Advantage pitcher.

When facing an 0-1 count, a hitter's batting average drop.

As a result of winning the 0-0 count, the pitcher is now in control of the at-bat.

The hitter is now approaching the at-bat with a defensive mindset and thus a defensive swing.

With an 0-1 count, the pitcher can now pitch.

What do you know about the hitter?

Is this a hitter who has a slow bat and therefore can be attacked with fastballs? Or is this a hitter with a short, compact swing and quick hands and therefore may be better off attacking with something off-speed.

Yogi Berra once said “you can observe a lot by just watching”.

Observe the hitter. Observe him in the on-deck circle. What kind of swings is he taking? Short, compact, aggressive swings? Or long, loopier, slower swings?

Obviously, as the game of baseball advances through the various levels, the technology improves…there is video…there are scouting reports.

Gain an advantage by watching the hitter.

An 0-0 swing shows a lot more about a hitter than an 0-0 take.

A right handed hitter who pulled an 0-0 fastball just showed a quick, aggressive bat and hips in order to turn on a ball like that. It would benefit a pitcher to back up that 0-0 fastball with an 0-1 off-speed in order to try and keep the hitter out front with the ultimate goal of a weaker swing.

An 0-0 swing from a right handed hitter who is late on a fastball with a foul ball down the first-base line just showed you a slower bat, a less-decisive type of hitter. In this count, it is imperative to mostly stay with the best pitch in baseball, a well-located baseball. It would not benefit the pitcher to “speed-up” a slow bat by throwing something off-speed.

Each pitcher should know their individual strengths and by the time said pitcher completes their warm-up bullpen, whether it is a starter or reliever, they should have a general idea on how they will approach a hitter when ahead in the count (0-1, 0-2, 1-2).

In terms of splits, a pitcher can gain an advantage more often than not by pitching to their opponents individual weaknesses regardless of whether an 0-0 swing was taken.

Example:

RHP vs. RHH

0-1 count

No 0-0 swing on a Fastball

Pitcher should throw an 0-1 breaking ball (something that breaks away from the RHH).

Why? The goal is to create weak contact. Something breaking away from a hitter ensures a longer, slower swing and thus weaker contact.

Example:

RHP vs. RHH

0-1 count

0-0 swing on a Fastball produced a late swing that resulted in a line drive foul ball down the right field foul line.

Pitcher should keep attacking this hitter with fastballs and should only throw an off-speed if the hitter sees many pitches and forces a deep count and/or if an off-speed is used to change eye level and disrupt timing, followed up with a well located fastball.

Why? Keep a slow bat slow. The hitter showed a slow bat on 0-0. No reason to speed his bat up with something slow. Attack with the hard stuff for most of the at-bat.

Example:

LHP vs RHH

0-1 count

No 0-0 swing on a Fastball

Pitcher should throw an 0-1 change-up (naturally will break away from a RHH)

Why? We are looking to create weak contact on a swing and something off-speed breaking away from a RHH will give a pitcher a higher chance at weak contact.

A good hitter when facing a pitch breaking away from them will look to take that pitch the other way (opposite field).

Most hitters are not good hitters.

Advantage pitcher.