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The 2-2 Count
Oct 21, 2002
I'm not a curling fan but last year I was watching Kevin Martin being interviewed after a loss. I think it might have been in the Olympics - but anyway he was explaining that he plans the game in reverse. His strategy is to be able to win the game with his final shot, that being a draw to the "4 foot". He was shaking his head as he explained it because he blew the shot and lost the game - but he doesn't lose many!
I got thinking about the strategy and concluded that it makes sense for pitching as well. If I could take a lead into the bottom of the 7th with 2 out - and then get the batter to a count of 2-2, I could win the game with one pitch if I hit the spot. (I know...that's a big IF)
My favorite pitch in that situation would be heat (or the best heat I could muster) right at the knob of the bat. That's my pitch of choice if I had to go with one shot to get the batter out and win the game. Providing the count is 2-2, the batter can't afford to "take" and will almost always swing.
After seeing 4 pitches already, all of them in the bottom half of the zone, with maybe a change thrown in for good measure - the high hard one is gonna be a bit of a surprise.
Remember my theory earlier about missing high and low more often than left or right? I believe that to be true and that is the best part about this pitch because you can miss low by 2 feet and still have a pretty good pitch. You can miss high by a foot or so and still get lucky with a strike out!
This week's secret:
Get to 2-2 without using your "1 pitch"
Next week's topic:
