I've heard announcers of MLB games talk about how players purposely foul off pitches that they can't hit well. My question is are college and MLB hitters really good enough to foul off 90+mph fastballs or good curve balls/sliders?
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Eaglecoach- Absolutely. That is part of what makes a great hitter great. As a pitcher, they are my toughest out.
During a summer tournament in high school in 2008 I was watching a semifinal game that would determine who we would play in the championship. One of the teams had a pitcher who was throwing with considerable velocity, probably 93-94 mph. Up to the plate was the other team's center fielder, the #3 hitter on the team. The 0-1 pitch was a fastball on the inside corner and the batter swung extremely late, looking like he wasn't even close. As a pitcher, I watched and thought to myself "I'd go with it again, regardless of how good my breaking ball is (this pitcher had a pretty good breaking ball). Make him prove he can catch up to it."
The pitcher thought the same way I did and proceeded to throw another fastball in just about the same location. The batter squared it up and hit it about 440 feet over the left center field fence for a no-doubter home run.
I was sitting with a teammate of mine who had just been drafted in the 10th round and he turned to me right away and said "he did that on purpose, definitely." I said "did what on purpose?" and he said "he definitely swung at that first fastball late knowing that the pitcher was going to throw another one. I would've done the same thing."
I thought about it for a second...there was no way I could've done that!
I don't know who the pitcher was, but the hitter was this guy: http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/.../id/30836/mike-trout
During a summer tournament in high school in 2008 I was watching a semifinal game that would determine who we would play in the championship. One of the teams had a pitcher who was throwing with considerable velocity, probably 93-94 mph. Up to the plate was the other team's center fielder, the #3 hitter on the team. The 0-1 pitch was a fastball on the inside corner and the batter swung extremely late, looking like he wasn't even close. As a pitcher, I watched and thought to myself "I'd go with it again, regardless of how good my breaking ball is (this pitcher had a pretty good breaking ball). Make him prove he can catch up to it."
The pitcher thought the same way I did and proceeded to throw another fastball in just about the same location. The batter squared it up and hit it about 440 feet over the left center field fence for a no-doubter home run.
I was sitting with a teammate of mine who had just been drafted in the 10th round and he turned to me right away and said "he did that on purpose, definitely." I said "did what on purpose?" and he said "he definitely swung at that first fastball late knowing that the pitcher was going to throw another one. I would've done the same thing."
I thought about it for a second...there was no way I could've done that!
I don't know who the pitcher was, but the hitter was this guy: http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/.../id/30836/mike-trout
I think hitters who take a swing as late as possible approach to keep from getting fooled will tend to foul off a lot of fastballs unless they happen to get one right in their wheelhouse. I don't think they are actually trying to hit the ball less than square though. JMO.
OUTSTANDING STORY!! Thanks.quote:I thought about it for a second...there was no way I could've done that!
I don't know who the pitcher was, but the hitter was this guy: http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/.../id/30836/mike-trout
Interesting topic. So in the story above, if the hitter can hit that 92+ fastball, why not hit it on the 1st pitch? You just sit on the fastball and no need to get behind. Specially if you are not Mike Trout.
One approach that I like as a hitter- if a pitcher has a big curveball and tends to dominate with it, take the 1st curveball that you see. Then , say something like... "WOW what a curveball, I better be ready for the next one" then make an obvious move to setup closer to the pitcher on the batter box. Make sure the catcher is aware of this.
Catcher thinks you are expecting another curveball... But will call the fastball. So now the hitter just sit on the fastball, which is what he wanted.
www.katyhittingcoach.com
One approach that I like as a hitter- if a pitcher has a big curveball and tends to dominate with it, take the 1st curveball that you see. Then , say something like... "WOW what a curveball, I better be ready for the next one" then make an obvious move to setup closer to the pitcher on the batter box. Make sure the catcher is aware of this.
Catcher thinks you are expecting another curveball... But will call the fastball. So now the hitter just sit on the fastball, which is what he wanted.
www.katyhittingcoach.com
Albert- I thought of this too. I assume a batter such as Trout in the example I gave thought that the 0-1 pitch was located very well, and is willing to take his chances that the pitcher will have trouble locating that well twice in a row. In this particular case, he was right.
Its a chess game, after all.
Its a chess game, after all.
There was a discussion about this a few years ago here... although not limited to MLB and college players
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...4941/m/611109455/p/1
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...4941/m/611109455/p/1
My son has been trained on allowing some pitches to get deep to foul them off, typically pitches off the plate that could be borderline.
Some hitters can, others can't. Luke Appling was able to foul off 26 pitches in a row... now that's impressive.
I am scratching my head on this one???
A hitter is there to hit, not foul off a pitch intentionaly IMO.
I've been around a lot of hitters for a long time and never heard about this being taught.
See it, hit it hard!
Lefty
A hitter is there to hit, not foul off a pitch intentionaly IMO.
I've been around a lot of hitters for a long time and never heard about this being taught.
