Can someone please explain taking the first pitch. I have never quite understood this. I notice alot of those first pitches seem to be strikes. My son's coach has always instructed his players to do this. Just curious.
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First pitches are meant to be fastballs for strike, not always works that way 
There is usually a sequence of pitches, your sons coach should explain this to him. The sequence may become too difficult (curves, off speed), but the first is ususally the plain old fastball.
If the batter sits on the first pitch and misses, he's already down in the count.
The best hitters are able to recognize where the pitch is going (what type of pitch) after the release point, they might be able to afford to sit on the ball, but most can't.
In college, you don't play if you sit waiting for the perfect pitch to arrive at the plate.
Mine is not a batter, a pitcher who throws (or tries) his first pitch a fastball.
JMO
There is usually a sequence of pitches, your sons coach should explain this to him. The sequence may become too difficult (curves, off speed), but the first is ususally the plain old fastball.If the batter sits on the first pitch and misses, he's already down in the count.
The best hitters are able to recognize where the pitch is going (what type of pitch) after the release point, they might be able to afford to sit on the ball, but most can't.
In college, you don't play if you sit waiting for the perfect pitch to arrive at the plate.
Mine is not a batter, a pitcher who throws (or tries) his first pitch a fastball.
JMO
Diva,
In most situations taking the first pitch is a poor strategy. Most good pitchers can throw about 2/3 strikes with fastballs. If the hitters take the first pitch they start out in a hole 2/3 of the time and their batting average and OBP is going to suffer.
At the younger levels of youth baseball many pitchers can only throw about 50% strikes and then the strategy might pay off but it doesn't teach the kids how to play baseball.
Only hitters who make contact so consistently (i.e. Ted Williams) that they almost never strike out should consider taking the first pitch on a regular basis.
On the other hand, if the coach is telling them to take the first pitch they'll just have to do so and make the best adjustment they can.
In most situations taking the first pitch is a poor strategy. Most good pitchers can throw about 2/3 strikes with fastballs. If the hitters take the first pitch they start out in a hole 2/3 of the time and their batting average and OBP is going to suffer.
At the younger levels of youth baseball many pitchers can only throw about 50% strikes and then the strategy might pay off but it doesn't teach the kids how to play baseball.
Only hitters who make contact so consistently (i.e. Ted Williams) that they almost never strike out should consider taking the first pitch on a regular basis.
On the other hand, if the coach is telling them to take the first pitch they'll just have to do so and make the best adjustment they can.
I don't like taking the first pitch, although I've seen coaches tell kids to do it who lack discipline and swing at first pitches out of the strike zone.
My kid gets a lot of curve balls as first pitches. Since he's known by the other teams as being a very good hitter, they try to cross him up by throwing off speed on a FB count.
I tell him to watch for the curve on 0-0, and if it comes, let it go unless its a hanger. (And he's left handed, so if it hangs they might as well have put it on a tee.)
But tell him to take the first pitch? And let a meat fastball go without making the pitcher pay for it?
No Way!
My kid gets a lot of curve balls as first pitches. Since he's known by the other teams as being a very good hitter, they try to cross him up by throwing off speed on a FB count.
I tell him to watch for the curve on 0-0, and if it comes, let it go unless its a hanger. (And he's left handed, so if it hangs they might as well have put it on a tee.)
But tell him to take the first pitch? And let a meat fastball go without making the pitcher pay for it?
No Way!
Take the first pitch and crush it. If its a fb for a strike. If its not take it. Instructing kids to take the first pitch as a strategy is ridiculous. It kills hitters. It makes you the hunted instead of the hunter. I would love to play against a team that had this policy. Lets see first pitch four seam fastball for a strike because your taking. CB outside for a strike now your 0-2. If we miss on the CB no problem its only 1-1. Come back with a CB for a strike or a fastball on the outside black for a strike. We wont miss two times in a row very often now your down 1-2. We have two pitches to make you swing at our pitch. Taking the first pitch kills hitters and makes your team a defensive offensive team.
As a rule we have our guys with a green light on the first pitch unless there is a certain situation where you want to work the pitcher.
