eClinic 016 - The Art of Calling Pitches -...

www.softballexcellence.com eClinic 016 – The Art of Calling Pitches

Copyright 2007 Softball Excellence LLC. All Rights Reserved 1

THE ART OF CALLING PITCHES: All the Things You Need to Know to Call a Great Game

THE ART OF CALLING PITCHES: All the Things You Need to Know to Call a Great Game

Cindy Bristow

www.softballexcellence.com

[email protected]

© Softball Excellence All Rights Reserved

OverviewOverview

Things to Know:Your PitcherThe BatterYour Needs

Different Approach Options

Choose Your Approach

Who Should Call the Game

Summary




Have a PlanHave a Plan

Use Pitcher’s Strengths to Attack Batter’s Weakness

Throw the Most Unhittable Pitches Possible


Know Your PitcherKnow Your Pitcher

What are Her Go-To Pitches = WeaponsWhat Pitches Do You Have?

DropRise

ChangeScrewCurve

Curve DropDrop CurveRise CurveInside Rise

Outside RiseInside Drop

Outside Drop






On 2-0?

CurveDrop

Fastball




On 2-0?On 3-0?

Fastball




Pitcher – Zone Attack PitchesPitcher – Zone Attack Pitches

Know Her Zone Attack PitchesLow In, Low Out, High In, High Out

DropRise

ChangeScrewCurve



Outside Drop

DropRise

ChangeScrewCurve



Outside Drop

DropRise

ChangeScrewCurve



Outside Drop

X

DropRise

ChangeScrewCurve



Outside Drop


Finding Her Zone Attack PitchesFinding Her Zone Attack Pitches

Chart Her in Practice (5 or 10 each)

X X

XX

X X

XX

0

0




Calulating Her Zone Attack PitchesCalulating Her Zone Attack Pitches

Chart Her in Practice (5 or 10 each)

X X

XX

3/5

2/50/5

4/50/5

0/53/51/5

4/51/5

3/5

3/5

11/2055%

19/4542%11/2055%

6/1060%

5/1050%

8/25 32%

Fastball/ChangeUP-IN

13/3537%17/30 56%

InsideLOW-OUTRiseball/Curveball

Outside

4/52/5

X


Expanding Her Zone Attack PitchesExpanding Her Zone Attack Pitches

More Zones for Better Pitchers




Expanding Her Zone Attack PitchesExpanding Her Zone Attack Pitches

More Zones for Better Pitchers


Pitcher – Her Chase PitchesPitcher – Her Chase Pitches

Know Her Chase Pitches (vs Waste Pitches)UP & DOWN vs. Inside & Outside

RiseScrew

Curve-RiseFastball

ChangeScrew-downCurve-down

DropFastball

CP

CP




Pitcher – Her SpeedsPitcher – Her Speeds

Can She Change SpeedsFast and Slow?Fast, Slow and Slower?Fast, Fast and Fast?

WHEN Can She Change Speeds?Only When Ahead?Any Count?

Can Catcher Block?Change Ups Go LowRunner at 3rd, Confident in Catcher?

X X


Know Your WeaponsKnow Your Weapons

What Are Your Zone Attack Pitches?High InsideHigh OutsideLow InsideLow Outside

Go-To Pitches?What Are Her Best 2 PitchesWhere Are They

If Screwball & Rise, Tough to Attack Low/In

Different Speeds?Only When AheadAnytime




Know The BatterKnow The Batter

What’s Her Swing?

What’s Her Speed?

What’s Her Need?

Scout Her Out


Batter – Know Her SwingBatter – Know Her Swing

Find ItWatch Her On DeckWatch Her in Box

Don’t Pitch It Swings High – Pitch LowSwings Low – Pitch High

Stay Away From Her SwingWarm up Swings are in Favorite ZoneSee It, Avoid It!




Batter – Know Her SpeedBatter – Know Her Speed

She’s FAST – Pitch UpDon’t Want Speed on BasesGet Speed to Pop Up

She’s SLOW – Pitch DownForce Power to Outrun GroundballPower Hurts You in Air


Batter – Know Her NeedBatter – Know Her Need

She Needs to Bunt – wants down pitchPitch it Up, or Down (unpredictable)

Make it Hard for Her to Bunt on Ground

Opposite Field – wants an outside pitchPitch InsideMake it Hard for Her to Get her Hands Away

RBI – wants high or her strength pitchDown into DefenseHit on Ground into Strength of Your Defense

Sac Fly – wants up pitchThrow a Low Pitch to Get a Groundball




Slapper

Batter – Scout Her OutBatter – Scout Her Out

CONTROL MATTERS!!

c

from Lefty

CP

CP


Know Your NeedsKnow Your Needs

For This Pitch

For This Batter

Know GameDay




Your Needs – This PitchYour Needs – This Pitch

Is It an Out Pitch?You’re Trying to Get Her Out on THIS Pitch

Setup Pitch?You’re Using This Pitch to Set Up Another PitchUsing Inside Change to Get Her on Screwball

Defensive Coverage Pitch?Runner at 1st – Trying to Get Ball Hit to Leftside for Force at 2nd


Your Needs – This BatterYour Needs – This Batter

First Time Through Lineup?Use Your Best Approach to Get Her Out2nd & 3rd Time Through – Same Pitches in Different Order, Chase Pitches

What’s her Swing?Find it, Pitch Away From it

What Do They Need Her to Do?Make That REALLY Difficult

Is She a Keep-Off in Front of a Key Hitter?The Hitter/s in Front of Their BEST HitterAttack Them, Keep Them Off BaseATTACK THEM vs trying pitches & wasting pitches




