RCBC Ghost - Staten Island, NY

How many times have you heard this come out of your coach's mouth?

What does it really mean ...”a quality at bat.”  Did you know that it can mean something different with each at bat?  The answer, definitely yes!   In my opinion, the secret to good hitting is to hit only good balls.  Don’t be led by impatience to go after bad pitches. That’s exactly what the pitcher is trying to make you do.  He's trying to upset your balance. You should never do what the pitcher wants you to do.  When the pitcher gives you a pitch to hit, hit it and hit it hard somewhere.

What is a good pitch to hit?  A “good pitch to hit” should be a pitch you have not only anticipated, but one that comes in an area that you can handle, with regard to the count, the score, the inning, which base(s) is occupied, and your comfort level against this pitcher.

Let’s say that you’re right handed, the on-deck hitter in the fifth inning, and your team is down by a run.

You’re on deck preparation is to think about how the pitcher has tried to get you out in previous at bats. You’ve decided he wants to get ahead of you on inside fastballs, then, put you away with a changeup.  So, you are looking for something hard inside early in the count.  The lead-off hitter gets a base hit and is standing on first base.  You now get a bunt sign from your coach, so this is where your thinking changes from getting something hard inside, to looking for a ball down in the zone, to keep the bunt on the ground.

The first pitch is high and you take it.  The next pitch is in the dirt and the runner advances to second.  The game situation has changed again for you.  You look at the coach and he takes the bunt sign off.  Now, you have to start to re-think the situation again.  What’s our next goal in this situation as a hitter ...Answer....move the runner to third, any way you can.  Next pitch is a pick off attempt and is thrown away the runner moves up.  What’s happened ... your plan changes again.  Rethinking starts over   Your count is now, 3-1 and you should look for something up in the zone, so you can hit a fly ball and score the run with a sacrifice.  You swing at that pitch that is up in the zone and “boom” you hit your fly ball to the outfield and score the run.  You just had a “quality at bat”.  You hit a pitch in your strike zone and just helped your team.  But, notice how many times the situation changed during the course of this one at bat.

Good hitters are good because they realize that their role can change from pitch to pitch.  They make the right mental adjustments.  So now you understand how this hitting dynamic can change.  Have the right mental approach at the plate.