Hitting and Hitters Discussion Swing at first pitch?

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Why is it that I still hear so many players say "I NEVER swing at the first pitch"?!?!?

Is this part of their magical thinking? ( I know baseball/softball are sports with a lot of superstition/traditions/lucky charms.)

Do they think they need to "get a look" at what the pitcher's got first? ?Or do they think a pitcher will never throw a strike at the start of an at-bat??

I just could never automatically let that first one go by unchallenged. ?Hated to take a strike against me, "just lookin' " (never wanted to give the pitcher a freebie). ?

 

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Not sure why they say it but it most cases that is one of the best pitches you are going to get. It seems most first pitches are strikes. But a lot of the girls let it go right by putting themselves in a bad count.

 

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When my daughter was younger, my husband used to tell her to never swing at the first pitch. But as she got older, and there was more control, we found the first pitch is almost always a strike. The pitcher wants to get ahead of the count. Now unless the pitch is obviously a ball, she always swings at the first pitch. After all you have at least two more to try to do something with.

 

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I agree that the majority of the time, the firat pitch is going to be the best look you get. I have also seen it go the other way and had girls ALWAYS swing at the first pitch...no matter where it is. I have always instructed the girls to "be ready" on the first pitch.

 

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Coaches that track pitches and batters, will catch on to this very quickly. I have seen parents tell kids never swing and they are always behind in the count. Kills the coach when he wants to bunt and move runners.

 

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It all depends on what that first pitch is. Is the pitcher consistently throwing the first pitch in the hitters strike zone (belt high) or is she throwing it at the top of the strike zone (pop-ups and fly balls)? It comes down to hitter discipline. The pitcher is trying everything to get ahead in the count and get an out. The first time you see a pitcher, it will usually take one, maybe two innings to get the feel for the pitching tendencies.

 

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A coach who instructs their batters FROM THE START OF THE GAME to take the first pitch is very misguided, and a player who insists on looking at the first pitch is NOT a very confident hitter. I know of at least one high school coach who did this - and it handicapped an already handicapped hitting lineup! I also knew a pitcher who loved taking advantage of this!

I can understand after getting into your lineup somewhat - maybe 3 or 4 batters - and it's obvious the pitcher can't throw a strike, then SURE - I'd have everyone take pitches until some consistent strikes are thrown. But blindly taking pitches without knowing the pitcher's history is ill advised.

Good hitters are aggressive hitters. If the first pitch is in the wheelhouse, your batters need to be sending it over the fence! Teach your batters to see and recognize pitches, and you will build their confidence enough to make hitting the "first pitch strike" second nature.

 

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As a coach and a player (fastpitch) myself, the only time i encouraged them to take the first pitch is if it is a new pitcher or they are batting against a pitcher for the first time. This will allow them to get timing of the pitch. I always liked taking a cut at the first pitch, like said on here generally the best pitch you will get. Pitchers like getting ahead on the batter, you can destroy the confidence of a pitcher by driving the first pitch for a hit. The hitter must also be disciplined enough to swing at a hittable first pitch. Swinging just to swing at the first pitch is just a bad as not swinging at a good first pitch. Both put the batter in a hole. But as with many other thing related to ball, Coaches have their reasons for what they do whether we agree or disagree

 

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don't think a batter should say that I'm never going to swing at the first pitch however pitchers have heard the coach say a thousand times the pitcher is always trying to throw a strike on the first pitch ?because the pitcher wants to get ahead in the count. ? the smart pitcher will change things up. ? it seems that many older batters are looking for a specific pitch early in the count. ?my dd tries to make sure one of the first two pitches is ?a strike, ?never just automatically throws a strike on the first pitch. ? ? ?

 

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With my DD the biggest issue in the past was learning what were her best pitches to swing at in the strike zone and to recognize them as such. If one of those pitches comes across first then take a swing.

 

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Good points, timac - good pitchers DO mix it up knowing that good hitters are looking for a strike they can hit. Some batters are looking for one low and out, but another may be looking to take a high inside one out to the gap in right center. It depends on the experience and discipline of the batter.

IMO, hitters should be taught to approach every at-bat with a plan in mind. For example, runner on second - where do I want to hit the ball to? What type of pitch do I need to get in order to hit it there? This is a BIG part of the offensive strategy in a game. In baseball with a runner on first, a batter can kill an offensive strategy if they can't (or don't know how to) hit into or through the gap to opposite field. A hit to the SS or 2B is a sure 6-4-3 or 4-6-3 DP. Not as prevalent in fastpitch, but the theory is the same.

Window shopping the first pitch just makes it tougher to execute your plan.

 

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If it's there go for it, as it may be the best one you may see. That is also if you have the sign to swing. Now mine is better for some reason with two strikes on her. Very bizarre, but she focuses much more and makes contact better with two on her. Drives her coaches nuts, but the count doesn't bother her. Only 6 k's summer and fall tourney's so far.

 

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You should always swing at the first pitch.

 

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I think you have to be carefull on telling a girl to swing or not to swing at the first pitch. This game depends so much on the situation, if you have a girl that just walked 2 batters in a row on 8 straight pitches you may want to give the next girl the take sign, or if she has thrown first pitch strikes to 5 batter in a row then you may want to have the girl look for pitch down the middle to drive. When I played (baseball) I always went to bat with a purpose( runner on 1st move him to 2nd, or runner on 2nd hit ball to right side to advance to 3rd and ect) That`s what make this game so unique what one coach or player does in the first couple innings may be change from what they do later in the game. JMHO

 

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Too many variables to say always or never
Pitcher's control
base runners
who's hitting next
batter's present hitting streak or lack thereof
game situation ie inning and score
ETC ETC ETC
If it was as easy as always or never then what would ole coaches have to do lol
JMO

 

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lightning coach---my point, exactly. ?

 

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alot will depend on the type hitter, a well known diciplined hitter may let that first pitch go by because its not her pitch (even though blue may like them at the shoe lace level) and adjust herself accordingly, then youll see the batter doing what one of the great batting coaches says is dancing with the pitcher and then will hit the ball where its pitched, but if its a weaker batter you can almost bet the pitcher will try for the first strike to get up in the count

 

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All great points - wvanalmsick - I'd like to add that's the reason the bench should be paying attention to what the pitcher is throwing - what is her waste pitch, what does she go to with 2 strikes on the batter - is there a pattern of any kind - etc.

 

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I agree with Sammy on this one. I have heard of coaches giving this instruction to their batters but I don't know one personally who does. This strategy, if you can call it that, for example is not along the line of taking one on a 3-0 count. If that first pitch is in the strike zone it's a lost opprotunity plain and simple and you should resign yourself that you don't have 3 strikes to give at the plate, only 2 so how's that for a confidence builder for the kid?

 

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We try to teach them to attack the hitting zone....on strike 1.