I'm not advocating violence, fighting, or hurting the opposing players.

I've noted this several times in my posts and making it a post of its own as I'd like for TexAgs to watch and see if I'm not seeing things correctly. Let's see if my discussion below holds true in today's game.

I like the fact our pitchers are being coached to throw strikes, and they are throwing strikes -- pounding the zone. Good job pitchers and coaches.

I like the results of the high strikeout-to-walk ratio, along with it being displayed and discussed during broadcasts last night. It shows both players and coaches are performing and doing a good job.

HOWEVER, I believe there is such a thing as throwing too many strikes. WHAT YOU SAY???

However, when you throw too many strikes, hitters tend to get pretty comfortable standing in the batter's box -- AS A PITCHER, YOU DON'T WANT THIS. You want hitters to fear a 90 to 98 mph fastball, in that they stand to get hit by the ball.

You want controllable wildness. It was portrayed in the movie Bull Durham, when Nuke (pitcher) found his control and started throwing strikes and winning games. However, Crash (catcher) saw that batters were getting too comfortable at the plate, that they didn't have to worry or think about getting hit by the pitch anymore; therefore, he told Nuke to hit the Bull. You don't want hitters to have this comfort -- EVER.

Let's start noting, how many times the pitchers come inside against hitters WITH A FASTBALL, not a breaking pitch; especially with a 1-2 or 0-2 count. Further, in those counts with no one on base, or at least with first base open especially with a lead. WE NEVER SEEM TO DO THIS. However, hitting a batter every now and then is good strategy in planting the thought that the pitcher is "wild."

I'm not saying we come inside or hit batters to hurt them. You just want them to be light on their feet and less comfortable at the plate.

FYI our hitters have been hit 61 times, to opposing hitters being hit 41 times.

Please watch today and comment.

Let's just see going forward. Hey, I may be imagining things.

aggiebrad94 said:

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I think in today's analytics world, we are trying to locate the pitches that give us the best chance to get the batter out. Keep in mind we have logged every at bat of ever conference opponent and know what they can hit and what they can't.

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. Yesterday we threw the ones they CAN hit.

Throw strikes. Move the pitches around, but stay over the plate and let your teammates in the field back you up. Walks are bad, too many walks are poison.

Luke The Drifter said:

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WallyWonka said:

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LatinAggie1997 said:

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The theory is sound but many athletes aren't worried about wearing one and getting a free base, especially those with all the guards. The only fear would be taking one off the noggin and i hope that only ever happens by accident.

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No. you got it wrong.

What I'm saying is our pitchers are not throwing inside to opposing hitters near enough--meaning inside fastballs, not off-speed crap. Every time they waste a pitch, they waste away and typically off-speed. Therefore, there's no fear in opposing hitters of being hit. You want the OPPOSING HITTERS to have that fear or thought process.

Back in the day, you'd set up a hitter with an 0-2 count by coming inside with a fastball, then go outside corner fastball or off-speed. You've brushed them back where they are not as comfortable for the next pitch.

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Out of the 41 batters our pitchers have hit this year, I'd be willing to bet 20 of them have come with 2 strikes. Our "waste" pitches all too often have traveled inside and plunked the hitter.

I'm all for pitching to both sides of the plate, but plunking a batter when you've got him on the ropes has happened regularly this year.

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As has giving up base hits, especially extra base hits, on 0-2 & 1-2.

You do have to make the batter move their feet and change their eye level. Both are important to disrupt timing. There's ways to make the batter uncomfortable in the box without hitting them and you can throw too many strikes.

Ain't no one scared of getting hit

The number of college pitchers that can truly command both edges of the plate is miniscule. And missing in results in a man on base. So you see a ton of guys concentrate on the outer half and develop a 2 pitch repertoire that can play both directions out there.

Whether you pitch up, down, in, out is more a factor of your pitch mix. There's not many guys throwing 2 seamers any more which really helps you go inside. The last 10+ years has been dominated by 4 seam FBs and sliders as the analytics have made people fall in love with spin rate.

Sean98 said:

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The number of college pitchers that can truly command both edges of the plate is miniscule. And missing in results in a man on base. So you see a ton of guys concentrate on the outer half and develop a 2 pitch repertoire that can play both directions out there.

Whether you pitch up, down, in, out is more a factor of your pitch mix. There's not many guys throwing 2 seamers any more which really helps you go inside. The last 10+ years has been dominated by 4 seam FBs and sliders as the analytics have made people fall in love with spin rate.

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I was at my Granddaughters confirmation and was only able to get a score. Saw bits and pieces and saw maybe two 0-2 counts by Aggie pitchers, with the next pitch being away from the hitters. Nobody wants to come inside.

I think that's a good explanation. A more simple way to look at is that most pitchers have to choose between erring on the side of throwing out of the zone or catching too much plate. It looks like our guys are being coached to do the second option. At least that gives the defense a chance.

We'll take it one way or another

Atta boy Grav

Ball 5 ball 5