Our goal every game is to have our pitchers throw a shutout. You can’t lose if the other team can’t score. There are 3 things a pitcher has to do to throw a shutout and none of them require the ability to throw a certain velocity. When our pitchers work out to add velocity, we really want them to focus on pitching shutouts.
3 THINGS NECESSARY TO THROW A SHUTOUT:
- Eliminate the walks.
- Stop the running game.
- Prevent the long-ball extra-base hit.
MEANS OF ACHIEVING OUR GOALS
Goal #3 – Prevent the Long Ball Extra-Base Hit
- Know who has power and who doesn’t.
- Get ahead in the count. The further behind a hitter gets in the count, the more defensive he becomes.
- Know each hitter’s strength (hi or lo) and throw Hi/Lo on the first pitch to get ahead.
- Once ahead in the count, work In or Out and use your change and breaking ball to keep
- the hitter off-stride.
- Recognize a free-swinging hog. Once ahead on a hog, make him hit the ball.
- A belt-high FB 6 inches inside is difficult to hit hard fair and very difficult to lay off of.
- Recognize slow and fast bats, pull and late, etc., and learn as much about hitting as possible.
- Use the changeup to neutralize power.
- Pitch around a great hitter when a base is open.
- Never concede to a good power hitter and throw the ball down the middle.
- Generally, keep the ball out of the middle on strong hitters. You can throw low sometimes, even to a good lowball hitter PROVIDED THE BALL IS KEPT ON THE KNEES OR LOWER. If you miss, you better miss low!
- Master the straight changeup!!!
- Various strategies:
1. In/Out
2. Up or Down the Ladder
3. Slow to fast to slow
4. Make ‘em chase ‘em approach
***Use the automatic shake-off sign when behind in the count.***
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