Leadoff man in the fourth inning steps up and smacks a double in the left center gap. Immediately, what is your thought process?
ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR SITUATION. Man on second base, nobody out, what is that hitter trying to do? What’s the score? Assuming it’s a close game, that hitter’s trying to hit a groundball to the right side. Before you even step foot on the rubber, this thought should have crossed your mind. Whether your a lefty or a righty, you know your pitching arsenal. What pitch or preferably pitches are going to get that hitter to hit the ball to the left side of the infield to keep that runner at second? We had a rule the last couple years in pro ball that when a man is on second base in a tight ballgame, the 0-0 pitch is an inside fastball. If it’s not, then you get fined. Does this mean you can’t pitch outside the rest of the at bat? Certainly not. If anything though, these outer third pitches are setup pitches. I want contact to be made on a pitch on the inner third. Mind set and execution in this situation is critical. If you don’t have the right mindset your relying on luck, if you can’t execute your relying on luck. It’s important situations like these, and there are many more, that can decide a baseball game.
1 or 2 runs may seperate two teams in a game in the box score. But in reality it may have been 1 or 2 pitches that determined a win or a loss.
So here’s the question… When your on the mound, are you thinking… are the wheels turning when certain situations arise?