Why pitchers should watch batting practice

In pro ball, you will rarely ever see the starting pitcher on the field or in the dugout while the other team takes batting practice.  They would rather relax in the clubhouse and go through their other preparations.  If the pitcher is a high school or college kid, there may not be any kind of a clubhouse so the pitcher may be forced to stay on the field during batting practice.  I’ve heard a number of pitchers say that they don’t like watching BP before their starts because they feel it can hurt their confidence by watching opposing hitters just crush balls all over the field.  I disagree.  I disagree because if he looks carefully, a pitcher can see a lot that can actually improve his confidence … if he knows what to look for.  Notice the following the next time you watch a round of batting practice.

• Pay attention to how many times a ball is hit to a location where a fielder would have been during a game.  Pitchers forget that the game will always favor them over hitters.  That’s why the best hitters only get hits 35% of the time.  Most BP balls that are hit hard would have been at someone during the game.
• A pitcher might be surprised how many times those BP balls are NOT crushed.  Remember, these are BP fastballs right down the middle and the hitter fouled it off, popped it up, or hit a weak grounder.  The hitter knew the pitch (BP fastball), the speed (BP fastball), and the location (BP fastball!) and still didn’t hit it squarely.  What do you think is going to happen when a pitcher is on the mound changing speeds, location, and pitch selection? 
• Pay attention to what happens when the BP pitcher unintentionally throws one low, inside, or takes a little speed off the pitch.  You will probably notice that it totally screws up the hitter on that swing.  He’ll miss it, pop it up, foul it off, etc. and probably mumble something at the pitcher.  What does that tell you?

 

If they know what to focus on, pitchers should have nothing to fear when it comes to watching batting practice.