| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | a good hitter, he knows what I'm probably going |
| Pitching adjustments are absolutely necessary and | | | | to do. At the risk of contradicting myself, it may |
| they can be extremely tricky. It can very well | | | | possibly be the right time to sneak a fastball by |
| turn into a chess match between a good pitcher | | | | him. Does this sound like a chess match to you? |
| and a good hitter. | | | | Well, it's because it is a chess match that goes on |
| As a baseball pitcher, you absolutely must make | | | | between a good pitcher and a good hitter. |
| pitching adjustments throughout a game. Just as | | | | Baseball pitching is not just getting the ball and |
| you make your adjustments, remember that the | | | | throwing it to your catcher. |
| good hitters will adjust to you also, which is one | | | | You have to make adjustments each time you |
| of the reasons they are good hitters. | | | | have an outing. If you have three pitches in your |
| If you made a good hitter look bad on a change | | | | arsenal, on some days maybe only two of them |
| up, he's going to adjust. There is a very fine line | | | | will be working for you. You still have to show the |
| you have to walk here. If a particular batter is | | | | hitters the one that's not working. Just show it to |
| struggling with a certain pitch or a certain location, | | | | them as a ball and not as a strike. |
| by all means continue to throw it during the game. | | | | If you have a great breaking ball on a particular |
| On the other hand, proceed with a little caution | | | | day, it will become a hot topic on the other |
| and always remember that if he's a good hitter | | | | team's bench in no time at all. It might be time to |
| he may adjust also, so don't go to the well once | | | | start throwing more fast balls. Then, the opposing |
| too often. Like I said, this can be very tricky. If a | | | | bench will start to talk about your heater" also. |
| good hitter has trouble when I went off speed to | | | | If you are fortunate and have good command of |
| him in his first two at bats, by all means I should | | | | three pitches on a particular day, then they very |
| consider to continue going off speed to him. But, I | | | | well may be talking about how they have a major |
| must proceed with lots of caution because if he is | | | | problem on their hands! |