Help me understand......

[dalgreen]

why I've already seen two batters this season, and tons over the course of the years, who, with the bases loaded, swing at the first pitch? Was I taught wrong all these years? I was taught when a pitcher is in a jam, he generally will throw you his "out" pitch on the first pitch, trying to get the hitter to get themselves out. And that's exactly what I've seen this year and over the years, guys swinging and missing or doing just what the pitcher wants --- making an out on the first pitch without it producing a run or even hitting the ball hard.

 

Someone help me understand, please! Maybe this is a rant, but just a frustration I'm seeing over and over.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

why I've already seen two batters this season, and tons over the course of the years, who, with the bases loaded, swing at the first pitch? Was I taught wrong all these years? I was taught when a pitcher is in a jam, he generally will throw you his "out" pitch on the first pitch, trying to get the hitter to get themselves out. And that's exactly what I've seen this year and over the years, guys swinging and missing or doing just what the pitcher wants --- making an out on the first pitch without it producing a run or even hitting the ball hard.

 

Someone help me understand, please! Maybe this is a rant, but just a frustration I'm seeing over and over.

 

I only played high school ball, but our coach always told us with the bases loaded, "first one's the best one". No one wants to fall behind with nowhere to put the hitter.

[UK1679666180]

Depends, sometimes if the pitcher is just throwing a get me over FB to get ahead in the count.

 

If it's a good pitch to hit, let them swing. A hitter has a much better chance of having a productive AB on the 1st pitch rather than falling behind 0-1.

 

The hitter just has to use his own hitting zone, if the ball is in a spot where the hitter is comfortable, I'd want the hitter to get a nice level swing from a balanced approach and hit it hard.

 

I'd rather have him do that than try and work from behind, especially if the pitcher has a breaking ball out pitch.

 

If you're facing Zito and you see him throw a FB down the middle, I'd go after it rather than the whiffle ball curve.

[dalgreen]

why I've already seen two batters this season, and tons over the course of the years, who, with the bases loaded, swing at the first pitch? Was I taught wrong all these years? I was taught when a pitcher is in a jam, he generally will throw you his "out" pitch on the first pitch, trying to get the hitter to get themselves out. And that's exactly what I've seen this year and over the years, guys swinging and missing or doing just what the pitcher wants --- making an out on the first pitch without it producing a run or even hitting the ball hard.

 

Someone help me understand, please! Maybe this is a rant, but just a frustration I'm seeing over and over.

 

I only played high school ball, but our coach always told us with the bases loaded, "first one's the best one". No one wants to fall behind with nowhere to put the hitter.

 

I understand what you're saying, but I challenge you to keep count of the first pitch swings when the pitcher is in a jam, and count if it would've been a ball or a strike had they not swung. Tonight, I saw Lieberthal swing at an Izzy first pitch, with the bases loaded in the ninth, breaking pitch that was 4-6 inches off the plate. Closers generally won't give in to you, but I was taught that falling behind (from a pitcher's standpoint) 1-0 isn't that bad, especially if you have a good "out" pitch. If I'm a pitcher, I'm not going to get beat with on a 0-0 count by throwing a hitter's pitch.

[srbin84]

Most hitters have high batting averages and slugging % on the first pitch. That's why they like to swing at it. It's often a fastball.

[dalgreen]

Depends, sometimes if the pitcher is just throwing a get me over FB to get ahead in the count.

 

If it's a good pitch to hit, let them swing. A hitter has a much better chance of having a productive AB on the 1st pitch rather than falling behind 0-1.

 

The hitter just has to use his own hitting zone, if the ball is in a spot where the hitter is comfortable, I'd want the hitter to get a nice level swing from a balanced approach and hit it hard.

 

I'd rather have him do that than try and work from behind, especially if the pitcher has a breaking ball out pitch.

 

If you're facing Zito and you see him throw a FB down the middle, I'd go after it rather than the whiffle ball curve.

