"The pitcher has to find out if the hitter is timid, and if he is timid, he has to remind the hitter he's timid"
- Don Drysdale
About this Quote
This quote by Don Drysdale talks to the importance of a pitcher's ability to check out the hitter. The pitcher needs to have the ability to examine the hitter's confidence level and change their technique appropriately. If the hitter is timid, the pitcher needs to benefit from this by advising the player of their uncertainty. This can be done through a variety of approaches, such as throwing a pitch in an area that the player is not expecting, or by changing the speed or spin of the pitch. By doing this, the pitcher can acquire a benefit and put the player in a position of weak point. This quote speaks with the value of a pitcher's capability to read the player and change their method appropriately. It is a tip that a pitcher should be able to examine the player's confidence level and use it to their benefit.
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