Switch Pitching 101

Yes , pitching to contact can work if you have solid fielders. The idea is for pitchers throwing strikes, with the intention of letting the fielders make the outs. The strategy is to get outs quickly with a low pitch count, so the pitcher can go deeper into the game. For the pitcher to be successful it's important to command the fastball, throw first-pitch strikes, change speeds and locations.  College All-American pitcher Tyler Davis throws strikes and pitches to contact for the University of Washington. In a game facing top-ten ASU, Davis pitched a complete game, throwing 70% strikes and tallying an 11:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio . He pitched inside, changed speeds and moved the ball around the strike zone using a 2-seamer, nasty change-up and occasional curveball. The ASU hitters had a .303 BA going into the series. "Davis (5-4) had pinpoint control for most of the night. He gave up seven hits and walked just one batter and threw 112 pitches, 79 strikes." ...

Answer: 66, throwing 73% strikes High school pitcher throws 66-pitch, 48-strike perfect game msn.com Doing anything well in high school is hard, because your hormones and peers are generally conspiring to make you as conflicted and inept as possible. But California senior Michael Strem has no time for indecision (or a Goth phase), because he's busy throwing a perfect games. His recent 66-pitch game featured an astonishing 48 strikes, which means he averaged just over three pitches per batter. Comparatively, the record for fewest pitches in a Major League Baseball game was set in 1944 by Braves pitcher Charley "Red" Barrett, who tossed just 58 pitches. Strem goes to St. Francis High School and is rumored to be attending Boston College in the fall. Read more California pitcher tosses 66-pitch perfect game in state playoff win By  Cameron Smith  |  Prep Rally  –  Mon, May 20, 2013  Incredibly, Strem retired the 21 batters he faced on just 66 pit...

Ryan Perez is a dominant switch pitcher in high school. He emphasizes the importance of getting the first pitch strike. Perez has four pitches that he can throw for strikes with either arm. He throws a changeup, curve and cutter for strikes, in addition to his 87-90 mph fastball. From the Chicago Sun Times: June 24, 2011 Perez’s most incredible outing came against Luther North on April 25 in a game that was shortened to five innings. In that contest Perez threw a perfect game , striking out 13 of the 15 batters he faced. For Perez, the ridiculous strikeout totals and the sense of being in complete control on the mound boils down to a simple approach: Getting ahead in the count. “The key is getting a first-pitch strike all the time,” Perez said. “ It’s all about the first-pitch strike .” FPS = First Pitch Strike .