cazzy wrote:Attack strikes. Aggressive.
shortslappy wrote:Related question regarding lead-off hitters taking strikes:
My dd is fast and an aggressively successful base runner, so she moved her way to lead-off. She's bounced in and out of that role, but has been getting mixed messages about her at-bats. With her first at-bat of a game and nobody on base, she likes to swing at any pitch that will get her on base (usually within the first 3 pitches). She got pulled aside and was "strongly advised" to not jump on the first strike unless it's "her pitch" (belt-high, just a bit outside). I was later told by another lead-off hitter that part of her job was to see as many pitches, even if it means fouling off balls on a 3-2 count.
First of all congrats to your DD. Being a lead-off hitter not only takes skill, but a certain mindset and attitude.
I think your last paragraph sums up the role of the lead-off hitter. You posed it as a choice, but it is probably more of a combination of the two.
So what do you think adds more value to a lead-off hitter, get on base or allow your team more pitches to see (which sometimes mean taking the first strike)?
shortslappy wrote:Related question regarding lead-off hitters taking strikes:
My dd is fast and an aggressively successful base runner, so she moved her way to lead-off. She's bounced in and out of that role, but has been getting mixed messages about her at-bats. With her first at-bat of a game and nobody on base, she likes to swing at any pitch that will get her on base (usually within the first 3 pitches). She got pulled aside and was "strongly advised" to not jump on the first strike unless it's "her pitch" (belt-high, just a bit outside). I was later told by another lead-off hitter that part of her job was to see as many pitches, even if it means fouling off balls on a 3-2 count.
So what do you think adds more value to a lead-off hitter, get on base or allow your team more pitches to see (which sometimes mean taking the first strike)?
GIMNEPIWO wrote:shortslappy wrote:Related question regarding lead-off hitters taking strikes:
My dd is fast and an aggressively successful base runner, so she moved her way to lead-off. She's bounced in and out of that role, but has been getting mixed messages about her at-bats. With her first at-bat of a game and nobody on base, she likes to swing at any pitch that will get her on base (usually within the first 3 pitches). She got pulled aside and was "strongly advised" to not jump on the first strike unless it's "her pitch" (belt-high, just a bit outside). I was later told by another lead-off hitter that part of her job was to see as many pitches, even if it means fouling off balls on a 3-2 count.
So what do you think adds more value to a lead-off hitter, get on base or allow your team more pitches to see (which sometimes mean taking the first strike)?
To take pitches so that your team gets to see more strikes (or balls) is quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever heard ... A lead off batters job is to get on base.
cazzy wrote:Attack strikes. Aggressive.
cazzy wrote:Attack strikes. Aggressive.
jonriv wrote:First of all congrats to your DD. Being a lead-off hitter not only takes skill, but a certain mindset and attitude.
Sam wrote:cazzy wrote:Attack strikes. Aggressive.
A pitcher's dream....
shortslappy wrote:
Now look at her ... hitting lead-off, fouling off balls on a 3-2 count, and drawing a walk after taking the first strike.