Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015
WOW unbelievable breakdown! I am trying this as soon as I get home! Thank You!
Depends on pitch, pitcher, confidence levels, and the hitter.
Typically:
Pitch type: Offspeed
Out of the zone - I'll usually tap as I just want them to chase and it stay out of the zone. Sometimes, if confidence is high, I'll max effort it, especially with no one on base and down.
In the zone - I'll usually max effort since deception is what I want. If it's going to be a strike, it will have to be a deceptive one to either freeze the hitter or make him swing through it.
Pitch type: Breaking
Either in or out of the zone, I'll mix it up. I probably tap more than max effort, especially in the zone or front door. I want the location first and foremost. Away, I'll do more max effort. Hope to get that bite that either makes it look outside and then nip the corner or look middle then bite away after the hitter commits.
Pitch type: Fastball/Sinker
Usually I'll max effort out of the zone (try to get the movement to induce a chase) and tap in zone (focus more on location and rely changing locations and speeds if this is a pitcher with different speeds on his fastballs).
Pitch type: Knuckleball and Knuckle Curve
Usually max effort. Nothing worse than a knuckler that doesn't move. For the knuckle curve, I think it needs that tight movement to be worth it. Otherwise, it's just a lazy sweeping curve - and I think that's bad.
Pitch type: Forkballs (forkball, splitter, vulcan change)
From there, I vary by hitter Vision and Discipline
High VIS, High DISC
These are annoying hitters and I will tend to just tap and go for location. I'm probably not going to fool them, and if I do, it's probably because of the pitcher's ratings. Last thing I want to do is make a mistake to a hitter that won't miss it and won't chase. I'll work in and out of the zone and hope for the best.
High VIS, Low DISC
For these, I stay out of the zone and max effort. They might make contact, but I can fool them into using that contact on pitches off the plate or that aren't ideal for them to hit.
Low VIS, High DISC
I'll do max effort a lot in the zone against these hitters, hoping to freeze them and if not, the VIS should minimize damage unless it's a total fail of a pitch. This is especially true if my pitcher is a high K/9 and Movement pitcher. Out of the zone is mostly taps, hoping to get a close enough but mostly those are "show" pitches against high DISC hitters (they probably aren't chasing).
Low VIS, Low DISC
Not many of these but usually I'll just tap and move in and out of the zone. #1 thing here is try to avoid the super mistake pitch that could let them do damage easily.
I'll also consider my pitcher.
I mostly look at BB/9 and K/9 with so many types in my franchises,
(for me, low = under 55, avg = 55-75, high = over 75)
High BB/9, high K/9
Not many to go around - one, Boeve my now aging ace in my Year 14 franchise, was probably the best one I ever had. Sale is close. I pretty much just tap except when working fastballs out of the zone (want more movement)
Low BB/9, Low K/9
I try not to keep any of these guys around, but if I have to use one it's mostly all taps.
High BB/9, Low K/9
Mostly taps. Probably won't get many K's unless they freeze guys with location, which is where the taps come in - try to leverage the command the pitcher relies on.
Low BB/9, High K/9
Max effort all day every day. Command is potato no matter what so might as well maximize velocity and movement and hope for the best. Go for that "effectively wild" approach, since that's what those ratings say to me.
Lastly, confidence - I use the lower of pitch or pitcher confidence. So if pitcher confidence is high but that pitch's is low, I'll use the low rules.
Average/Normal confidence - use the usual strategy
Low confidence - more tapping than usual, just want the pitch/pitcher to try to get on track.
High confidence - more max effort than usual, pitch/pitcher is on so he'll likely execute location even when being greedy with his pitches.
Typically:
Pitch type: Offspeed
Out of the zone - I'll usually tap as I just want them to chase and it stay out of the zone. Sometimes, if confidence is high, I'll max effort it, especially with no one on base and down.
In the zone - I'll usually max effort since deception is what I want. If it's going to be a strike, it will have to be a deceptive one to either freeze the hitter or make him swing through it.
Pitch type: Breaking
Either in or out of the zone, I'll mix it up. I probably tap more than max effort, especially in the zone or front door. I want the location first and foremost. Away, I'll do more max effort. Hope to get that bite that either makes it look outside and then nip the corner or look middle then bite away after the hitter commits.
Pitch type: Fastball/Sinker
Usually I'll max effort out of the zone (try to get the movement to induce a chase) and tap in zone (focus more on location and rely changing locations and speeds if this is a pitcher with different speeds on his fastballs).
Pitch type: Knuckleball and Knuckle Curve
Usually max effort. Nothing worse than a knuckler that doesn't move. For the knuckle curve, I think it needs that tight movement to be worth it. Otherwise, it's just a lazy sweeping curve - and I think that's bad.
Pitch type: Forkballs (forkball, splitter, vulcan change)
From there, I vary by hitter Vision and Discipline
High VIS, High DISC
These are annoying hitters and I will tend to just tap and go for location. I'm probably not going to fool them, and if I do, it's probably because of the pitcher's ratings. Last thing I want to do is make a mistake to a hitter that won't miss it and won't chase. I'll work in and out of the zone and hope for the best.
High VIS, Low DISC
For these, I stay out of the zone and max effort. They might make contact, but I can fool them into using that contact on pitches off the plate or that aren't ideal for them to hit.
Low VIS, High DISC
I'll do max effort a lot in the zone against these hitters, hoping to freeze them and if not, the VIS should minimize damage unless it's a total fail of a pitch. This is especially true if my pitcher is a high K/9 and Movement pitcher. Out of the zone is mostly taps, hoping to get a close enough but mostly those are "show" pitches against high DISC hitters (they probably aren't chasing).
Low VIS, Low DISC
Not many of these but usually I'll just tap and move in and out of the zone. #1 thing here is try to avoid the super mistake pitch that could let them do damage easily.
I'll also consider my pitcher.
I mostly look at BB/9 and K/9 with so many types in my franchises,
(for me, low = under 55, avg = 55-75, high = over 75)
High BB/9, high K/9
Not many to go around - one, Boeve my now aging ace in my Year 14 franchise, was probably the best one I ever had. Sale is close. I pretty much just tap except when working fastballs out of the zone (want more movement)
Low BB/9, Low K/9
I try not to keep any of these guys around, but if I have to use one it's mostly all taps.
High BB/9, Low K/9
Mostly taps. Probably won't get many K's unless they freeze guys with location, which is where the taps come in - try to leverage the command the pitcher relies on.
Low BB/9, High K/9
Max effort all day every day. Command is potato no matter what so might as well maximize velocity and movement and hope for the best. Go for that "effectively wild" approach, since that's what those ratings say to me.
Lastly, confidence - I use the lower of pitch or pitcher confidence. So if pitcher confidence is high but that pitch's is low, I'll use the low rules.
Average/Normal confidence - use the usual strategy
Low confidence - more tapping than usual, just want the pitch/pitcher to try to get on track.
High confidence - more max effort than usual, pitch/pitcher is on so he'll likely execute location even when being greedy with his pitches.
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