Righty Throwing Against A Lefty

Just to get you started thinking about the situation, visualize where the hitter has to look to pick up the ball coming out of your hand. A RHB is almost looking over his front shoulder at your release point a LHB has a more comfortable view of the release from his side. Most curveballs are not a true 12-6 variety and tend to move towards a LHB instead of appearing to start at the RHB. The curve also moves a lot more into the power of a LHB so where you finish with the pitch will determine how the hitter handles your offering. Also a key component in your approach is to consider location and type of pitch with a runner at first. With the first baseman holding the runner, you don't want to give the LHB something to pull through the hole that has been created. IMO this situation probably adds several points to the LHB average because he sees the pitch a little longer.
A LHB probably has an advantage over you at this stage of development due to the frequency that he sees a RHP where you don't see to many LHBs. Continue to master your pitches but remember that your approach will change a little when facing a LHB.
There is a bunch more to learn about hitters tendencies but this will help get you started. Good luck as your career continues to unfold.

Develop a good change-up that breaks down and away from lefties. Occasionally a backdoor breaking ball that starts off of the plate and breaks to the outside corner can be effective. Pounding the outside corner with a 2 seam sinker that breaks down and away can work. If you get ahead in the count it helps to come inside and back him off of the plate and then go away with off speed stuff. Bottom line is that lefties see the ball better from righties and hav an advantage. You have to develop movement and deception to be effective against left handed hitters.

Tim Hudson for the Braves was right on the money last night and I suspect Bighit was coaching him...come inside to estabish...then away away away. If your going inside to a lefty make it low or letter high on the inside black. Anything in the zone is gonna take a long ride to a lefty.

most lefties love down and in. stay away from that area.

For ccbsball12 and then some....I hope this is helpfull and I will try not to vent too much.


RHP vs LHH
Developing a CH as BigHit said earlier will help greatly.

Here is a simple way (or not) to go about getting hitters out (Pitching).

Right or Left handed hitters shouldn't matter unless you lack something in your arsenal (so to speak). You should strive to locate your FB (4 and 2 seam). Learn how to make the ball move (and I mean FB's). Learn how to throw a CH and be able to sink it. Develop a Breaking ball of some sort (CB, SL, SLURVE). You should be able to locate FB's and w/ a CH and Breaking ball you have something soft to both halves of the plate. You still have to be able to throw the ball over the plate (learn how to keep it down).

Things to Remember:
1. Work Fast(for the guys behind me), Throw Strikes (for the guys behind me and we can't defend walks), Change Speeds (when aplicable)

2. Establish the inner half (it's too late when you are down by 5 or 8)
a. the first guy who reaches out over the plate or takes a big hack at a pitch, the next pitch should be hard in (move his feet) By moving feet you don't have to throw the ball at his feet. It is just an expression to emphasize throwing IN.
b. first 3 or 4 0-2 counts, move their feet. do it early in game.
c. young pitchers learning to pitch inside please try to keep the ball at the waist or below.

3. In most cases when you are even or behind in the count you have to throw the ball over the plate. That doesn't mean down the middle, however the middle isn't a bad thing as long as the pitch is down. KEEP THE BALL DOWN!!!!!.....I do not feel it is stressed enough.

4. When you are ahead in the count you obviously can be a little more fine, you are trying to expand the strike zone.

5. Know the situation (score, hitter etc....)....and don't say well that's easy.....why then, do I see over and over again the following.
a. score 10-0, 6th inning.....man on 1st....I don't care how many outs.....pitcher throws to 1B.....WHY??????.....Better yet WHY are we holding him??????......
b. close ball game ....man on 2nd w/ no outs.....RHH...pitcher throws everything away from hitter....WHY??????.....plus you may see the 2nd basebman holding the runner!!!!! WHY??????......I'VE SEEN THESE THINGS MANY TIMES.........
c. hitter fouls off two (or just one) FB's he is clearly tardy on and what do you see thrown next....an off-speed pitch.....WHY?????...you just sped his bat up for him.....
d. falling behind hitters by throwing offspeed pitches when my team is up by a bunch....

6. Pitch to what you see (how hitter reacts to my stuff)......Scouting reports are ok but don't get overwhelmed by them.....I would rather have my guy pitch to his strengths rather than to their weaknesses....

7. Far too often at lower levels the pitcher tries to make the hitter miss......at the highest level contact is desired....and sure there are times when you need a punch out....I'm just speaking generally....Make them hit the ball....create soft conact if you can.....move the ball around...change eye levels....in, out, up, down, change speeds.....don't forget the situation and pitch to what you see.....

8. Here is the catch 22........most young hitters are pull oriented and can't handle any thing away from them......so what do we do???...we pitch them away and they never develop the ability to pitch inside w/o fear of hitting people.......most young hitters cannot handle off-speed stuff so what do we throw them, soft stuff to get K's because our defense can't catch and throw....quite a vicious circle......



Hope some of this stuff helps.....

Low337, Wow!!! I couldn't have , never mind, I wish I could have said it better. Great plan, great side of the mental battle.

