Observations from the LCS

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Dodgers v Cardinals

There was a play that the commentators got all wrong and unfairly criticized Yasiel Puig.

After Carlos Beltran singled to right to drive in a run early in the 3rd inning, Beltran tried (successfully) to advance to 2nd base on the throw from Puig to home. Puig cleanly fielded the ball and made an off-balance throw toward home, sort of like a 3rd basemen fielding a bunt and throwing on the run. Because of the off-balance throw, he did not get a lot on it, especially from that distance. Adrian Gonzales was in perfect position to cut off the ball and the throw was right to him, albeit a bit low. Good fundamentals by both. However, if you watch the reply, Beltran was a good 20-25 feet from 2nd base when the throw arrived to Gonzales. If the throw was caught properly, a subsequent throw to second base would have got Beltran easily. Gonzales dropped it. The commentators blamed Puig for making the off-balance, soft throw. But it was right where it should have been and on time. Hmmm...why blame Puig?

One cut off fundamental comes to mind, go to the ball. If you see the ball is dying (thrown softly), off-line or know you don’t have a play at the intended base, go to it and try to catch it in a position where you can make another play (i.e. catch the ball above your waist with your feet underneath you). Gonzales did not. He had plenty of time to get himself in position and did not. He let the ball come to him. Puig got the blame.

Tigers v Red Sox

At the upper levels of baseball when pitchers can throw several different pitches (high school+), I always want my hitters to watch the ball all the time after they get their sign from the 3rd base coach and the pitcher’s initial grip. At the lower levels when kids can almost always expect a fastball (<13U), not so important. But when you’re guessing fastball/curveball/changeup, a bit harder, especially if the pitcher can throw the fastball by you. If the hitter can decipher the pitch before the pitcher throws it, he has a huge advantage. Here is my point:  Watch how the pitcher grips the ball when he puts it in his glove before his windup and particularly in his stretch position. Pitchers will give away their pitch a lot if the they show you the ball. However, you need know what to look for and how to look for it… follow the ball.

Hitters, understand what a 4-seam grip, 2-seam grip, changeup grip and curveball grip look like. This is not guessing, but you have to pay attention to what the pitcher is doing and how he does it, a calculated guess. Sometimes it can be that easy.

As I was watching game 6 between the Tigers and Red Sox, Miguel Cabrera was up. He just had a fastball up thrown by him, about letter high, strike one as he swung through it. As I watched the pitcher put the ball back in his glove for the next pitch, he did so with a 4-seam grip. I can’t tell you what Cabrera was thinking about or what he was looking at prior to the pitch, but I guessed fastball next pitch because the pitcher didn’t seem to change the grip when he reached in his glove to start his next delivery (my perception). Regardless of the pitch and it’s location, if I know what’s coming, I’m a better hitter. The pitcher threw another high fastball and Cabrera got a basehit to left field. Not the most sexiest hit and the Tigers lost. But he is a smart hitter and thinks along with pitchers, whether or not he tries to locate the ball pre-pitch or tries to calculate the next pitch based on experience and/or film study. Major league pitchers are very good at hiding the ball and deception. But at the lower levels, they are not. Look for it.

Pitchers, “Are you listening?”