 

Yeah, I'm not advocating giving hitters the take sign on the first pitch, it just seems to me that as a hitter I'd think the pitcher, in a jam, wouldn't give me a hitter's pitch on the first pitch. It seems that I see hitters swinging at way more balls than strikes on the first pitch when a pitcher is in a jam. Perhaps I'm too ol' school.

[dalgreen]

Most hitters have high batting averages and slugging % on the first pitch. That's why they like to swing at it. It's often a fastball.

 

I understand that, but with the bases loaded? It might only be perception on my part, but it seems that most first pitches when a pitcher is in a jam are balls (pitcher's pitches) than strikes.

[srbin84]

Most hitters have high batting averages and slugging % on the first pitch. That's why they like to swing at it. It's often a fastball.

 

I understand that, but with the bases loaded? It might only be perception on my part, but it seems that most first pitches when a pitcher is in a jam are balls (pitcher's pitches) than strikes.

 

I don't know. All I can tell you is that other than Ramirez and Pierre, every player in the lineup has bad numbers with the bases loaded.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

why I've already seen two batters this season, and tons over the course of the years, who, with the bases loaded, swing at the first pitch? Was I taught wrong all these years? I was taught when a pitcher is in a jam, he generally will throw you his "out" pitch on the first pitch, trying to get the hitter to get themselves out. And that's exactly what I've seen this year and over the years, guys swinging and missing or doing just what the pitcher wants --- making an out on the first pitch without it producing a run or even hitting the ball hard.

 

Someone help me understand, please! Maybe this is a rant, but just a frustration I'm seeing over and over.

 

I only played high school ball, but our coach always told us with the bases loaded, "first one's the best one". No one wants to fall behind with nowhere to put the hitter.

 

I understand what you're saying, but I challenge you to keep count of the first pitch swings when the pitcher is in a jam, and count if it would've been a ball or a strike had they not swung. Tonight, I saw Lieberthal swing at an Izzy first pitch, with the bases loaded in the ninth, breaking pitch that was 4-6 inches off the plate. Closers generally won't give in to you, but I was taught that falling behind (from a pitcher's standpoint) 1-0 isn't that bad, especially if you have a good "out" pitch. If I'm a pitcher, I'm not going to get beat with on a 0-0 count by throwing a hitter's pitch.

 

I understand what you're saying, I saw that Lieberthal AB too. Our coach also told us to look fastball before 2 strikes, and not to swing at breaking pitches until then as well.

[BigbadB]

A lot of players do have pretty good AVG first pitch hitting, but it drives me nuts. I absolutely hate 1 pitch outs. Dusty encourages an aggressive approach at the plate, and that might partially be due to the fact that they know the pitcher doesn't like to fall into a hole and might groove one. I'm sure Dusty isn't the only manager with this approach to hitting, but I'm not a fan.

[badger1679666666]

(Aside) Lieberthal really sucks now.

[barryfoote]

My personal opinion is that you should treat it like it was a 2-0 or 3-1 count. Look for a certain pitch in a certain location and if you get it then take a swing at it.

 

I would make an exception though if the pitcher is struggling with control. In that case you should make him throw a strike. It does annoy me when a batter swings at a first pitch ball from a pitcher that can't find the plate.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

How did the bases get loaded? What kind of stuff does the pitcher have? How many outs? What's the score? Who's on deck? Etc.

[rawaction]

To me, it depends on the situation. If a guy walks the bases loaded, you definitely take a strike. If he gives up 3 rocket singles and nobody is able to advance more than 1 base, maybe you should be a little more aggressive and look for a pitch to rifle also.

 

In general, a hitter should not swing at the first pitch unless he can hit it hard.

[rjchapma]

If its a center cut fastball you swing at the first pitch. There is a good chance hes gonna throw you something thats gonna break and then you never swing first pitch breaking ball. So I guess I undersand what you are saying, but ive heard it both ways.