Never seen someone swing at a pitch

tigerdan75®

Orange Blooded [2756]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 671

Joined: 9/18/17

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

Apr 28, 2024, 2:15 PM

Let’s apply some simple biophysics to the problem. A 90 mph fastball takes 0.4 seconds to reach the plate. An average batter takes 0.25 seconds to see and react to the ball. That leaves the average batter 0.15 seconds to determine what type of pitch is on the way (2 seam fastball, 4 seam fastball, curve, slider, change up, etc.) and where it will be when it reaches you (strike, ball, high, low, inside, outside, etc.).

To make matters worse, by the time your brain processes all these factors and you determine how to react, the ball is no longer where it was when your brain gathered all that information. It has advanced another 10-15 feet along its path.

If you determined fastball on the inside corner but turns out it was a slider breaking late down and away, you’re probably going to end up looking pretty silly to the guy watching on a cellphone or sitting in the left field bleachers.

If the pitcher is throwing even harder, say 91-92, your reaction must be even quicker. If he has a good slider or change up to go with a good fastball, then you’re in for a long day until he runs out of gas.

It happens all the time. I once hit against a reliever the other team brought in with the bases loaded, no outs, and us trailing by one run late. The reliever threw 96-98. I watched him fan the batter before me, and the ball was barely a blur going by as I waited in the on deck circle. As I walked to the plate to get my strikeout, I prayed that he would get me on three pitches and don’t let him hit me. Then he struck out the next guy as well to preserve the lead for his team. At 96-98 mph, if you’re going to swing, you had better decide when he’s in the wind up and pray that he doesn’t try a pickoff somewhere or you’ll look even sillier.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Never seen someone swing at a pitch

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

One of our guys did it for strike 3 in a game during the NCSU series

Shouldn't have if he was in the batter's box...

Re: Shouldn't have if he was in the batter's box...

I have, several times, by our guys (and a few times by the gals as well) this

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

Then you havent watched much baseball

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

Re: Never seen someone swing at a pitch

TigerBoard POTD