Bill Redmer
Most athletic games have a rather simple premise, out score your opponent to win. In fastpitch softball we throw a ball, hit a ball, catch or field a ball (if we can), run bases, and as a team of 9 individuals seek to do this better and more consistently than our opponents.
It’s a game of percentages. The fewer times we have to field, catch and throw, the lower the percentage there is for errors. The more times we face the opposing pitcher our hitters increase the chances of getting hits and scoring.
These seem like simple principals. And they are. But, you'd be surprised at how many pitchers have never even given the thought behind them a thought. Most pitchers are so over worked on mechanics all the way through the younger and teen-age levels, that their first exposure to using their heads as functioning players comes if they make some college team and the catcher actually calls the game. Conversely too many dad coaches call too many of the pitches for these kids in their developmental years as well never letting them learn responsibility on the mound.
Back to the point at hand here, I know that most coaches get nervous when their pitchers are constantly behind in the count. At the collegiate level, you cannot afford to be behind in the count because good, smart hitters will take advantage of you by being able to predict your pitches. When they get you in the position of having to throw a strike they own you.
Remember, deceiving the batter is the name of the game for any successful pitcher. Good pitchers are mind control specialists. The good mind control pitcher uses her skills to progressively set hitters up to hit or swing at her pitch. To do this effectively she must be ahead in the count to control that hitter. In doing this, good batteries have a plan both for individual hitters and for the opposing team as a whole. Good batteries take into account their own team defensive strengths and weaknesses as well as they determine these given sets of pitches. Good catcher's will know ahead of time all the pitches and in what sequence that they will call them on each opposing players trip to the plate.
One of the most powerful tools in this control game is the Early Strike. Get ahead early on each batter is the secret. In addition, by doing that with the top of the order, you'll set the tone for the pitching sequence for the rest of the enemy lineup. Most successful pitchers will tell you that the key to success is getting the first pitch over the plate for a strike. A hitter ahead of the count 1-0 has a good idea what's coming. But, even the great hitters aren't sure what to expect when they are behind 0-1. Statistics at the collegiate level show that the averages on hit counts in favor of the batter far exceed the averages when the counts are in favor of the pitchers. Too many travel team pitching experts tell young players not to throw strikes until you have to." Well that won't get you ahead unless you’re darn tricky or 70 MPH fast.
I've heard a noted collegiate coach (Kenny Erickson) ask his students these two questions:
- "How many pitches should you throw in an ideal perfect game?"
- "What is the worst pitch you can throw in a bunt situation?"
The usual answer to the second question brings out the type of pitches they throw, rise, et...
Wrong! Drop, Wrong! Curve, Wrong! He tells them that the worst pitch that they can throw is ball four. They look puzzled and then come to realize that they are trying to be too tricky instead of getting the sure out. If they get 21 outs faster then the other team we have a good shot to win the game.
Having a pitching philosophy or plan is the key to success. Work ahead and stay ahead. Going for the K can get you K'd and buy your a team a defeat as well. Get the Out any way you can... That's what good "pitchers" do. Hear that dads?