Softball Coaching - Who Should Call Pitches? - Part 1

Note: This is an article published a few years ago into the NFCA Fastpitch Delivery sent to me by good friend Doug Parry and written by Jeff Aumend - Former Head Coach at Montana State University.

There is also another interesting about article on the same topic on my site - Calling the Game: Whose Responsability? Click on the link to read it.

The age-old question of whether the coach or player should call the pitches in a game is not an easy one to answer. We all hope that the coach, catcher and pitcher can be on the same page, and that page is different than the one the opposing hitter is on. Both methods work: I, personally prefer to call most pitches. However, I know coaches who are successful allowing the players to make those decisions. Let’s examine both sides.

The argument for the players calling pitches begins with the fact that they are “in the action.” They see actual break on each ball pitched and actual location. The pitcher knows her own confidence level in locating a pitch. A catcher, for example, knows her confidence level and work within it. While this may provide players with optimum performance of their existing ability, sometimes performance within a framework of comfort impedes progress.

For instance, a pitcher “shakes off” a drop ball with the bases loaded because she doesn’t want a run to score on a possible wild pitch/passed ball. Other than a strikeout, a ground ball with the bases loaded gives the defense the best chance because there are not one, but four, out opportunities. The ball that the shortstop goes deep in the hole to third to backhand - that would be an infield hit with no runners on base - can now be flipped to third for an easy out. Abandoning the drop ball in this situation decreases out opportunities and impedes progress. Will this be the pitcher’s comfort level for the rest of her pitching career or will someone - the catcher or the coach - force her to throw the pitch in this situation? Sure she will fail at times, but she will also succeed if she has a drop ball that she is using at other times in the game. Whether the players or the coach calls the pitches, it is imperative the players get out of their “comfort zone” if they are to become a more complete player as their career progresses.

Pitchers don’t like to walk batters. And, of course, coaches cringe at walks also. But, for an exceptional drop ball pitcher, a walk can be a good  thing. Once again, we go to the “out opportunities” theory. With a runner at second base, there is one force out opportunity on a ground ball - the batter-runner at first base. If the batter walks, there are now three out opportunities on a ground ball (first, second or third base with runners at first and second). Once again, this goes to a pitcher’s comfort level. Her fear of one walk followed by another followed by another might overtake her and convince her to get away from her best pitch - the drop ball.

Now before I give the appearance that I’m against the pitcher/catcher calling pitches, let’s examine the positives of remaining at one’s “comfort level.” If the pitcher is young and underdeveloped and the fastball is her only pitch she can throw for a strike when pressed to do so, the coach may be better off allowing her or the catcher to call pitches. All coaches would agree, more strikes than balls is a good thing. However, if the pitcher is going to progress to a higher level, I do recommend establishing a few rules for your catcher in calling and your pitcher in calling or shaking off pitches during the game.

For instance, one rule might be to get ahead of the hitter with a strike. Rule two might be: Every time I’m ahead of a hitter with a 0 - 1 count and nobody on base. I must throw my drop ball. Rule three might be: Every time I’m ahead of the hitter with a 0 - 2 count and nobody on base, I will throw my rise ball. A junior high, high school or lower level college pitcher might benefit form living in her comfort zone while occasionally trying to improve in low-risk situations. In other words, pitcher-catcher calling of a game is acceptable provided there is a framework to be successful and get better. To just be successful and not progress is not enough and can be deceiving. A pitcher may have a 10-strikeout game but she just faced the weakest team in the league. The best team in the league would have sent her to the showers early if she and her catcher threw the same exact games against them.

Yes, I am a proponent of calling pitches at the college level but we, of course, have the luxury of working with pitchers who have better control, break, change of speed and confidence. Most people think that many college coaches call the pitches to control the defensive shifts and outcomes. And, that is very true, but for me it’s more than that. I want pitchers to get out of their comfort zone and develop themselves.  A great drop ball pitcher as a freshman, who has a great rise ball as a sophomore and a great change-up as a junior, is now a true three-pitch pitcher. Incidentally, she can be a six-pitch pitcher with three pitches is she is locating those pitches on both sides of the plate.

With regard to the coach calling, I do believe that the coach’s ability to see hitter’s mechanical flaws, especially from the first base dugout ( most teams have a majority of right handed hitters) is greater than the catcher or pitcher. I also believe that the opportunity to shift your defense or force the opposing team to hit to your strengths is advantageous. But most importantly, I believe in calling pitches to help a pitcher grow into being a complete pitcher.

Recently, a successful drop ball pitcher became frustrated because her usually exceptional drop ball wasn’t working. I forced her to continue to throw it even though she didn’t want to in certain situations. One game later, she was back to throwing it exceptionally well. Had I not been demanding of her, she or the catcher might have gone five more games before she got back to fighting adversity and throwing her best pitch in situations that called for it.

Calling the game as a coach does not mean total control as there are a number of times in a game when it’s OK to let the catcher/pitcher call. If nothing seems to be working for a pitcher that given day might be one opportunity. As a coach, you’ve called four pitches in a row and now they’ve all been fouled off is another opportunity. Your indecisions on a pitch call might be another opportunity. A big lead or big deficit could be another opportunity. The truth is the pitcher, catcher and coach can all be involved in calling the game provided there is a framework for success and a framework for progress in place.

To read part 2 of this article on Who Should Be Calling the Game. Just click on the link.

What are your thoughts on the subject?