In baseball, and MLB in particular, the count is everything.
We have said a thousand times that a pitcher’s approach, pitch selection and location (and speed, if you will), will all change depending on whether he is ahead or behind in the count.
Typically, pitchers who are ahead in the count like to pitch around the zone with breaking pitches to try and go for the strikeout or the less-than-ideal contact.
They have a ball or two to spare.
On the other hand, if they are behind 2-0 or 3-1, they need to get a strike, and the fastball is usually the easiest pitch to control.
With this in mind, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge certainly took advantage of hitter’s counts in the last two years.
“Aaron Judge is slugging 1,198 (212 total bases in 177 ABs) with the pitcher behind in the count since the start of the 2021 season, best in MLB,” Inside Edge tweeted.
Aaron Judge is slugging 1,198 (212 total bases in 177 ABs) with the pitcher behind in the count since the start of the 2021 season, best in MLB.
2. Yordan Alvarez – 1,044
3. Kyle Schwarber – .903
4. Salvador Perez – .848
5. CJ Cron – .831 pic.twitter.com/jdNhPnjoql— Inside Edge (@IE_MLB) February 23, 2023
That slugging percentage is incredible, and teaches pitchers a lesson: throw quality strikes to Judge early in the count.
Of course, it’s much easier said than done.
However, falling behind against the reigning AL MVP and new owner of the single-season home run mark in the junior circuit is bad news.
You might be better off throwing a base on balls.
Seriously.
Judge hit 101 home runs in the two-season span from 2021-22.
101!
Pitching to Judge should include a heavy dose of fastballs high and in and breaking pitchers low and outside.
Executing this plan is very, very hard, because any mistakes will be punished without mercy.
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