WARNING…This is a former pitcher speaking so hitters, don’t get sensitive on me!
One of my biggest pet peeves as a player and now as a coach, was and is, when hitters complain about high strikes called. I’m talking about the pitch belt high, maybe a ball or two above it, that is called for a strike. First, according to the so called rule book strike zone, it should be called a strike every time, but it’s not and I’m ok with that because I don’t ever want to throw it there. Second, think about it, if you HAD swung the bat instead of watching that meat ball go by, you could have crushed it! If you are going to be upset with anybody, it should be with yourself. Stop whining about a mistake that you made (by choosing not to swing) but are trying to blame it on someone else (the umpire).
Next…Pitchers, you should know how hard it is to hit. I don’t care who is in the box, don’t ever give them too much credit. Last time I checked, there has NEVER been a hitter that got a hit every time they stepped in the box. Even Trout gets out 6-7 times out of every 10 at bats. Your job is to throw strikes. Execute pitches. Compete with every pitch. Pitch to contact. Stay away from 3 ball counts. Control the running game and get as many outs as you can on as few pitches as possible.
When we give them too much credit, that’s when we make mistakes. That’s when we throw pitches without conviction. That’s when we are focused too much on who is in the box rather than what pitch I am about to throw and how I want to execute it. Remember, when we are on the mound, all we are doing is playing a glorified game of catch with our catcher.
Get Your Mind Right boys!!
Founder of Baseball Dudes. Blessed with three beautiful children and an amazing wife. Baseball is my life, after my family, and I love sharing what I have learned from it. Thanks for taking the time to view what we offer here at Baseball Dudes.
