A “waste pitch” is just that…a wasted pitch.
With an 0-2 count, the pitcher is way ahead of the hitter.
The pitcher achieved this dominant count by attacking the strike zone and inducing either a swing and miss, a foul ball, or a called third strike.
The pitcher achieved this count by being aggressive…
At this point in the count (0-2), the pitcher is facing a defensive hitter.
Rather than “wasting” a pitch, the goal should be to induce weak contact, a swing and miss, or a called third strike…
With a defensive hitter down in the count 0-2, the last thing a pitcher should want is for the hitter to see another pitch, another piece of his arsenal. This is especially true when understanding that the hitters lowest batting average occurs with an 0-2 count.
A piece of data from Major League Baseball on 0-2 counts (just to give us a healthy average):
In a full major league season, …over 20,000 innings, when an 0-2 count occurred, the ensuing pitch results in a ball nearly 58% of the time (waste pitch).
Understanding this information clearly illustrates that the batter, as a result of a “waste pitch” will now see another pitch 60% of the time. With seeing this one extra pitch, the hitter’s chances of timing a pitcher naturally become greater which could assist them in seeing the ball better out of a pitcher’s hand.
To quote one of the greatest pitchers of all-time, Greg Maddux, on 0-2 counts:
“The hitter is most vulnerable when you get him in an 0-2 bind. My goal is to take him out immediately. I’m going right after him, not fooling around with wasting a pitch up high or throwing one in the dirt.”
Maddux believed that to “waste” a pitch in an 0-2 count was a waste of his time and his energy…and maybe most importantly, it got him out of his rhythm.
The 0-2 pitch should be a pitchers strength attacking a hitter’s weakness. Period.
Examples:
A well-located fastball against a “slow bat”
A RHP change-up against a “pull happy” LHH featured early to middle of lineup
A LHP slider against a LHH with a “quick bat” featured early to middle of lineup
There is a clear difference between “wasting” an 0-2 pitch compared to “winning” the 0-2 pitch.
Winning Pitchers Win.
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