Posted by: Dave (cdpaetkau@telus.net) on Fri Feb 14 11:22:50 2003

You guys have a good conversations going about the philosophy of hitting and I think we should start a new thread about this particular item.

I am not here to thrust any steadfast rules of hitting or mental prep about hitting but most players under the age of 25 rarely understand all aspects of the game. To have kids under the age of 14 to truely understand the game is very unlikely. Most top level hitters in the game do not peak until a later age and that is when the light goes on they start to understand the mental side of the game. Even in baseball at the professional level rarely have their best years before the age of 30. By the latest HR production it seems that it is even later ala McGwire, Bonds etc.

Now to answer your two questions

What I am interested in knowing is, what do you have them looking for the first time they face a pitcher, how do you teach them to manage the zone?

You learn the least about a pitcher once you are in the batters box. A very wise coach once told me that "Son you will learn more sitting on the bench watching the game then you will learn playing every game. Having a game off now and then is not bad thing its a learning experience." I took those thing to heart and found out that watching and asking questions gave me a better insite to the gaem then playing every game. Later on I learned that watching during the game is a focus that narrows as you enter the batters box.

1 On the bench you watch were the infield plays, what the pitcher throws first pitch, when they need a strike, which pitches are waste pitches, are changeups for strikes, what pitches are more likely to throw for strikes on which counts, patterns in pitches, location of pitches, any pre pitch give aways (picking the pitcher), and about 10 other general things. This is a lot but your focus is general.

2 Your at bat is approaching you start focusing on situation and take what you have observed about the pitcher and defence to start to guide you on your own at bat.

3 In the batters box you are focused on situation (bunting, RBI situation, etc) and focus on what your pitcher will throw you. Your first at bat is usually the hardest to judge but the pitcher is in the same predicament as you. They do not know you but you have had a chance to watch maybe 40+ pitches of theirs (especially if you watch them warm up). You have the advantage. Focus on what the pitcher will throw first pitch. Is it your pitch and is it for a strike.

4 The pitcher gets the sign NOW ONLY ONE FOCUS the hip and then the ball. FORGET EVERYTHING ELSE. Your pre routine will guide you. THINKING WHILE HITTING IS NOT PRODUCTIVE.

Are they cataloging pitches to get a handle on a particular pitchers tendencies?

Now this is answered above but to elaborate it is not only the coaches responsibility to chart pitchers but the resposibility of each player to watch the game. One more point. DO NOT USE THE WORD ALWAYS. She always thows this pitch, she always throw this area. Remeber there are two players out there, one calling the game and one throwing the game and the shall never meet every time.

Hope this helps

dave