Do you intentionally throw off speed pitches up in the zone?

[Speedy]

I do when I know a hitter is looking for something down. Sometimes a perfectly placed slider down/away can get crushed and a high changeup the hitter wasn't expected can be the trick.

[Jr.]

Absolutely not. Hang 'em, Bang 'em



But apparently it's an effective option in the game.

[55]

Absolutely not.

[Ghost Of The Year]

I do, sort of. I will throw an off-speed high, but just ever so slightly out of the zone. So slightly out of the zone that with variable umps, they are occasionally called strikes. I will throw most pitches anywhere, at any time on any count. As a pitcher, I never want to be predictable & fall into patterns.

[N51_rob]

I gotta admit some of the responses here have given me a good chuckle.

[Bobhead]

Only if the pitch has lateral movement. For example, I sometimes throw a slider outside the zone so that it breaks just inside the zone for a called strike. Or I'll throw a slider high near the middle so that it breaks in towards the batter (and outside the strike zone). A handful of pitchers have curveballs that break to the side instead of vertically, and I do the same with those. It works pretty well, and it's pretty risk free if done correctly.

And of course, knuckleballs, being what they are, get thrown just about anywhere, intentionally.

Under no circumstances do I ever throw a changeup, splitter, or vertical curveball high in the zone, on purpose.

[WaitTilNextYear]

I mix in 2-3 high curves or high sliders per game. I tend to avoid tossing high changeups altogether. Playing against the cpu. Tends to fool the cpu's pattern recognition AI. I get K's this way and rarely ever give up HRs pitching on HoF/Classic with lowered pitch control. I wouldn't do this in real life even if I knew how to pitch.

[Speedy]

Quote: Originally Posted by N51_rob

I gotta admit some of the responses here have given me a good chuckle.

You keep chuckling and that slider at your hip won't break.