By: Richard Federico, Coach/ several teams, youth to high school
When young players are advancing to high school, it is important to teach seeing and hitting the high and the outside pitches. The new strike zone will dictate this. Of course we don't want our players to start chasing high pitches, but on an 0-2 count, they are going to see a pitch up in the strike zone, in or out. It is easier to come down with their swings than to try to swing up, simply because of gravity. Even a foul back keeps them in the at bat. Young players are constantly getting beat on the outer half of the plate. Either they're afraid of the insider, so they tend to pull off, or after pulling a few 200 foot homers, they feel they have to open up in order to be power hitters. Lets start teaching them earlier to look on the outside part of the plate, where youth pitchers get more than 70% of their outs, and teach some great middle and opposite field hitting.
Date: November 11, 2001 at 19:46