Thanks again Coachric

Low337,

quote:

a. score 10-0, 6th inning.....man on 1st....I don't care how many outs.....pitcher throws to 1B.....WHY??????.....Better yet WHY are we holding him??????......
b. close ball game ....man on 2nd w/ no outs.....RHH...pitcher throws everything away from hitter....WHY??????.....plus you may see the 2nd basebman holding the runner!!!!! WHY??????......I'VE SEEN THESE THINGS MANY TIMES.........

Your absolutely correct...I see it all too often too, but this stuff is almost always the coach. He will be signalling for his pitcher to do it. The pitcher is not going to risk disobeying his coach, even tohugh we want to go stangle him for all this foolishness.

NHFundamentalsDad----

Completely agree.....can't blame the kid if he doesn't know any better.....
Alot of it is just good old common sense.

Just for some variety and different philosophy.

a. score 10-0, 6th inning.....man on 1st.....I don't care how many outs.....pitcher throws to 1B.....WHY??????.....Better yet WHY are we holding him??????......

If you teach young players to go hard all the time you do not want them to get lethargic late in a game. Granted it does not occur very often but clubs have come back from large deficits in the late innings.
It may be one of those games that you caught some breaks and were able to get out of a few jams early on and you don't want to let your opponent get anything started.
As a coach, I always want my players to play the game like we practice, basically meaning that the awareness and intensity level be there throughout the game. How often do teams have a let down following a lopsided win because they became to relaxed?
I also feel that when a pitcher allows a runner to advance due to not paying attention to him at first in a later game or allows that next bag or more because of a bad throw over to 1st becomes my fault because I allowed my players the opportunity for that error by not staying focused in that earlier game.
b.close ball game....man on 2nd w/no outs.....RHH...pitcher throws everything away from hitter....WHY??????.....plus you may see the 2nd baseman holding the runner!!!!!WHY??????
What if your in the 7th, 8th or 9th and the RHH has twice lined to left for extra bases on inside stuff and grounded to ss on an outside pitch trying to pull the ball on his last at bat? What if this were the seven spot hitter who has just had a good day at the plate and does not normally show good pop? Maybe the baserunner does not have good speed and given the hitters previous plate appearances against your current pitcher you feel that this may be your best chance to keep the runner from moving up.
There are standards but that does not mean that you always play by the text. The spectators may not like the call, but as the coach your responsibility is to your team and preparing them to play each pitch, inning, game and season. Sometimes you come out ahead and sometimes you don't but you leave it out on the diamond.
It is not my intention to start an argument here but to present some reasons why a coach may make those in game decisions.

CoachO.....

Very valid points.....But understand what I am speaking of in my previous post was in general terms.....Each situtation is very unique as we all know.

One of the things I brought up, that you addressed was my displeasure seeing pitchers basically helping a hitter do his job by throwing him something he is able to move the runner with. And to top it off the 2nd baseman holding him. I just feel very strongly that it is not in the defenses' best interest to pitch or play that way.

Here are some scenarios:

Offense has runner at second w/ no outs:

OFFENSE HAS CHOICES: Do you NEED him at third or don't you?
1. Move him over (more often done in a close game, can be done by trusting hitter to hit it to the right side or you can bunt him over)

2. Try to drive the ball and score him (I don't NEED him at third. Maybe I'm banking on a big inning w/ heart of the order up)

If I AM THE COACH in this situation I make a decision to either try and MOVE him or SCORE him. It is important to be able to communicate your wishes to your team w/o calling time and telling runner and hitter what you want done.

My way of communicating that to the team is done very simply (I am coaching third):
** If I point to Third Base, by doing this, I am telling the hitter I want him at third (which means I want him to hit the ball behind the runner to move him) If the hitter feels more comfortable bunting then he has that option. If I want him to bunt then I put it on.

**If I want him to take a crack at scoring him than I don't point third.

TEAM ON DEFENSE has some decisions to make as well.

1. Are they (the offense) going to try and move him or score him (score, inning and spot in order will help me make a decision).
2. Defend appropriately

IF they are trying to move him then here is what I desire if I'm on defense.

1. I want the hitter to pull the ball (in a perfect world at the thirdbaseman), pop it up, punch out, walk or Intentional walk (if i desire).
2. I have stressed to my team (pitchers) all year to keep the ball down. If I choose to pitch to him then Hopefully they will do just that (keep the ball down).

I do not want my second baseman holding the runner the following reasons. This certainly does not mean that we will hold him tight w/ SS. Just keep an eye on him (I can put on an inside move to keep runner honest, just for show). ODDS are he will not try and steal. (they don't want to make the first out at third esp when all hitter has to do is hit a 99 hopper to the right side, and if it is close game and an important run they REALLY don't want to make the first out at third)

** What if they bunt. 2nd baseman may have a heck of time getting to first if ball is bunted to right side and firstbaseman must go after the ball. (they should be trying bunt the ball to the third base side to make the third baseman field the ball. BUT if I see the 2nd baseman holding and I'm coaching the hitter or hitting then we may have a little dicussion and have him bunt the ball to the right side of the field.

