The Count and the At-Bat

After an 0-1 count hitters' results drop sharply compared with 1-0.

Source: General baseball reference · recall

Taking a pitch shows its speed and movement, though it can give away a strike.

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Expecting a get-ahead fastball, aggressive hitters attack it.

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Ahead in the count, he can tempt the hitter with pitches off the plate.

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A breaking ball dropped in for strike one is a get-me-over pitch.

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Ball one puts the pitcher behind in the count.

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Pitchers who get ahead early usually have better results.

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Strike one gives the pitcher room to work.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

A strike without contact is best; a home run is worst.

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Letting the first pitch go to see it is taking a pitch.

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With two strikes and no balls, the pitcher has room to waste pitches.

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He tries to put anything close in play.

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A chase pitch can end the at-bat without giving in.

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Allowing a hit when so far ahead usually means a pitch was left over the plate.

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Many teams stress never leaving a hittable pitch at 0-2.

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Some pitchers throw one well off the plate to change the hitter's eye.

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Spoiling tough pitches keeps the at-bat alive.

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Changing eye level and speed sets up the strikeout.

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Each extra ball improves the hitter's position.

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Two strikes call for a shorter swing that can reach the edges.

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Most hitters take at 3-0, but some are allowed to swing at a strike.

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Taking forces the pitcher to find the zone or give up the walk.

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With no room left, pitchers throw their most reliable strike.

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A 3-0 fastball over the plate can be driven hard.

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With the pitcher struggling to find the zone, putting the runner on base is the priority.

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A cookie is a pitch served right down the middle.

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Many 3-0 counts end in walks.

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The green light lets the hitter punish the 3-0 strike.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

At 3-0 another ball is a walk.

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Coaches signal take or swing at 3-0.

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Behind in the count, pitchers have to throw strikes the hitter can expect.

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Ahead in the count he can wait for the pitch he wants.

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He narrows his focus to one pitch he can drive.

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The hitter knows a strike is coming and can swing hard.

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Laying off a strike he cannot drive is fine when ahead.

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Behind 2-0, pitchers usually come in with a fastball, so hitters can swing with intent.

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Hitters do much better when ahead in the count.

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Ahead 2-0, he waits for his pitch.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Balls favour the hitter; strikes the pitcher.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Ahead in the count, he can lay off a strike he did not want.

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Ball four, a strikeout or a ball in play all leave nothing to lose by running.

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Running on the pitch gives him the head start to score on a single.

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Ball four would push a run across.

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With no margin left, pitchers go to what they command best.

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At 3-2 the next pitch usually ends the at-bat one way or another.

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Foul balls with two strikes do not change the count.

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With the runner moving, a ground ball is unlikely to produce two outs.

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Running on the pitch gets him an extra base.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

A strikeout is best; a home run worst.

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With two outs and a full count, runners go on the pitch.

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Patient hitters take balls and foul off strikes.

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A high pitch count gets the starter out of the game sooner.

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Battling means fouling off tough pitches until something better comes.

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Many pitches seen help the hitters behind him and wear down the pitcher.

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Long at-bats can get the starter out and bring in weaker relievers.

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Many starters are taken out around 90 to 110 pitches.

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Discipline and the ability to foul off strikes make long at-bats.

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Taking balls and fouling strikes leads to a walk.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Long at-bats see the most pitches.

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Every foul adds a pitch to the pitcher's count.

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It is the pitch he trusts most to get strike three.

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A good breaking ball dives out of the zone as the hitter swings.

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Two pitches on the same early path that split late are hard to tell apart.

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After low pitches, a high fastball looks faster and is hard to catch up to.

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Whiff rates measure how hard a pitch is to hit.

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Any ball in play could score him; a strikeout does not.

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Ahead in the count, pitchers throw pitches that look like strikes but are not.

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He sets up the putaway slider with fastballs.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

Breaking balls in the dirt get the most whiffs; sinkers get grounders.

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The pitch he relies on for strike three is his putaway pitch.

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Some umpires give the edges, others are tight; players adjust.

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A wide zone helps pitchers.

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He cannot let close pitches go if they are being called strikes.

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Quiet receiving can turn borderline pitches into strikes.

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Some minor leagues have tested electronic strike calls with a challenge system.

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With fewer edge strikes, pitchers have to come further into the zone.

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Players are warned for showing up umpires.

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Everyone adjusts to the zone being called.

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A wide zone gives pitchers more strikes.

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Holding a borderline pitch quietly in the zone is framing.

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From second or third a runner can usually score on a single.

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A fly ball or a slow grounder can score the runner.

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Playing in lets them throw home on a ground ball.

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Clutch hits come with runners on in close games.

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Any at-bat with runners in scoring position is an RBI chance.

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With runners on second or third, any hit is costly.

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Stranded runners are missed scoring chances.

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A deep fly lets the runner tag and score.

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Fewer bases to go and more outs left make scoring easier.

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Drawn-in infielders can throw home on a grounder.

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Managers track it to judge fatigue.

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Lost velocity and missed spots tell a manager he is tiring.

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Hitters do better the more often they see the same pitcher in a game.

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Long innings with runners on tire a pitcher more than easy ones.

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Youth and minor league limits protect arms that are still growing.

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Complete games are rare in the modern game.

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Specialised bullpens and pitch counts mean fewer starters finish games.

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Signs of fatigue lead to warming up a reliever and the change.

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High totals and stress innings tire a pitcher most.

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A drop in velocity late in a start is a sign of fatigue.

Source: General baseball reference · applied