Re: CB's Guide to Hitting
Being a two strike hitter and being patient are always my two biggest issues. Once I get two strikes, I almost always strike out because I'm too afraid of striking out, if that makes any sense. I'll swing at just about anything that starts even remotely close to strike zone. That is partly cause of growing up with coaches telling me it worse to strike out looking than it is to strike out swinging. Now though, I'm starting to get into the opposite mindset, and it's helping out my hitting as I'm taking more pitches and getting more pitches to see.
Being patient is extremely important. Don't be afraid to strike out. Once you start accepting the strikeouts, you'll get more comfortable taking pitches until you get one you can easily handle. And one of my big tips for that: with two strikes, use the contact swing unless the pitch is right down the middle. It will help fend off the tougher pitches until you can get that hitter's pitch.
For the swings, I've started limiting myself on which type I use, and only use them in certain situations. For instance, I only use the power swing in a 2-0 or 3-1 count, and even then only if the pitch is right where I'm looking. I use the contact swing only when I have two strikes and it's not a 3-2 count, or the batter has little to no power (under 25 power). I use the normal swing in any other situation. This has really helped me with my hitting.
I've seen numerous people start threads because they are struggling with hitting. So, instead of offering advice in each thread, I thought I would start my own with my advice. Granted I'm not a guru at the game, nor am I the God of hitting in MLB the Show. But I've played for years and have been fairly successful when playing.
So here my tips/advice. It should be noted that hit with Zone hitting on Hall of Fame Difficulty.
*Become a 2 strike hitter Best advice that I can give is that you will never become a good/great hitter until you become a good/comfortable hitter with two strikes. You are almost, almost always going to get one pitch to hit in any given at-bat. More than likely, unless your facing a dominating pitcher, you're going to see 2 or maybe even 3 hitter pitches in an at-bat. The key is to not miss that pitch. Also, that pitch may not come until you have two strikes in the at-bat. One of the biggest issues that people have is that they are afraid to hit with two strikes or afraid of striking out and will swing at anything in or even near the zone. Learn to be comfortable hitting with 2 strikes and your hitting will get better and better.
* Hitters have hot and cold zones. You want to obviously hit the ball in the hot zones. So typically in the first pitch of the AB I look for fastball in my hitter's wheelhouse. If its there, I swing out of my shoes, if not, I take it and move on to the next.
* Utilize the BATTER ANALYSIS screen. This tool is so useful, so USE IT! Learn how a pitcher is getting each of your hitters out. Maybe he keeps busting you inside with hard stuff and then tosses soft stuff away. Use that information against the pitcher. Know in any given at bat what the plan of the pitcher is and do your best to disrupt that plan with a plan of your own. Remember he may not pitch each hitter the same based on attributes and hot/cold zones. For example, maybe he's tossing hard stuff up in the zone to Kolten Wong, because Wong has trouble getting to pitches up in the zone. On the other hand, he throws pitches down and away to Jhonny Peralta because Peralta hits pitches up in the zone hard, but struggles down and away. KNOW THIS! I use the Batter/Pitcher Analysis in each at bat after the first because of how it helps and how useful it is. Granted, it doesn't guarantee a hit each time or even contact, but knowing a pitcher's plan/pattern is half the battle when at the plate.
* Be patient Don't get let frustration from one at-bat carry over to the next at-bat. If you strike out, you strike out. If you pop out you pop out. Remember the greatest hitters of all time are only successful 3 out of 10 times at the plate. Remember to, stay calm, stay poised, and treat each at bat as a new opportunity to produce offensively.
I really hope this helps.
Now go get'em!
So here my tips/advice. It should be noted that hit with Zone hitting on Hall of Fame Difficulty.
*Become a 2 strike hitter Best advice that I can give is that you will never become a good/great hitter until you become a good/comfortable hitter with two strikes. You are almost, almost always going to get one pitch to hit in any given at-bat. More than likely, unless your facing a dominating pitcher, you're going to see 2 or maybe even 3 hitter pitches in an at-bat. The key is to not miss that pitch. Also, that pitch may not come until you have two strikes in the at-bat. One of the biggest issues that people have is that they are afraid to hit with two strikes or afraid of striking out and will swing at anything in or even near the zone. Learn to be comfortable hitting with 2 strikes and your hitting will get better and better.
* Hitters have hot and cold zones. You want to obviously hit the ball in the hot zones. So typically in the first pitch of the AB I look for fastball in my hitter's wheelhouse. If its there, I swing out of my shoes, if not, I take it and move on to the next.
* Utilize the BATTER ANALYSIS screen. This tool is so useful, so USE IT! Learn how a pitcher is getting each of your hitters out. Maybe he keeps busting you inside with hard stuff and then tosses soft stuff away. Use that information against the pitcher. Know in any given at bat what the plan of the pitcher is and do your best to disrupt that plan with a plan of your own. Remember he may not pitch each hitter the same based on attributes and hot/cold zones. For example, maybe he's tossing hard stuff up in the zone to Kolten Wong, because Wong has trouble getting to pitches up in the zone. On the other hand, he throws pitches down and away to Jhonny Peralta because Peralta hits pitches up in the zone hard, but struggles down and away. KNOW THIS! I use the Batter/Pitcher Analysis in each at bat after the first because of how it helps and how useful it is. Granted, it doesn't guarantee a hit each time or even contact, but knowing a pitcher's plan/pattern is half the battle when at the plate.
* Be patient Don't get let frustration from one at-bat carry over to the next at-bat. If you strike out, you strike out. If you pop out you pop out. Remember the greatest hitters of all time are only successful 3 out of 10 times at the plate. Remember to, stay calm, stay poised, and treat each at bat as a new opportunity to produce offensively.
I really hope this helps.
Now go get'em!
Being a two strike hitter and being patient are always my two biggest issues. Once I get two strikes, I almost always strike out because I'm too afraid of striking out, if that makes any sense. I'll swing at just about anything that starts even remotely close to strike zone. That is partly cause of growing up with coaches telling me it worse to strike out looking than it is to strike out swinging. Now though, I'm starting to get into the opposite mindset, and it's helping out my hitting as I'm taking more pitches and getting more pitches to see.
Being patient is extremely important. Don't be afraid to strike out. Once you start accepting the strikeouts, you'll get more comfortable taking pitches until you get one you can easily handle. And one of my big tips for that: with two strikes, use the contact swing unless the pitch is right down the middle. It will help fend off the tougher pitches until you can get that hitter's pitch.
For the swings, I've started limiting myself on which type I use, and only use them in certain situations. For instance, I only use the power swing in a 2-0 or 3-1 count, and even then only if the pitch is right where I'm looking. I use the contact swing only when I have two strikes and it's not a 3-2 count, or the batter has little to no power (under 25 power). I use the normal swing in any other situation. This has really helped me with my hitting.
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