Defining the quality at-bat.

All the little things that go into a productive turn at bat

In analyzing the capabilities of their hitters, coaches will always focus on batting averages, runs batted in, and home runs. Which is perfectly logical, of course, but not quite the whole picture.

The assessment must also include the various nuances that add to or subtract from the hitter's productivity. It is surprising how many of the little things can make for a "quality at bat" that will enhance the team's productivity.

THE FIRST AT BAT.

Hitters who focus on quality at-bats will try to go deep into the count on their first at-bat - get a look at the pitcher's array of pitches.

As the game goes along, this practice will let the hitters know what the pitcher is throwing and the sequence of the pitches, while putting extra stress on the pitcher's arm.

Because a pitch is in the strike zone doesn't mean that the hitter has to swing at it. It depends on where the pitch is located in the strike zone.

The batter who swings weakly at the low, outside strike isn't likely to make good contact or force the pitcher to work hard. It can be considered a non-quality at bat for the hitter.

SELECTIVE HITTING.

Hitters who focus on quality at-bats will look for a pitch they can hit with authority. Ted Williams credits much of his success to the fact that he rarely swung at pitches on the corner of the strike zone.

Productive hitters will always lay off the "pitcher's pitch" early in the count. They will look for something they can attack ("hitter's pitch"). Very few amateur pitchers can consistently throw perfect pitches. The good hitters will take advantage of the mistakes by hitting the ball hard (quality at-bat).

GETTING BEHIND IN THE COUNT.

Hitters who focus on quality at-bats may fall behind in the count, as they will be taking the "pitcher's pitch." When put in this situation (0-2, 1-2), a good hitter will battle the pitcher by fouling off the hard-to-hit strikes and laying off anything out of the strike zone.

Most high school pitchers will give in to the hitter after he has fouled off several difficult pitches. Hitters who battle back from a disadvantaged count by getting a basehit or coaxing a walk are exercising a quality at-bat.

HITTING AHEAD IN THE COUNT.

Hitters who stay ahead in the count (2-0, 3-1) are in great position to hit the ball with authority. A focused hitter will not let the pitcher off the hook by chasing the perfect pitch. The non-focused hitter will ease the pitcher's job by swinging poorly at off-speed pitches or chasing the "perfect pitch" - a non-quality at-bat.

MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

Good hitters who make a mistake at bat are usually smart enough to make an adjustment in their next trip to the plate. If, for example, they fly out on an off-speed pitch out of the strike zone, they will look for the same pitch in their next at-bat.

Hitters who learn from previous at-bats and their teammates' at-bats can begin to make life difficult for the pitcher.

HITTING ACCORDING TO SKILL LEVEL.

Hitters must learn their strengths and weaknesses. Some hitters may have trouble hitting a curve ball. Others may have trouble hitting the low pitch. Good hitters will understand their weaknesses and know what to do when the pitcher attacks them.

A batter who hits ground balls for singles and doubles would be making a mistake by muscling up on the 2-0 pitch. They should remain selective and maintain their discipline in producing quality at-bats.

QUALITY AT-BATS REFLECT GAME SITUATIONS.

Coaches should praise hitters who help produce runs through quality at-bats. For example, with a runner on second and no outs, the quality at-bats hitter will attempt to advance the runner by hitting to the right side. Moral: The batting average is not the only way to evaluate success in the batter's box.

COMPLETING A GOOD DAY.

Good hitters are often greedy hitters. After producing two or three quality at-bats early in a game, some hitters will simply swing for the fences in their final at-bat. This is a waste of an at-bat.

Smart hitters will try to capitalize upon every trip to the plate, regardless of what they have done earlier in the game.

HELP EVALUATE THE AT-BATS.

Problems may occur when players focus on batting averages rather than quality at-bats. For example, after going 0 for 3 with a walk in four trips to the plate, the hitter should never consider his declining B.A. and start making changes in their swing. They will hurt their team when they lose track of the team goals and become selfish about their batting average.

The team hitter will look at that 0 for 3 game in a completely different way. They will make an effort to produce a quality at-bat by trying to work deeply into the count, staying away from "pitcher's pitches," and taking aggressive swings on "mistake" pitches.

Coaches should have their players log their at-bats after every game - helping them focus less on their B.A. and more on the quality of their at-bats.

Example of a Hitting Log

A.B. 1 worked deep Into the count, hit a sharp line drive to the shortstop (quality at-bat).

A.B. 2 swung at an off-speed pitch out of the strike zone, which dropped into short right field for a single (non-quality at-bat).

A.B. 3 fell behind in count, 0-2, worked count full, walked (quality at-bat).

A.B. 4 worked count to 3-1, did not chase off-speed pitch out of strike zone, lined a double to gap off belt-high fastball (quality at-bat).

In the above example, the player wound up with a .333 batting average for the day, but a .750 average in quality at-bats! Coaches should try to make quality at-bat hitters out of every player in the battling order.