What If 2 Pitches Do the Same Thing?

Author

Cindy Bristow
October 28, 2024

Total Reading Time: 3 minutes

This week we’re talking - what to do when 2 pitches that basically move the same way, and how do evaluate your in-game decisions… My passion is helping people and I hope this newsletter helps you!

Today's Topics:

What If 2 Pitches Do the Same Thing?

When you look at your pitcher’s movement profile it’s not uncommon to see 2 (and often more) pitches that basically do the same thing. When you see that, what do you do?

This movement plot shows 2 pitches - the FASTBALL (Red) and the RISEBALL (Blue). While they move similiar, here’s what I see and what I’d do:

  • Both pitches have a gloveside sweep (this is a RHP - right handed pitcher), and slight armside sweep.

  • The RISEBALL has more negative vertical break (down).

  • The FASTBALL has more positive vertical break (up) and both positive and negative horizontal sweep (gloveside and armside movement).

So, I’d recommend this pitcher hit the “pause” button on the RISEBALL and use her FASTBALL in its place. This will give her more time to focus on getting more consistent with the Spin Axis of her Fastball to give this this pitch more consistency.

Learn the Lesson, Leave the Event

Making decisions is what we’re paid for, whether it’s what development path to take each pitcher down, what to do in the bullpens each day, or what pitch to call. College coaches are paid decision makers.

In-game decisions are the hardest, have the biggest impact and the quickest timeline. I learned long ago when evaluating our strategic decisions, we need to consider the information we used in making the decision, not the outcome.

Recently, the Cleveland Guardians lost in Game 7 to the New York Yankees. When asked how he keeps from over analyzing his decisions, the Guardians Manager Stephen Vogt said what I think is GOLD:

“Learn the lesson. Leave the event.”

If you considered everything you should have strategically, the outcome is the result of execution - and we don’t control that.

Next time you make a fast and critical in-game decision - Learn the Lesson and Leave the Event.

If you’d like some experience and Mentoring for Your Pitching Coach - Let me help!

I’d love to help your pitching coach:

  • Make Your Pitchers Better

  • Call Better Games

  • Create Pitcher Development Plans

  • Bring Out the Best in Each Pitcher

I’d love to Help Guide Your Pitching Coach Through The Season. I only have a few spots left - call me! 813-368-2048

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Watch Kirk Walker talk Picking Pitches, along with inside secrets from Jen Rocha, Trisha Ford and Nate Walker in our 2024 Pitching Summit presentations.

Hope you enjoyed this Issue. If there’s something specific you want to read about send that to me at [email protected]

See You Next Week!