See it, hit it hard!
Lefty
quote:Originally posted by Sdlefty:
I am scratching my head on this one???
A hitter is there to hit, not foul off a pitch intentionaly IMO.
I've been around a lot of hitters for a long time and never heard about this being taught.
See it, hit it hard!
Lefty
I don't think it can be taught. Nor would I teach it. Luke Appling fouled off 26 consecutive pitches because he couldn't get any baseballs to autograph (Comiskey was a notorious cheapskate).
LOL 
My son has been taught extensively to "read" pitches. He knows the strikezone and he can hit oppo with power, middle in he will turn on it and make a pitcher sorry he tried to get in his kitchen. He is extremely comfortable with two strikes.
At the levels he has played so far pitchers do not work him too much on the inside. He sees a lot of sliders and curves and changeups. Many a baseball or two off the plate. Players that try to turn on these pitches often see results resembling a ground ball to short stop. My son has been taught to allow that outside pitch to get deeper in the zone. With that approach he hits with power to right center with some frequency. When the pitch is off the plate with two strikes in an area that is too close to take he will foul it off with a hard hit ball right side of the first bSe line. Hit the ball where it is pitched. Sometimes that is foul down the first base line, other times it's a triple. But if you try to pull it often it's a groundball out or a called strike by an umpire.
A hitter that understands the zone and is confident of his ability to hit with power to all fields is a tough out.
You get there by learning how to hit the ball into the right side dug out with power on a slider two baseball widths off the plate in a two strike count, especially with runners on.
Next pitch may be middle in and taken for a ride.
It is a beautiful thing.
At the levels he has played so far pitchers do not work him too much on the inside. He sees a lot of sliders and curves and changeups. Many a baseball or two off the plate. Players that try to turn on these pitches often see results resembling a ground ball to short stop. My son has been taught to allow that outside pitch to get deeper in the zone. With that approach he hits with power to right center with some frequency. When the pitch is off the plate with two strikes in an area that is too close to take he will foul it off with a hard hit ball right side of the first bSe line. Hit the ball where it is pitched. Sometimes that is foul down the first base line, other times it's a triple. But if you try to pull it often it's a groundball out or a called strike by an umpire.
A hitter that understands the zone and is confident of his ability to hit with power to all fields is a tough out.
You get there by learning how to hit the ball into the right side dug out with power on a slider two baseball widths off the plate in a two strike count, especially with runners on.
Next pitch may be middle in and taken for a ride.
It is a beautiful thing.
Another way of posing the question:
What would you want to teach a hitter to do in a two strike count with runners on, two outs, bottom of the 9th, down by a run when a fastball approaches 2 baseballs wide off the plate?
Do you want him to take? Do you want him to turn on it hitting a groundball to 2B or should he foul it off and try to get a better pitch that he can drive?
What would you want to teach a hitter to do in a two strike count with runners on, two outs, bottom of the 9th, down by a run when a fastball approaches 2 baseballs wide off the plate?
Do you want him to take? Do you want him to turn on it hitting a groundball to 2B or should he foul it off and try to get a better pitch that he can drive?
quote:Originally posted by floridafan:
Another way of posing the question:
What would you want to teach a hitter to do in a two strike count with runners on, two outs, bottom of the 9th, down by a run when a fastball approaches 2 baseballs wide off the plate?
Do you want him to take? Do you want him to turn on it hitting a groundball to 2B or should he foul it off and try to get a better pitch that he can drive?
I teach to stay agressive. In this situation, I would say go with the pitch and try to hit it hard. For sure not want to take that close of a pitch or roll it over. Go with it and hit it hard!
Lefty
And it would result in a foul ball.
Just because you let the ball get deep does not mean you are not swinging aggressively. You are just waiting a split second longer before you start your aggressive swing.
Just because you let the ball get deep does not mean you are not swinging aggressively. You are just waiting a split second longer before you start your aggressive swing.
quote:Originally posted by floridafan:
And it would result in a foul ball.
Just because you let the ball get deep does not mean you are not swinging aggressively. You are just waiting a split second longer before you start your aggressive swing.
If you want to foul it off, fine. To me its a mind set. I thinking a double down the line.
Lefty
I would keep your guy aggressive, I am sure he will be fine.
But the answer to the OP remains, yes.
But the answer to the OP remains, yes.
Yes, hitters can foul off pitches on purpose. When they are behind in counts such as 0-2, 1-2 you let the ball travel. This allows you to pick up spin on the ball. Thus fighting off pitches, a lot of hitters will be sitting on a pitch in certain counts ex 2-0, 3-1 fastball counts, this is why they looks silly or fooled when the pitcher throws them an off speed pitch.
The best way to foul off pitches that are near the strike zone late in the count is to have a flat bat working through the zone and staying towards the pitcher.
The best way to foul off pitches that are near the strike zone late in the count is to have a flat bat working through the zone and staying towards the pitcher.
doubt it..balls comming 95 all ur thinking is squaring up..
