My Pitching Philosophy #2 - The 1-1 count

The 1-1 count. If you happen not to go 0 and 2 to a batter (which we are trying to do), then you may be 1 and 1. If you are ever in a 1 and 1 count you must throw a strike. I suggest throwing your best pitch for a strike. I do not suggest trying to throw what the hitter can't hit for a strike. By throwing your best pitch for a strike you have the best odds of

a) throwing a strike and

b) getting the hitter out if he does make contact.

The idea behind always throwing a strike in a 1-1 count is that if you do throw a strike you are now 1 and 2. If you don't throw a strike you are 2 and 1. These two counts are drastically different. A pitcher has all the advantages in a 1-2 count. A hitter has all the advantages in a 2-1 count. Not to mention the batting averages that hitters have in these different counts. I don't know the exact numbers but it is amazing the difference. So keep the advantage and throw a strike in 1 and 1 counts. Who knows you might get them out that pitch (there's a good chance if you're throwing your best pitch for a strike).

Read My Pitching Philosophy #3 - Disrupting Balance and Timing