Week 6

                                                                    ~Situational hitting~

Our goal as a hitter  is to move the runner.  Getting the right pitch, to hit the ball to the right spot will increase your success.  I will cover a few basic strategies, but know its not the only way.  And because of that I encourage and incorporate a day to learn what YOUR pitch is.  The  pitch you know you can drive through the infield.... and move runners.  Getting your pitch and attacking it should always be an option!  So again, these are not the only strategies, but I feel it will begin to help you  have a better plan in the box, creating much more confidence.  It will allow  narrowing down the size and portion of the zone you're covering.  But remember, as you become ahead in the count you can tighten up your zone or as you fall behind in a count, expand your zone.      So to begin with, nobody on base, get your pitch.  But, know what pitches you'll likely get.  know the pitchers habits..  This can mean first pitch habits, if they're consistently up/down/in/out of zone, what they're out pitch is,  etc.  This will adjust what you're expecting and wanting to hit.  Other factors in determining what pitch to get is the defense.  See where they are playing you, or if someone is out of position leaving a hole in their defense somewhere, a drag bunt could even be an option.    Again, don't overthink it, get something to hit hard.  But I will say having a plan of where to hit the ball will bring much more success, than going into the box and thinking I hope I hit the ball.   Being prepared brings comfort, which leads to confidence, which creates consistent success!     Now there's a runner on first.   Small ball is always an option.  put down a sac bunt, maybe push to 2nd.  Mostly, we need to stay out of a double play situation.   Hard ground ball to middle infield, pitcher, or even first base is often the most likely scenario for the double play.  We won't count a line drive getting doubled up... that's the runners fault.  So something into right field is ideal, possibly moving the runner to 3rd with the long throw form right field.  But just getting something through the infield can be a goal.  This would lead to getting something up in the zone to lift over the infield, while avoiding low/middle and low/away which leads to the firm ground ball to the right side, setting. up the double play.  As you're starting to see, there are a few factors influencing the plan.   Become a student of the game and see what the opponent is trying to do, and adjust your offense accordingly.      Let's put a runner on 2nd.   With less than two outs we can bunt, or get a ball behind the runner, to  the right side, forcing the defense to have to go to first.   This is a "station to station" mentality, one base at a time.    Another option is a deep fly ball to right allowing for the baserunner to tag up on the long throw.  To put the ball to the right side, we are looking for a pitch on the outside half.  Runners on 1st and 2nd combines the concept.  A ground ball allows the force at any bag, and possibly a double play.  So we are looking for something up in the zone to get through the infield.  And don't forget, getting your pitch is always an option!       Bases loaded, we must get the ball through the infield.  Looking for something up in the zone is ideal.  A fly ball to the outfield should score the runner from 3rd by tagging up.  1st and 3rd baserunners, same mentality as bases loaded.  There may be a pitch dedicated to stealing 2nd, to get that runner in scoring position.   Otherwise, focus on scoring that runner from 3rd.      Lastly, 1st and 2nd base runners.  Again, focus on getting the runner from 2nd to 3rd.   Get something through the infield, although, a fly to right should allow 2nd base runner to tag, if not the 1st base runner, too.     Again, these are not the only ways to go about moving baserunners with your at bat, but hopefully some concepts to help you start creating a plan for when you get in the box.  I feel like it narrows down the pitch your looking for, creating a plan for your at bat, just focusing on where to hit it, not IF you hit it!