In mind my the pitcher wants the first pitch to be a strike so why not sit on it !! Also hate to see a hitter get in a 0-1 hole -- now the pitcher thinks he is in control
In mind my the pitcher wants the first pitch to be a strike so why not sit on it !! Also hate to see a hitter get in a 0-1 hole -- now the pitcher thinks he is in control
Great question with alot to different answers...First the situation dictates take or swing....He's the way I start each game. Lead-off and the two hole take til they see a strike, if for no other reason than to make sure he doesn't have a 3 pitch inning. This also allows the power in the line-up 3-4-5 to hopefully get a better feel and maybe a pattern, they can see how many FB verses curves, location etc. If the pitcher has proven he can throw strikes all the rest have the green light...If the pitcher is struggling a bit was does taking one hurt...IT JUST TAKES ONE 
Everyone is different by heres my philosophy. Lead off man goes to the dish. Pitcher has a game plan. Work ahead and establish his fb. We have a game plan. Never allow the pitcher to work ahead and establish his fastball for a first pitch strike. Lead off is looking first pitch fb and smokes it. Pitcher starts thinking a bit now. Two man looking firt pitch fb. He gets it he smokes it. Now pitcher starts to realize that he has to change his game plan not us. What we find is he will start out with a change or a curveball. Alot of HS pitchers are not comfortable starting hitters with an offspeed pitch and get behind in the count. Now they have to come at us behind in the count with a fastball for a strike. We just feel that we want to dictate to the pitcher and not let him dictate to us. We want to send a message right off the bat (no pun intended) that you are not going to work ahead on us with a fb. Quality pitchers best pitch is the fb. Take it away do not let him establish it early in the count. JMO
Cach May:
I'm with you. I understand the reaoning behind taking a strike hihg in the order, but I think the cost of doing so (especially against good pitchers) is that you will often be working behind in the count.
My opinion is that this is too high a price to pay.
Are there ever times when I would have a kid take a strike? Sure... if the pitcher is struggling with control and if I don't really trust the batter's discipline.
I'm with you. I understand the reaoning behind taking a strike hihg in the order, but I think the cost of doing so (especially against good pitchers) is that you will often be working behind in the count.
My opinion is that this is too high a price to pay.
Are there ever times when I would have a kid take a strike? Sure... if the pitcher is struggling with control and if I don't really trust the batter's discipline.
Coach May is right on with this one. Our high school coach also teaches the "take the first pitch", his philosophy is basically get deep into the count. When I coach, I teach kids to look "Dead red" that first pitch, and if it is hit it. Never, never hit anything off-speed on the first pitch, I believe a study was conducted that shows hitters hitting off-speed first pitches batted around .117 or some god awful average. I personally feel that if you take a first pitch fastball strike, you have put yourself in the whole. Second pitch more often than not, will be off-speed i.e. curve or change, and then you are guessing on the third pitch.
If you start 0-1 then your average drops 100 points......thats a fact....you cannot afford that strategy.
Make them get you behind on a CB or change but not the FB....Coach May is right...hit that ball
Make them get you behind on a CB or change but not the FB....Coach May is right...hit that ball
Heres a perfect example of what we are talking about. Last night my son who is a freshman starting on varsity came up to the plate his first ab. He is a pretty big kid at 6'0 205 and is just one of those kids that looks like he can mash just by the way he stands in the box. All year he has been doing exactly what we preach, sit on the first pitch fb and continue to do so untill your down in the count. Well most of the time this year if not all the time he has been getting curveball or change off the plate on first pitch. The times he gotten the fb on first pitch he has crushed it either for a hit or a long foul ball. Well the pitcher starts him with a fb right down the heart and he just stands there. One of the coaches looks at me and say "What just happened? I cant believe Jeff took that pitch". I said I couldnt either. The next pitch is a change over the outside corner that he takes for a strike now hes down 0-2. Well I knew the next pitch was going to be a curveball and it was. He sat back and pulled it on the ground to the 3b and he was thrown out. When he came in the dugout I asked him what happened. He said "He fooled me I have seen so many offspeed pitches on first pitch this year I was fooled by the fastball right down the middle. I asked him how many times has he been down 0-1 on the first pitch when they started him off with off speed. He said none. I think he learned his lesson. He better have.
This brings up one more point...bat position. Hitting the low FB is a reaction more than swing. To be on the diagonal to the lo FB you must be in the proper slot at the top....bat splitting the back of the helmet.
I know you are a great coach but check this point on kids taking the good pitch. If the bat gets too flat or they are bouncing the bat off the shoulder they will be out of that diagonal plane that leads directly to the low FB.
If you have to raise the bat tip and then swing in the downward plane you will freeze/ fail to pull the trigger because your brain says that you will be late.
I have put kids bat in a better slot and they can drop the head into the pitch path effortlessly. It is a huge help.......sometimes its the physical set up that fosters what appears to me a mental lock up.
I know you are a great coach but check this point on kids taking the good pitch. If the bat gets too flat or they are bouncing the bat off the shoulder they will be out of that diagonal plane that leads directly to the low FB.
If you have to raise the bat tip and then swing in the downward plane you will freeze/ fail to pull the trigger because your brain says that you will be late.
I have put kids bat in a better slot and they can drop the head into the pitch path effortlessly. It is a huge help.......sometimes its the physical set up that fosters what appears to me a mental lock up.
The reason some teams take the first pitch is simply to get the pitchers pitch count up. This is usually done if the pitcher has a couple of 3 up 3 down innings in a row. I also like to take a pitch if the previous batter swung at the 1st pitch and got out. The worst thing an offense can do is have a 3,4,5 pitch inning.
