Follow-Up to Intentional Walk Post

1. Use the Whole Catching Box – The rules say that the catcher must start anywhere within the catcher’s box in order to receive the pitch. The catcher’s box is the area behind homeplate that goes from the outside line of each batter’s box and extends 7 feet from the back of both batter’s boxes. The catcher’s box is 8 ½ feet wide and 7 feet deep. The catcher is allowed to start anywhere within this catcher’s box to set up for, and receive the Pitchout for the Intentional Walk.

What this means is that the catcher does NOT have to line up behind home plate and then quickly jump out to catch the pitchout for the intentional walk.

2. Practice – The BIG key to successfully pitching intentional walks is to PRACTICE them! You can’t expect a pitcher to put a big hitter on first base during a big game if she’s never practiced it! Pitchers should practice intentional walks at least once a week. Be sure to mix intentional walks in with your pitcher’s other pitches so she might be working on curveballs and then the catcher suddenly calls for an intentional walk. This will really force her to stay sharp and really execute in practice!

3. Go Left and Right – Pitchers and catchers need to practice pitching intentional walks to both left handed and right handed hitters. While this sounds simple it means the catcher will signal for intentional walks to one side with her bare hand and to the other side with her glove. Catchers need to practice intentional walks just as much as pitchers do.

4. Hit the Tips of the Fingers – When the catcher stands up and holds her hand or glove to signal for the intentional walk, the pitcher must concentrate on hitting the tips of the catcher’s fingers (Barehand fingers or fingers in her glove). She isn’t aiming for the catcher’s chest but the tips of her fingers. While this might not sound like a big deal, it’s a huge change for most pitchers. When was the last time you had your pitcher aim for the finger tips of your catcher??

5. Chest High Fastball – Now that the catcher’s set, what pitch should your pitcher throw? The key is it must be a chest high pitch that she’s very confident in and that’s easy for the catcher to catch. While a rise might be what the pitcher throws best for a chest high pitch it’s probably not the most reliable pitch or easiest one for the catcher to catch. The pitch needs to be a chest high fastball, so make sure you pitcher practices this – and often!

Something to think about...that in most cases is not given a whole lot of thought.

The Intentional Walk

I've thought about this subject a lot and felt it would be a good idea for a post here to get some dialog going.

When I pitched in college (baseball), one of the toughest things I was asked to do was intentionally walk a batter. Not that it required great skill, but to be frank, we never worked on it at practice. How can you expect to do something well if you never practice it? Fast forward to Girl's Fastpitch today. When coaching, you should see the looks I get when I ask pitchers to intentionally walk a batter.

Before I launch into the "Keys To The Intentional Walk", I'd like to hear from you, the reader, as to what you think of the Intentional Walk. Is it an appropriate strategy? If so, how would you teach it? What are the potential pitfalls?

Share your thoughts...