Pitches Vary Day-to-DayWatch Them During WarmupsAsk Catcher Following Warmups

Determine TODAY’S Go-To Order

Mix in a Non-Working Pitch Later

Your GameDay Needs – Know TodayYour GameDay Needs – Know Today


Choose Your ApproachChoose Your Approach

BATTER Dictates

COUNT Dictates

Dominance Dictates




The Batter DictatesThe Batter Dictates

Swings UP – Pitch DOWN

Swings DOWN – Pitch UP

Swings LATE – JAM Her

CROWDS Plate – JAM Her

FRONT of Box – MIX Speeds

BACK of Box – Mix Movement

B FAST -SLOW-

SLOWER


The Batter DictatesThe Batter Dictates

OFF Plate –Pitch OUTSIDE

DIVES In –JAM Her

PULLS OUT –Pitch DOWN/IN & OFF-SPEED (OS)

Swings INSIDE-OUT –Pitch DOWN/IN & OS

B




The Count DictatesThe Count Dictates

0-0 (A) STRIKE0-1 strike

0-2*! (A) strike2nd – Mix Order3rd – CP

1-0 (A) STRIKE2-0 (A) STRIKE3-0 (A) STRIKE3-1 (A) STRIKE1-1 strike2-1 (A) STRIKE

2-2* (A) STRIKE

3-2 *(A) STRIKE

STRIKE = Pitcher’s BEST Pitchstrike = strike at batter’s weakness(A) = ATTACK pitch

* = counts where batter trying avoid her Red Flag (Striking Out Looking)

! = 0-2 an ATTACK count -1st time thru lineup, - 3rd time becomes Chase Pitch


Biggest Pitch Calling MistakesBiggest Pitch Calling Mistakes

Spin the Wheel Random Reason for Calling the PitchHaven’t Thrown it In-A-While

Caller’s Favorite Pitch Simply Liking a PitchCalling a Pitch this Pitcher Doesn’t Have

Calling Screwball she Don’t Have One

Calling a Pitch in Location She Doesn’t HaveCalling Curveball Inside she Kind-of Throws Outside

Throwing Change Ups to Weak Hitters

43 2 1 2 1




Reality Makes You ChooseReality Makes You Choose

PITCHER: (R) Best = CurveWeak = Inside

BATTER DictatesClosed = In

COUNT Dictates0-0 = STRIKE (OUTSIDE)

Pitch to Count:EVEN or BEHIND

Pitch to Batter:AHEAD


Mixing Both MethodsMixing Both Methods

Confident Combos:3-4 Pitch CombinationsScripted Pitch CombinationsAlready Practiced & Confident

Combo’s for All Hitter Types:Lefty Power – F(lo), R(ui), X(lo)Lefty Slapper – D(li), R(ui), X(li)Righty Power – S(ui), X(lo), X (li)Righty Ave – D(li), C(lo), R(ui)

Stay with Combo if K in 1st 2 pitches

Abandon Combo if 0 K in 1st 2 pitches

F = FastballR = RiseballX = ChangeupD = DropS = ScrewC = Curve




Critical CountCritical Count

Size Up Pitcher & BatterPITCHER(r): Strong CurveBATTER: Weak Inside

Batman

Superman

RC

S

BBCF

DC

Balls Strikes

1 - 1

D

2-1 .311

1-2 .179

K1


Who Should Call the GameWho Should Call the Game

Coaches

Catcher

Pros:-More Time to Study Hitters-More Ability to Process Information-Have Information In Front of Them

Cons:-Too Many Other Things to Do-Not Enough Coaches to Help-Can’t See What Catcher Can See-Slower Due to Relaying Info to C

Cons:-Lack of Time to Study Hitters-Less Ability to Process Info-No Info Right In Front of Them

Pros:-Great View of Umpires Strike Zone-Great View of Pitcher’s Movement-Great View of Hitter-Faster




Coaches CallCoaches Call

Determine Coach – Catcher Signal SystemLocation-PitchPitch-LocationNumbers for BothTouch – Location, # for Pitch

Catcher to Coach SignalsUmpire’s Zone ChangedPitcher’s Pitch Changed

Practice the Signal System

12

3 4

Location

1 = Fastball2 = Riseball3 = Drop4 = Screw5 = CurveFIST = Change

Pitch2 1


Catchers CallCatchers Call

Zone

Zone (No Go)

Even Innings Call

Call the Whole GameReview Last InningPreview Next 3 Hitters for Next Inning

12

3 4




Keeping Track Keeping Track

Know the PitchersEach Pitcher’s Pitches In Order

Know this GameWhat Pitches to What HittersResults

Find ItEASYFAST

Bree Nikki

1. Curve2. Drop3. Change4. Screw

1. FB2. Change3. Curve

Name


Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

eClinic, Critical Counts – How to Stop the Walks

Book, Softball Strategies, Coverages, Signals & Charts

eClinic, Pitching Charts – How to Use Them to Win More Games




Calling Pitches SummaryCalling Pitches Summary

Don’t Get FancyGet StrikesGet Outs

Have ControlMore Control - Fancier You Can GetFurther Behind – Get a STRIKE

Keep Your Pitcher In a Position of DominanceKnow Her Pitches & Control of EachGet Ahead in Count

Win with Runs & Outs, Not Most Types of Pitches Thrown!

GREAT Softball Educational Material

www.softballexcellence.com

[email protected]

eClinic 016 - The Art of Calling Pitches -...

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