The ability to be a dangerous hitter with 2 strikes is critical to becoming a great hitter. If a player has confidence to do damage with 2 strikes he will not be afraid to get to two strikes. If he in not afraid to get behind in the count he will also be more patient and wait for a good pitch to drive. This creates all kinds of trouble for a pitcher.
When you here coaches try to encourage their players when they are down in the count and in danger of striking out, what are some common things you hear?
“Choke up and touch it.”
“Battle right here. You can do it.”
“Don’t chase anything, make it be a strike.”
“Come on now, anything close.”
“Don’t let him strike you out.”
The list could go on. The danger in these phrases lies in the fact that they put a hitter, no matter what his age or skill level, into a defensive mindset. Once a player allows himself to approach his at-bat defensively, he has allowed the pitcher to gain complete control. This is why I believe a player needs to keep an aggressive mentality no matter the count, maintaining aggressiveness and confidence. After all, you only get 3 strikes, why surrender or back down after two? That’s like giving up 1/3 of your at-bat.
All that being said, the foundation of aggressiveness and confidence has to be ballanced with a good 2-strike approach. You should make adjustments; some may be physical and some may be mental. I am not a supporter of the idea that you should change your swing or your stance, because that just makes hitting harder. Use one swing and get really good at it. Don’t ask your body to do something totally different in the toughest counts to hit in; I believe this will only diminish a player’s chance for success. The trick is finding a ballance of maintaining an aggresive, “I am still in control” mindset, while understanding you are down to your last strike.
Let’s have a quick discussion of some of the adjustments I have either heard, seen other players make, or have made myself. First, use only possitive language. The mind does not understand “don’t”. Like, “don’t chase a ball out of the zone”. All the brain processes is “Chase a ball out of the zone”. Instead communicate with a player something like this, “He still has to throw a strike. You own the strike zone. Make him bring it to you” or “You are still in control of this at-bat. You can handle anything he’s got.” This language encourages possitive actions. It motivates, helps build confidence, and empowers a player.
Second, choking up slightly is a great idea, but it should not be a sign of giving in. Quite the contrary, it will give the player confidence as he will have a greater control of the bat and give him the feeling he can get to any pitch in the zone. Remenber choking up doesn’t mean you are defensive. You can still hit homers choked up (Barry Bonds hit a few choked up!).
Thirdly, instead of expanding the zone, funnel it. What does that mean? Expanding makes a player chase out of the zone, which is exactly what a pitcher is trying to get you to do. Funneling is another mental picture for letting the ball get deep in the zone, intensifying a players focus in the strike zone. A player is looking to do damage while letting the ball get a little bit deeper in the strike zone giving him more time for pitch recognition.
Finally, a player should not fear striking out. It will happen. With that said, it is important for a player to make his mindset one of a competitor. He shouldn’t be ok with striking out. Every player should have it in their mind that they are a tough out and that they are going to do everythink they can to be a dangerous hitter no matter what the count.
This quick discussion in by no means comprehensive. There are some more specific adjustments that players can make on an individual level, but I believe this discussion lays a foundation that will help any player learn how to be a good 2 strike hitter.
Danny is an outfielder in the Oakland A’s organization & is currently playing for the AAA affiliate in Sacremento, CA.
