Why Does a Pitch Need to Be Controlled?

Anyone who's faced down a blazing fastball understands the desire for pitch control. Helmets offer some protection, but don't do much when the ball catches an exposed elbow or wrist. Pitch control also can be the single most important factor in determining whether your team wins or loses the game.

  1. Safety

    • Although many players hit by an uncontrolled pitch take their base and consider the act a small gaming gift, there can be real danger in a misfired pitch. In the majors, there was only one death associated with pitching, but Red Sox legend Tony Conigliaro was permanently injured when he was hit by a fastball in 1967. Young players still learning the game may be doubly jeopardized; pitchers have less control and batters may be less able to get out of the way of errant pitches. In June 2011, a 13-year-old boy was killed when a pitch hit him in the chest as he was attempting to bunt.

    Strike-Outs

    • Since the object of a pitcher is to strike out the batter, pitch control is vital in achieving that end. The pitcher needs to be able to hit the strike zone.

    Hit Control

    • Equally important to hitting the strike zone is hitting just outside of it. Forcing a batter to reach for a pitch or jamming his swing can alter his hit or strike him out.

    Batter Intimidation

    • When facing a fierce batter, a pitcher might try to intimidate the batter. One of the best ways to do this is to brush him off the plate. With full control of his pitch, a pitcher can force a player to jump away from a pitch and the plate. The strategy is effective for getting into the head of a pitcher's opponent and showing him who is in control.

    Defense

    • Whether it's a fastball, a knuckleball, a strike or a ball, a pitcher does not want the runner to make it to first. Little-league and major-league players alike know getting hit by a pitch is often a small sacrifice for a man on. It's against the rules to step into a pitch or to not attempt to get out of it's way, but both tactics are often used as baseball strategy. Two of the NY Yankees top players also top the list of hit-by-pitches major-leaguers: Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.