| Whenever you are ahead in the count, you should | | | | threes. Simply count the pitches swung at that |
| "expand the strike zone." No, let's rephrase that. | | | | were strikes and pitches swung at that were balls. |
| You must expand the strike zone! That simply | | | | Your tally will go like this: 1 out of 1, 1 out of 2, 2 |
| means throwing a pitch off the plate, that's | | | | out of 3, 2 out of 4, 3 out of 5, etc. |
| actually a ball. Or throwing a pitch too high or too | | | | I really suggest you try this. You will get very |
| low that is out of the strike zone. Let's be clear | | | | good at it and in no time at all and may find it |
| on one thing. I think it is a total waste if you | | | | very interesting as well as surprising. The batters |
| throw the pitch too far off the plate. If ahead of | | | | swing at more strike threes that are balls than |
| the batter and the count is 0-2, it makes no | | | | are strikes! That is a very powerful statement. It |
| sense to throw a pitch over the batter's head or | | | | is because the batter can no longer be fussy |
| two feet off the plate. The objective is to get | | | | about what he swings at and must protect |
| the batter to swing at a pitch that's not a strike. | | | | against being called out on strikes. |
| If you throw the ball way off the plate or over | | | | There is an expression that has been around for |
| the batter's head the batter will not swing. The | | | | decades and still holds true and will NEVER |
| only thing that does is that it adds to your pitch | | | | become obsolete. "You get ahead of them with |
| count. That makes no sense. | | | | strikes but you get them out with balls." I know |
| It is estimated that at least 70% of swinging | | | | it's been around for decades because my father |
| strike threes are on pitches that are NOT strikes. | | | | taught it to me about 50 years ago, when I was |
| Please read the previous sentence again! | | | | 9 years old. Boy am I old! |
| You don't have to take my word for it. You can | | | | Make very good use of expanding the strike zone |
| see it for yourself. Occasionally, when a pitcher | | | | because very often, if ahead in the count, you will |
| strikes out a lot of hitters in a baseball game, the | | | | get batters out with balls. |
| following morning on television, they sometimes | | | | One of the better baseball pitching tips you should |
| show the replays of all the strikeouts. Keep a tally | | | | always remember is that there is simply no |
| for yourself. (Trust me on this one, you can do | | | | reason on earth to give a hitter a strike to hit if |
| it.) I have done it several times. | | | | he's going to swing at a ball! Baseball pitching is |
| If the hitter took strike three, you DON'T tally it. | | | | plenty tough enough. |
| You are ONLY checking the SWINGING strike | | | | Why not make your life easier? |