FG on FOX: The Benefits of Situational Pitching

Statistical analysts have long been fascinated with the idea of clutch hitting. Often times, those who who have provided memorable hits have been assigned an ineffable quality, with the idea that they can raise their game when runners are in scoring position, with two outs, or late in games. The reality is most great clutch hitters are simply good hitters, and over time hitters put up roughly the same numbers regardless of the situation.

For pitchers, the situation is slightly more complicated. Hitting is reactive – one can only take what they are given. Pitchers have more control in big spots, and often their pitch usage with runners on base or in high leverage situations varies from their normal pitch sequencing.

It’s a matter of bearing down. We hear often that a pitcher “needs” a strikeout in a given situation, and often pitchers attack batters with that very outcome in mind.

For some hitters, this is the most important part of an opposing pitcher’s scouting report. Miguel Cabrera is a born hitter, the kind of guy who can rope doubles and hit opposite field home runs while falling out of bed. His unique skills and seemingly innate ability to put the bat on the ball allow him to spend less time in the video room than most players. In fact, he barely studies opposing pitchers much at all.

In a profile of Cabrera’s approach I wrote in 2013, he explained that most of his video work comes from just watching pitchers with runners on base or looking at what they throw from the stretch. It’s the only information he wants because he feels it gives him an edge when his team needs him most.

Some players don’t want that kind of information, but a hitter like Cabrera — the rare talent that can sit on one pitch and still react to others — it can make all the difference during the game’s most dramatic moments as many pitchers make specific and deliberate adjustments when confronted with runners in scoring position.

Read the rest on FoxSports.com.





Drew used to write about baseball and other things at theScore but now he writes here. Follow him on twitter @DrewGROF

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