By having the 2nd baseman stay home in this situation is just playing the percentages. Pitch and play accordingly (try and put the percentages in your favor).

Maybe I chose to do this. Pitch the hitter away and play him that way. Pray that he hits it on the ground and hopefully I can field it and get the out. Walk the next guy so I don't have to play in to try and cut the run off. Pray for a double play ball.

You can just go on and on....

Bottom line is I would just rather play the percentages. If I don't like the match up at the plate I can always walk the guy. Again completely depends on the situation. Maybe I CAN'T walk him because he is the winning run in the bottom of the ninth....etc...on and on and on....

I've rambled enough....

CoachO

quote:

a. score 10-0, 6th inning.....man on 1st.....I don't care how many outs.....pitcher throws to 1B.....WHY??????.....Better yet WHY are we holding him??????......

Here is why I'm not a big fan of holding runner w/ big lead late in game.
Please note that by not holding him it does not mean that the first baseman is completly back. I may have him shadow the runner and back up when the pitcher kicks.

1. My rule is in 9 inning game w/ an eight run lead or more I don't hold him after the 6th. In a 7 inning game I don't hold him after the 4th.

**I'm playing percentages again. I want my first baseman to have as much range as possible. I'm counting outs at this point in the game. If it's 8 or 10 to nothing in my favor at this point in the game then things are certainly going my way. Either my pitcher is dominating, they flat out can't hit, they can't play defense etc...

2. I don't want my pitcher to divide his attention. I want him to be completly locked in and concentrate on getting outs (the guy at the plate) and I want to have all of my guys on defense in a positon to help him do just that.

** There may be rare cases when I do hold simply to prevent my middle infielders from being beared down on if we have a chance to turn a DP. I however must be willing to give up some range on the right side. Rarely would I do this. Others may differ.

** ODDS are they will not run.
** If they hit a two run home run I'm still up by at least 6 runs.

I simply want my pitchers attention on getting the hitter out and not worrying about the runner. I also want my firstbaseman to have more range. By me telling the firstbaseman to play behind I am telling the pitcher not to worry about the runner.

NOTE: I also must relay to the catcher of my desire to try and throw him out or not. Odds are I will choose not to throw through. It is important for the catcher to relay the signs to the rest of the team that we are not throwing through. You don't want a middle infielder covering if they run and we are not throwing through. Now if that happens Murphys Law kicks in, SS covers (let's say) and a 99 hopper goes through the left side. OR they run, we are not throwing, SS covers, ball is not put in play and your catcher is charged w/ a Stolen Base Against because your SS covered. If he doesn't cover in that situation it is Catcher Indifference.....

BLAH BLAH BLAH....LOL

MORE RAMBLING>>>>>

LOW337,
I have tremendous respect for your concepts and grasp of the game and would love the challenge of playing against you. Alas, this is the internet and we can only compare notes, somewhat.
I only hope that ccbsball 12, who lists himself as a 16 year old pitcher/middle infielder, gets an idea as to the type of pitch and pitch selection he may be able to use in a given situation.
The information that you have provided will give him further insight into this great game and hopefully he will grasp the concepts and apply it as he takes the mound or is in the field. Thanks for responding.
Nice posts.

CoachO...

We kind of got away from his problem of what he should do against LHH's huh?...LOL
Well maybe we helped him a little....

Nothing is etched in stone huh?

Take Care All
Always a pleasure to discuss, share and steal (borrow) ideas.....

Thank you for your insights and information everyone. I used some of your guys information (Coach O, BigHit,Low) in yesterdays game. There was one lefty on the team, and he had 1 of 2 hits off me. Against him the first time when he got the hit, I just left the ball over the plate to much. The second time he came up I threw a too seamer in, called for a strike. (I like the movement on the 2-seamer to a lefty, because he gives up on the pitch locks his hips and then it breaks to the corner of the plate) Second pitch I threw a change which sunk down and out to him, and he weakly grounded out to third.

Thanks again for all the tips, they couldnt have came at a better time since we has our championship game yesterday. The tips helped me out a little in tough situations (8in. 0r bb 9k), where he would foul off continuously my fast and didnt bite at my curve. Thanks again for all the support.

congrats on the win!

quote:

Thank you for your insights and information everyone. I used some of your guys information (Coach O, BigHit,Low) in yesterdays game.

You guys are great!!! Isn't it good to have professionals such as the above-mentioned who care enough to take there time to teach and promote?? That is "True Passion for Baseball"!!! The players who seek advice from experience, will go far in this game. Good move young man(ccbsball12) and I personally wish you continued success in your baseball endeavors and good to see those fellows that helped you to see fruit from their labor Shep Acknowledges! peace

That's why you are the best Shep..!!!!!

ccbsball12......

Atta boy!

This is clearly the reason I came to this site, to share real insight of the game and exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas. Thanks so much to the real Pro's here.