We have taken the first pitch in three straight games. I know the pitchers know this. Heck that's all the guys on ESPN are talking about. Maybe mix it up a little. I'm ready for the comments, there always some.

Keith70Chevelle said:

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We have taken the first pitch in three straight games. I know the pitchers know this. Heck that's all the guys on ESPN are talking about. Maybe mix it up a little. I'm ready for the comments, there always some.

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Yawn.

Keith70Chevelle said:

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We have taken the first pitch in three straight games. I know the pitchers know this. Heck that's all the guys on ESPN are talking about. Maybe mix it up a little. I'm ready for the comments, there always some.

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Agree

Well there is one . Yawn

Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Its certainly very predictable at this point and you don't want to give away free pitches.

I know the staff is trying to teach patience and being selective, and this is part of that. Hopefully, with another off-season of work, they'll be more prepared to swing at some hittable first pitches while still being patient and selective.

Sure why not. Post your address and I will make sure you get it

We hit 100 points lower on the first pitch than other pitches.

There are such small numbers to compare

A great time to start changing what brought you to this point, coach.

What? It's not that common to swing at the first pitch of the game. It's probably happened a dozen times in a row at some point. Also whatever we're doing offensively this year has seemed to work.

CampingAg said:

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What? It's not that common to swing at the first pitch of the game. It's probably happened a dozen times in a row at some point. Also whatever we're doing offensively this year has seemed to work.

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Yeah, I was little confused by the OP. The commentators brought up not swinging at the first pitch of an at bat. Not swinging at the first pitch of the game isn't a big deal. Not swinging at meaty first pitches of at bats is more controversial

OU's pitcher isn't doing anything on first pitches except pipe a fastball down the middle of the plate. He has tried to keep them low from time to time

TXAggie2011 said:

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OU's pitcher isn't doing anything on first pitches except pipe a fastball down the middle of the plate. He has tried to keep them low from time to time

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I wouldn't, either. He knows we won't swing no matter what. He can start every at bat 0-1.

If we had elite and deep pitching, I suspect we might be more aggressive early in the count. I think with the make up of this team, QABs and driving up pitch counts, getting to the bullpen is part of the approach/offensive philosophy.

Thank you

Hey, look what happens when you swing on the first pitch!

Agree

What, start each at at 0-1. You know you only get three strikes. Why start each at bat 0-1

Keith70Chevelle said:

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What, start each at at 0-1. You know you only get three strikes. Why start each at bat 0-1

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To make sure the pitcher throws at least two to every batter??

You're questioning this approach in the 3rd inning of the 64th game into the season when we are down to the final 4? I promise there is a method and strategy behind this. We may adapt as the game runs on, but it is the approach that brought us here…

You have got to mix it up occasionally . Come on. I knew I would catch flake for posting.

There are 3 other teams that have made it this far and none of them take every first pitch consistently to their own detriment.

It has served us well, but acting like questioning that approach has no merit at all is silly.

Sorry, don't mean to communicate flak. Just my opinion that this is an approach we have adopted given the strengths and weaknesses of our team. Given a different year with different strengths and weaknesses, I think we might very well have a more aggressive approach. What this means is that our hitters have to be extremely disciplined…which they are. Coach Michael Earley deserves a ton of credit for how far this team has advanced.

4, totally agree… the other 3 also have elite pitching which is a hallmark of going to Omaha. That gives you some flexibility with your offensive approach.

Because a baseball game is about wayyyy more than an individual at bat. Will you get a hit sometimes if you swing first pitch? Sure (although as someone already pointed out we're hitting 100 pts lower on first pitches of an AB). But out game is grinding it out, making pitchers work, getting to the bullpen and feasting.

With college hitters, you're way more likely to give a pitcher a boost in getting a one-pitch-one-out than you are giving yourself a boost beyond the one at bat.

Sometimes, it does backfire though. When a guy is doing a good job of hitting his spots (like today) it can hurt you. But it's why we're here and not watching this game from home.


EDIT: As I watch Trevor strike out on a pitch 8 inches off the plate...it also doesn't hurt when all you have to do is hit a glove that far outside and you still get the call. Makes it almost impossible to hit.

third deck said:

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4, totally agree… the other 3 also have elite pitching which is a hallmark of going to Omaha. That gives you some flexibility with your offensive approach.

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Agreed