pitching accuracy

[Arthur Dent]

When a good pitcher has command, about how big is the zone around his target that he can consistently hit? In Ball Four, Jim Bouton says it's about a 1ftx1ft square, and while that seems too large to me, I suspect pitchers don't really have the ability to paint any corner at will.

[boyer14]

When a good pitcher has command, about how big is the zone around his target that he can consistently hit? In Ball Four, Jim Bouton says it's about a 1ftx1ft square, and while that seems too large to me, I suspect pitchers don't really have the ability to paint any corner at will.

The one foot square you speak of isn't as big as it sounds...if you give me a target on the outside black, two inches below the hitter's knees, and I throw it over the black but four inches above the knees, the pitch would be in the one foot square you describe.

Painting corners? Yes. I have kids that I teach (kids in their early to mid-teens) that pitch inside black to outside black. Its not as unusual as you seem to think.

[vinsanity]

When a good pitcher has command, about how big is the zone around his target that he can consistently hit? In Ball Four, Jim Bouton says it's about a 1ftx1ft square, and while that seems too large to me, I suspect pitchers don't really have the ability to paint any corner at will.

The one foot square you speak of isn't as big as it sounds...if you give me a target on the outside black, two inches below the hitter's knees, and I throw it over the black but four inches above the knees, the pitch would be in the one foot square you describe.

Painting corners? Yes. I have kids that I teach (kids in their early to mid-teens) that pitch inside black to outside black. Its not as unusual as you seem to think.

But the way I took it was, 1ftx1ft Square. That would be a square foot no? So it sounds like two inches below on the outside half, the 1 foot square could be 6 inches in, or out, or up or down or just about 6 inches in any direction.

It does sound pretty big compared to how accurate some pitchers seem to be.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't doubt that at all. In high school when we worked out in the gym we used to do a game where you basically played catch and kept score. The player receiving put his glove at his chest and if he had to move the glove much to catch the throw you didn't get credit for a point, and you played to a certain score. While that's a bigger window than 1x1 foot, I was also just a high school infielder and I could put it in the "chest" window very consistently while putting the appropriate velocity behind the ball. I bet a Major League caliber pitcher would be much more accurate.

[boyer14]

I can say with authority that if you can't locate, you can't pitch. Its hard to define what exactly you feel the level of control big league pitchers have, but let's just say you must have the ability to hit spots. And, if a target is given for--lets say--an inside fastball, you must either hit the target, or miss off the plate inside rather than miss out over the plate.

Otherwise, you find yourself selling Allstate Insurance out of a kiosk at a mall near you.

[Richie Allen]

1' x 1' is about the size of a catcher's mitt. Not that big of a target. Means the catcher would barely need to move the glove, if any, to catch the pitch. That's pretty accurate.

[StatmanCrothers]

In his youth, here is the barn that Jason Marquis used to hone his own control skills. He worked diligently until he could choose either "X" and throw the ball within the corresponding rectangle.

[TimeForGuinness]

In his youth, here is the barn that Jason Marquis used to hone his own control skills. He worked diligently until he could choose either "X" and throw the ball within the corresponding rectangle.

It's too bad the chainlink fence took the brunt of his pitches.



/I lol'd

[Swatcat27]

In his youth, here is the barn that Jason Marquis used to hone his own control skills. He worked diligently until he could choose either "X" and throw the ball within the corresponding rectangle.

what's the smaller rectangle on the top ??? Intentional walk pitches to Yadi ??

[brats&beer]

In his youth, here is the barn that Jason Marquis used to hone his own control skills. He worked diligently until he could choose either "X" and throw the ball within the corresponding rectangle.

It's too bad the chainlink fence took the brunt of his pitches.



/I lol'd

Maybe he needs glasses, ala Major league...