Glossary
Pitchout
A pitchout is a pitch thrown deliberately wide of the plate, called when the defense expects a steal or a squeeze, so the catcher can catch it standing and throw the runner out.
On a pitchout, the pitcher throws a fastball well outside, at chest height, where the batter cannot reach it. The catcher steps out to receive it already in throwing position, which takes time off the throw to second or third. Against a squeeze, it leaves the batter no pitch to bunt and catches the runner from third halfway home.
The cost is a ball in the count. Call it with a 2-2 or 3-1 count and the offense may not have been running at all, so a pitchout is a guess. Coaches call it when they think they have read the steal sign, when a runner has gone on the same count before, or when a fast runner is on first and the count is in the pitcher's favor.
The pitchout is a pitch, so it goes in the pitch calls: one number on the catcher's wristband or a sign from the dugout to the catcher, who passes it to the pitcher like any other pitch. The middle infielders should know it is coming so the base is covered.
When to call it
- An 0-1 or 1-2 count with a fast runner on first who has been looking to run.
- A runner on third with one out and a batter who has bunted before, where a squeeze is likely.
- A runner who has stolen on the same count earlier in the game.
Put it on a card: Pitch calling cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a pitchout count as a ball?
Yes. It is a pitch outside the strike zone that the batter does not swing at, so the umpire calls it a ball.
Can you call a pitchout in softball?
Yes. Fastpitch runners can leave the base when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand, and pitchouts are common in fastpitch. The pitcher throws the pitch outside and the catcher steps out to receive it.
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