Posted by: scott (scottdresser@hotmail.com) on Mon Jul 9 17:48:37 2001

I almost never used to swing at the first pitch and during that time I prided myself on going deep into counts (3-2, 2-2, etc.). This year I began to swing at the first pitch more because of advice I had been given. I find that I am no longer going deep into counts and my walk total is way down. What is your perspective on the first pitch, especially when seeing a new pitcher for the first time?

Many times the best pitch comes on the first one. As a pitcher, I know that it is very important to get ahead and make the hitter defensive, that is why sometimes I will groove the first pitch if I'm confident he won't swing.

I think of myself as a ball hitter, not a hitter. I find a pitch I like, and I hit it, no matter the count. If I get that nice BP fastball on the inside corner, I'm gonna drive that baby to left, doesn't matter about the count to me.