High heat on 0-2 or 1-2 counts! Seems like evrytime...

[Prince James]

This probably has been discussed somewhere else, and I even heard it discussed by Maddux on the radio once, but it seems like every time our pitchers have a 1-2 or 0-2 count, they throw a high fastball out of the zone. The problem is, I rarely see anyone take the bait. I am curious as to how many times we walk batters or allow a hit after getting 2 strikes on them. Can anyone help me here? Or at least could someone discuss the merits of continuing with the high heat on 1-2 or 0-2 counts. I think we should mix it up just a bit.

[bball123h2]

The Importance of Balls and Strikes

 

Not Brewers specific, but has some handy information...

[Prince James]

Excellent article bball, I very much appreciate you putting the link to this.

[DHonks]

Sheets best strikeout pitch since year 2 of his MLB career has been the high heat. It wasn't until 2004 that people began swinging at his curveball and whiffing, but that's mainly because he dramatically increased his command with it, while also increasing his fastball velocity on his fastball

[1e Corbeau]

How about this approach:

 

Does "high heat" change the plane of the batters view enough to make a fastball lower in the strike zone or a breaking ball harder to "see?"

 

It seems that this high fastball had been called a lot with Sheets (followed by a nasty curve or well placed 4 seemer) and even Davis (mostly followed by fastball and cutter).

 

Any charts available to answer that? I almost hope not...