Batting Averages in Various Hitting Counts

October 19th, 2010 → 9:53 am @ eBook Baseball // No Comments

Understanding the nuances of baseball statistics can have a profound effect on a team’s ability to capitalize in advantageous situations.

batting-averages-hitting-counts

The chart above is helpful in understanding what counts provide the highest level of probable success – what counts are the best for swinging. Pitchers are forced to be more aggressive “in the zone” when they fall behind, offering better pitches for hitters. Batting averages decline when pitchers get ahead early and keep hitters in a defensive position.

Best Pitch Counts for Hitters

The best counts for hitters are: 1-0, 2-0, 3-1

These are typically considered “fastball counts” and counts where pitchers are motivated to throw strikes. Therefore hitters can “sit dead red” anticipating a pitch near the heart of the plate. These counts are great times to be more aggressive with your swing.

As a coach, these are great counts to implement certain “short game” tactics. If you can accurately anticipate a fastball over the strike zone, it’s a great time to hit & run.

Conversely, if you can anticipate when a pitcher throws off-speed pitches you can choose to steal in those counts as the pitch will take longer to reach the plate and are typically are out-of-the-zone.

BASEBALL JARGON GUIDE

In The Zone – this refers to any pitch that would be called a strike if allowed to reach catcher
Fastball Counts – this is any count when the pitcher is statistically likely to throw a fastball
Sit Dead Red – this term is used when hitters swings ONLY if pitched a fastball. All off-speed pitches are automatic takes.
Short Game – refers to game tactics such as bunting, slash-bunting, hit & running