Watching the Yankee game yesterday, commentators were talking about an Angel hitter becoming more mature because he knew what pitches to look for to take deep and when not to and thats something Melky Cabrera should learn...Can someone elaborate on this point?

Is it talking about situations and counts? Please explain...thanks alot.

for you experts who are going to answer this question, can you clarify statements I hear repeatedly from announcers and or players as part of your answer. Examples are:

"I really sat on that fastball"
"I just dropped the bat head a bit and out it went"

Thanks

quote:

"I really sat on that fastball"
"I just dropped the bat head a bit and out it went"

He thought the Pitcher was going to throw a fastball or he was only going to swing at a fastball.

Swung more on an upward plane.

quote:

Originally posted by Catch43:
Watching the Yankee game yesterday, commentators were talking about an Angel hitter becoming more mature because he knew what pitches to look for to take deep and when not to and thats something Melky Cabrera should learn...Can someone elaborate on this point?

Is it talking about situations and counts? Please explain...thanks alot.

Some pitches are easier to hit out than others. Not all of those are the same on every batter though. The hitter needs to learn which is his pitch.

It should be obvious that a fastball over the plate is a pitchers mistake and should be able to be taken deep by a MLB hitter with some regularity. Additionally a hanging curveball, or a change-up left up in the zone should also be taken for a ride with some regularity. Again, these are pitchers mistakes, They are mistakes because they result in home runs or extra base hits.

With no strikes or 1-2 strikes a hitter should be looking for one of these mistakes and not bite on a sharp slider or curveball, or change-up. This is where learning to read the pitch as released as well as knowing who the pitcher is and what he likes to throw is so important.

With 2 strikes a good slider or curveball that may be called a strike can not be taken, it must be put in play. Some hitters have a tendency to try to pull a lot of pitches. A pitch low and away pulled is an easy ground ball to short. That pitch should be taken opposite field. It must be allowed to get deeper in the zone so that you still have the ability to unleash batspeed without pulling the ball or rolling over with your wrists.

The hit may result in a single which would be exceptionable since you were forced to hit a pitchers pitch.

I believe that the ability to hit to all fields with authority (if not power) is the real key to becoming a great hitter.

To be able to do this you need to be able to read pitches and understand long beforehand what you are capable of doing with various pitches served up in multiple locations.

My coach this past year really helped me to "cheat" in hitters counts. Let your hips open up a little bit earlier than you would with say a 1-1 count or worst. If there is a fastball on the outside corner, I would not swing at it, because I was able to hit mistake pitches, like mentioned before, out of the park. Part of that is where you're hitting in the line up, and who you have hitting behind you, and what they've done earlier in the game along with other times that you have faced the particular pitcher, or team. 0-0 1-0 2-0 2-1 3-1 are all counts that I am thinking fastball in my head, and due to thinking fastball and only fastball i have the ability in my mind to lay off of anything that is not a fastball or is in a spot that I would not be able to hit hard.