I have an issue that some of my players are swing at pitches down in hitter's count. These are not border line 2-0, 3-1 pitches these are pitchers pitches. Anybody have any advice or drills to get the to track up?
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When your pitcher warms up in the bullpen have your hitters stand at the bullpen home plate.
This allows the catcher to inform the hitter if the pitch was a strike or ball. Tell your hitter NOT to swing.
Our coaches [pro scouts] have use this tool for 33 years of International baseball.
Bob
I use two rectangular cardboard cutouts and paint them two different colors. One is a "power zone" size and the other is a "two strike" size. The power zone cutout is large enough to allow for an aggressive approach but small enough that the hitter not swing at pitches he can't drive. We will determine for each player what his optimal pitch location is. We will hold the "power zone" card out in front of the plate with his optimal spot as the center of the card. That creates his clear visual of pitch location he is looking to attack. Then, we will do front toss with that zone as the focus.
IEBSBL posted:I have an issue that some of my players are swing at pitches down in hitter's count. These are not border line 2-0, 3-1 pitches these are pitchers pitches. Anybody have any advice or drills to get the to track up?
I'm not saying that is the case with him but some players are actually better at low pitches, especially lefties. Trout is swinging at pitches 2-3 inches below the lower strike zone edge at a very high rate (and takes a lot of strikes in the upper third) because he is murdering those pitches. David Ortiz is also famous for being a low ball hitter.
The low pitch isn't a pitchers pitch for everyone, especially in these days when many hitters have slightly longer uppercut swings that are tailored to "golf" those low pitches.
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/j...he-high-stuff-082914
However if he is rolling over or missing those pitches he needs to stop swinging at them. tell him to only swing at pitches that are at least an inch above the knees and when in doubt take it.
cabbagedad posted:I use two rectangular cardboard cutouts and paint them two different colors. One is a "power zone" size and the other is a "two strike" size. The power zone cutout is large enough to allow for an aggressive approach but small enough that the hitter not swing at pitches he can't drive. We will determine for each player what his optimal pitch location is. We will hold the "power zone" card out in front of the plate with his optimal spot as the center of the card. That creates his clear visual of pitch location he is looking to attack. Then, we will do front toss with that zone as the focus.
Now, this is smart.
Dominik85 posted:IEBSBL posted:I have an issue that some of my players are swing at pitches down in hitter's count. These are not border line 2-0, 3-1 pitches these are pitchers pitches. Anybody have any advice or drills to get the to track up?
I'm not saying that is the case with him but some players are actually better at low pitches, especially lefties. Trout is swinging at pitches 2-3 inches below the lower strike zone edge at a very high rate (and takes a lot of strikes in the upper third) because he is murdering those pitches. David Ortiz is also famous for being a low ball hitter.
The low pitch isn't a pitchers pitch for everyone, especially in these days when many hitters have slightly longer uppercut swings that are tailored to "golf" those low pitches.
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/j...he-high-stuff-082914
However if he is rolling over or missing those pitches he needs to stop swinging at them. tell him to only swing at pitches that are at least an inch above the knees and when in doubt take it.
I agree with you 100%. This is not the problem.....It is a problem of swinging at bad pitches.