I think it depends on how many outs you have.
No outs or 1 out, the batter MUST put the ball in play. Situation is the same whether no strikes, one strike or two strikes, except that with two strikes the batter must extend his strike zone because taking a called third strike in this situation is verboten.
With two outs, the batter knows he can't just put the ball in play, but must try to get a hit to get the run in. In this situation he has to do more than hit a dribbler to the 2B. He still has to try to drive the ball some and thus, he may have to take a slightly greater risk of a strikeout -- as long as it's a swinging K. No backwards K's permitted in this situation!
I believe that with 2 strikes in any situation any hitter should change his mental approach more than his physical approach. [Though it can certainly be argued that changing the mental approach will change the physical approach somewhat and vice versa and I will not attempt to refute that]. With less than two strikes and one out and a man on third in a close game late innings and a power guy up, I want a Sac Fly [assumming the runner on third has normal speed]. With another hitter, I may want a squeeze bunt. With a man on first and the right hitter, maybe a hit & run or a run & hit. If we are several runs ahead or several runs behind, things would be different. Food for another topic.
With two strikes, the equation changes. Almost everyone has said "I want the ball put in play". In other words, ABSOLUTELY NO STRIKEOUT, preferably not a walk but if you have to you have to [if they don't pitch you a hittable pitch you have to take the walk]. Fight off borderline strikes until you get a pitch you can hit. The zone in which you are going to swing at the ball is wider both vertically and horizontally than when you have less than two strikes. You swing at what you can make contact, not necessarily only what you can crush.
To accomplish this different task there should be a different mental approach. Focus on picking up the pitcher's pitch as soon as possible. Don't guess as you might in other counts. Hit the ball where it is pitched. Be prepared to hit the pitch that comes into the weakest part of your hitting zone but at the same time be flexible enough to adjust to hit any pitch in or close too the umpire's strike zone for the day. And [here I expect some disagreement] BACK OFF THE ACCELERATOR A LITTLE BIT. When you drive a car and are coming to a slightly more dangerous piece of road, you don't hit the brakes immediately; you back off the accelerator a little bit to gain better control of the car. You need to gain better control of the bat.
Great Topic.
TW344
With two strikes, the equation changes. Almost everyone has said "I want the ball put in play". In other words, ABSOLUTELY NO STRIKEOUT, preferably not a walk but if you have to you have to [if they don't pitch you a hittable pitch you have to take the walk]. Fight off borderline strikes until you get a pitch you can hit. The zone in which you are going to swing at the ball is wider both vertically and horizontally than when you have less than two strikes. You swing at what you can make contact, not necessarily only what you can crush.
To accomplish this different task there should be a different mental approach. Focus on picking up the pitcher's pitch as soon as possible. Don't guess as you might in other counts. Hit the ball where it is pitched. Be prepared to hit the pitch that comes into the weakest part of your hitting zone but at the same time be flexible enough to adjust to hit any pitch in or close too the umpire's strike zone for the day. And [here I expect some disagreement] BACK OFF THE ACCELERATOR A LITTLE BIT. When you drive a car and are coming to a slightly more dangerous piece of road, you don't hit the brakes immediately; you back off the accelerator a little bit to gain better control of the car. You need to gain better control of the bat.
Great Topic.
TW344
0-2 your job is to put it in play. obviously if theres less then 2 outs you want a flyball or a ground ball to a certain spot in the infield depending on how they are playing. but a K certainly wont get the runner home. i think you hit just like its 0-2 otherwise, put anything thats gonna be called a strike in play. if its something you can drive, you got lucky.
High school age and below......
You get 3 swings (if you need them) every at bat.
Swing the same every time.
Hit the sh*t out of the ball.
Of course, I'm more into developing players than winning trophies.
You get 3 swings (if you need them) every at bat.
Swing the same every time.
Hit the sh*t out of the ball.
Of course, I'm more into developing players than winning trophies.
Infopump:
Developing players and winning trophies (and scholarships) often go hand and hand. You would know that if your off the wall terms and phrases (sh*t in your words) made things easier for young players to understand and develop.
Who are you kidding?
THop
Developing players and winning trophies (and scholarships) often go hand and hand. You would know that if your off the wall terms and phrases (sh*t in your words) made things easier for young players to understand and develop.
Who are you kidding?
THop
I have no problem with players understanding things.
It's you religious adults who suffer from learning disabilities.
Self inflicted, I might add.
It's you religious adults who suffer from learning disabilities.
Self inflicted, I might add.
Infodupe:
Not sure what my faith has to do with this, but the only learning disability I have is in translating your language into the same things the finest AAU, high school, college and professional coaches taught the players you study on video.
THop-esaurus
Not sure what my faith has to do with this, but the only learning disability I have is in translating your language into the same things the finest AAU, high school, college and professional coaches taught the players you study on video.
THop-esaurus
