Zone Hit – Working the pitch count

Undisciplined hitting has two main pitfalls. First, the batter is not hitting pitches that are located where he hits most effectively, resulting in weak or fly balls and easy outs. Second, a team of undisciplined hitters will never (and I mean NEVER!) pressure the opposing pitcher to the point of breaking him. The bottom line is that the pitcher will always maintain control of the ball game as long as he can count on hitters swinging at his pitch and not theirs.

There are many ways to have a good at-bat (let’s call it QAB or quality at-bat) from this point on. QABs come from good clean shots. The pitcher throws the all, you hit it hard, find a hole and you’re on base. That is the most obvious QAB. The less obvious ones come from forcing the pitcher to throw your pitch to you or taking it deep into the count before walking or making an out. Both should be rewarded by teammates for reasons I’ll explain later.

Let’s start by defining a QAB. This is a concept you must learn, understand and apply every at-bat from now on. A quality at-bat is any at-bat that results in you reaching base via a hit or walk, or forcing the pitcher to throw more than four pitchers. Why oven? Because if I as a pitcher can get you out in 4 pitches and I can do it again for each of your teammates, then my pitch count is 12 pitches per inning, 108 for the game. That’s not too bad for a pitcher. Also, it means that you as a hitter only get 12-16 pitches (if any) per game to hit. Later in the game, you won’t have seen enough pitches to slow down and feel comfortable. Have you ever wondered why a pitcher, going through a game with no real problems but going to fully count almost every hitter, suddenly finds himself shaken even though he’s doing well? Hitters felt comfortable with him. They watched enough pitches to figure out how to hit him effectively. That’s why closers are so effective even if they throw only one type of shot.

By forcing the pitcher to throw more pitches, you can watch him longer and see all of his pitches. Also, you wear it out. So instead of 4 throws, it now takes 7 throws to get you and the rest of your team out. Assuming no one gets on base, the pitcher ends up throwing 21 pitches per inning, or 147 per game. That’s a pretty high pitch count for anyone, especially high school or college pitchers.

Let’s assume that most pitchers have an ERA ceiling of 80 pitches. You face a pitcher and get on base in 5 pitches. The next batter flies out on 6. Batter number 3 hits a ground ball on 4 pitches. The cleanup hitter is out in 7. The last batter of the inning recovers from 1-2 only to roll in 7 pitches. He doesn’t score runs, but your team has had the pitcher throw 29 pitches in one inning. At that rate, the pitcher should lose effectiveness in the third inning. If his team continues to wear him down, he will have created a window of opportunity to open the game wide somewhere in the third or fourth inning.

How do you have a QAB? The answer depends on the situation at hand when you enter the batter’s box. For now, let’s look at his first at-bat, with no runners and no outs. You should have a good idea of ​​where your “happy spot” is in the strike zone. A “happy spot” is your power zone. Normally, it is from mid-thigh to belt high on the inner half of the plate. Wherever you are, this is where you want to hit the ball for power and solid contact. When you’re at the plate, you’re looking for a fastball in that specific spot. You will not swing at any pitch outside of that zone, even if it is a strike. Also, you won’t swing on any off-speed pitches. You will keep looking for a pitch in this area until you have a strike on you.

With a hit, the area you are hitting expands slightly. You are now looking at the fastball (or hanging out of speed) in the center of the plate. Look for the height just above the knees to the hips. You should make a mental note to stay closed as you expand your zone. The chances of getting thrown out increase dramatically when you have one or more strikes on you. Also, your mindset should be to hit the ball down the middle. You must not swing on pitches out of the zone or off-speed pitches that are not errors. You will hit this area until you have two strikes.

With two strikes, the zone is wide open, extending at least 2 in. in the corners and a width of ball above and below the area. Take note of what the referee says and adjust your zone accordingly. Your swing shortens slightly when you’re looking to put the ball in play or foul. You are now looking for the ball far away and will keep your front hip locked as you approach the ball. You’re looking to hit the opposite field since most pitches will be thrown to the outside half of the plate with two strikes. You will react to the inner tone.

Now with this mindset, the pitcher must throw a minimum of 3 pitches to get you out or walk. So, a minimum of 3 lengths to get out or 4 to walk. You have so many pitches to find one that is in your hitting zone to hit with power. Expect to make at least 5 throws as we can expect the shooter to waste a throw or miss the zone. It is very likely that one of those five releases will be the cash for you. Be prepared. The big difference between amateur and professional hitters is that professionals can hit the pitch when they get it most of the time.

With running backs on, your zone will change depending on where you want to hit the ball, but for the most part, those three zone situations will suffice. Also, if you’re facing a pitcher who is throwing strikes and a lot of them; you will have to match his aggressiveness. Still looking for your pitch, your zone should expand further after the first hit to incorporate the zone the pitcher is hitting. If it’s not missing much, you have to go one step further and pair it. Sure, you’re not going to increase the throw count (unless you hit it a lot and keep it out), but you’ll see throws you can make, so go get them.

Working the count is extremely important when batting against a pitcher you haven’t seen before. It takes a team effort to gain insight into what the pitcher has in terms of speed, placement, and pitch types. If done correctly, hitters can take the lead to their side of the plate and possibly increase their batting averages. Will this always work? Probably not, but it will make you a better hitter and increase your team’s chances of winning.

Variations on this approach can be done by moving your starting zone to where you want to hit the ball. If I know I can hit the outside pitch with power, I might want to go after the first fastball I see on the outside half of the plate (most likely the first pitch). Up to you. The important part of all of this is learning plate discipline and not going up there hitting anything that moves. Have a plan and stick to it unless conditions make you change.

Ultimately, QABs will help increase your batting average, RBI count, and on-base percentage. However, to be effective, you must learn to recognize pitches and develop a quick, short shot to the ball. Putting it all together is what it’s all about!