Pitching Inside

[JC]

What happened to the Prior and Wood of 2003 when they would consistently bust people inside? Remember the classic series against the Giants when Wood hit Bonds one day, and Prior hit him the next day and didn't back down? Has there been a change in philosophy, a change in execution, or a mistake in my perception?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What happened to the Prior and Wood of 2003 when they would consistently bust people inside? Remember the classic series against the Giants when Wood hit Bonds one day, and Prior hit him the next day and didn't back down? Has there been a change in philosophy, a change in execution, or a mistake in my perception?

 

I think Brenly made a note during Prior's outing that Blanco loves going on the outside corner. Maybe this is an issue as much with our catchers as it is with Wood and Prior themselves. Just throwing it out there, I haven't seen Wood or Prior pitch much this year to make any sort of judgment.

[E.J.]

What happened to the Prior and Wood of 2003 when they would consistently bust people inside? Remember the classic series against the Giants when Wood hit Bonds one day, and Prior hit him the next day and didn't back down? Has there been a change in philosophy, a change in execution, or a mistake in my perception?

 

Prior pitches inside all the time. He hasn't hit anyone lately, but he's always busting people inside.

 

I don't think Woody can throw it inside. He tries to get it inside, but always seems to miss. It usually lands in the stands. There were 3 good examples of this last night.

[imb]

I think it's probably a perception thing. They havent exactly been healthy and logging a lot of innings since 2004.

[LoneStarCubFan]

The problem wasn't that he was missing inside. The problem was he was trying to go inside with an 88 mph heater.

[JC]

What happened to the Prior and Wood of 2003 when they would consistently bust people inside? Remember the classic series against the Giants when Wood hit Bonds one day, and Prior hit him the next day and didn't back down? Has there been a change in philosophy, a change in execution, or a mistake in my perception?

 

I think Brenly made a note during Prior's outing that Blanco loves going on the outside corner. Maybe this is an issue as much with our catchers as it is with Wood and Prior themselves. Just throwing it out there, I haven't seen Wood or Prior pitch much this year to make any sort of judgment.

 

Could this, in part, by Maddux's influence? We all know that Atlanta preached working the outside corner. We hear with some consistancy that Maddux gives tips to players all the time, and Blanco certainly made his name with the Braves living on the outside.

 

I never bought into the idea that Maddux could help Prior and Wood. They are simply too different with respect to their approaches. Sure, Maddux can reinforce the strategy of limiting damage when runners are on. But, do you really need Maddux for that?

 

Living on the outside corner seems more effective if you have Maddux's two seemer, or are a lefty like Glavine who can break his curve over the outside black of the plate. Of course, Smoltz is more of a power pitcher, but I don't see him live outside like Maddux and Glavine did. (Though, I could be wrong.)

[E.J.]

What happened to the Prior and Wood of 2003 when they would consistently bust people inside? Remember the classic series against the Giants when Wood hit Bonds one day, and Prior hit him the next day and didn't back down? Has there been a change in philosophy, a change in execution, or a mistake in my perception?

 

I think Brenly made a note during Prior's outing that Blanco loves going on the outside corner. Maybe this is an issue as much with our catchers as it is with Wood and Prior themselves. Just throwing it out there, I haven't seen Wood or Prior pitch much this year to make any sort of judgment.

 

Could this, in part, by Maddux's influence? We all know that Atlanta preached working the outside corner. We hear with some consistancy that Maddux gives tips to players all the time, and Blanco certainly made his name with the Braves living on the outside.

 

I never bought into the idea that Maddux could help Prior and Wood. They are simply too different with respect to their approaches. Sure, Maddux can reinforce the strategy of limiting damage when runners are on. But, do you really need Maddux for that?

 

Living on the outside corner seems more effective if you have Maddux's two seemer, or are a lefty like Glavine who can break his curve over the outside black of the plate. Of course, Smoltz is more of a power pitcher, but I don't see him live outside like Maddux and Glavine did. (Though, I could be wrong.)

 

I could see Maddux helping Prior immensely. The only one who can really help Woody is Woody himself. He still needs to learn to be a pitcher and not a thrower [/cliche]