How To Game Plan Against Pitchers (Using Movement Plots)

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Scoring runs is the goal of an offense.
 
We should understand how the pitcher's ball moves to achieve that goal.
 
Today, we will break down movement plots and explain why you, as a hitting coach, need to be able to read them.
 
First, these charts can seem intimidating if you’ve never read them.
 
Don’t be.
 
Believe me, if I can understand them, you can too. (I’m not that smart)
 
So, what is a movement plot?
 
A movement plot shows each pitch a pitcher throws, and more importantly how it moves.
 
Based on a reading a movement plot we can educate our hitters on what type of movement each pitch will have that the pitcher will throw.
 
Let’s start with reading the movement plot

This movement plot is from the pitcher’s point of view.
 
For today, this will be for a RHP
 
The point in the middle where the x-axis meets the y-axis is the center point of the plot.
 

 This would be 0,0, meaning the pitch moved in a straight line from release.
 
We call this a gyro slider
Or bullet slider
Gravity is out of the equation for the gyro slider. 
 
Anything above the x-axis has back spin.
Anything below the x-axis has top spin.
 
The x-axis represents horizontal movement (east/west) this distance is measured in inches between a pitch crossing home plate compared to where it would have crossed home plate in a perfectly straight line.
 
The y-axis is for induced vertical break (north/south)
 
The MLB average for FB is 15.8 IVB and 1.3 HB

 
Here is a pitch that is 15.8 IVB and 1.3 HB

 
This would be considered a FB with average movement.
 
Anything to the right of this would be considered arm side run

Sinkers are going to be above the x-axis in this area, but below the average 4S FB.

Anything to the left of the Y axis would be considered a cutter.

Anything above the average fastball will feel like it’s rising to the hitter. (Note: it would need to be significantly above) 

 
(It is important to know for it to show up different to the hitter, it needs to be much different than the average)
 
The MLB (RHP) average for a slider is -3.3 HB and 1.6 IVB

 
The further horizontally to the left of this green dot, would mean a sweeper slider (east/west).
 
The MLB average for CB is -8.8 IVB and -2.0 HB

 The MLB average for a CH is 5.5 IVB and -4.6 HB

The easiest way to tell what type of movement a pitcher will have…
 
Release point.
 
Here are two examples of pitchers with an over the top release point and 3/4th/side arm release point. 
 
Notice the difference in their pitch movement.
 
 Branden Webb (east/west)

 
 Sweeper

Tyler Glasnow (over the top)

 
Curveball

So how does this information help us?
 
If we know how each pitch moves, we can educate our hitters on how to game plan against it.
 
Example: If the pitcher's FB has 20 inches of vertical break, we can tell our hitters to make sure they see the pitch down and get on top of the ball, or else they’ll miss underneath it.
 
If they have a sweepy slider, and you recognize it starting over the middle of the plate, it’s going to be a ball, and to take it,
 
Ideally, you can get to a point where you educate the hitters on how to read the movement plots, and they can educate themselves.
 
This is especially useful during a game when there’s a pitching change.
 
Summary:
 
1   Understand how to read a movement plot
2   Educate your hitters on how to read them
 
Final note:
 
Just because a pitcher's pitch is off from the average doesn’t mean it will move drastically differently. 
 
It needs to be significantly different than the average to show up visually.  

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