my entire pro career basically screwing with hitters and when i had a mental note on what they could do and what they couldnt handle helped those pitchers out tremendously..
any other questions, feel free to email me at catchaprospect@yahoo.com... havent seen you this summer or fall Xan, where have you been hiding?
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