In game job of a hitting coach

“Gameday is for the players, coaches need to stay out of the way and let the players play” – anonymous

I have heard this quote echoed many times and I mostly attribute this quote to being one of those “baseballisms” that has been passed down through the coaching ranks over the years that coaches think they are supposed to say but have never really thought it through. Taken at face value, the quote is literally telling a coach to show up, stand in the dugout and not instruct. 

I understand the premise of the quote because I always tell our players, gameday is not a day to work on mechanics or enhance your skill set, rather gameday is a day to employ your current skillset to the best of your ability.  I would agree that instructing and adjusting mechanics on gameday gets in the way, but coaches do far more than just mechanical instruction.  On a gameday, the coaches #1 job needs to be to ENHANCE PLAYER PERFORMANCE. 

So how does a coach do this?  Let’s look at this from a hitting coaches perspective as there are multiple ways a hitting coach can enhance performance in live time on gameday.

Identify the strike zone for the day

Getting a good pitch to hit is one of the most important factors in a successful at bat.  A hitting coach should pay close attention to what pitches the umpire is calling for strikes that day as game to game amateur umpires may have slightly different strike zones they call.   A hitting coach can help his or her players understand the limits of the daily strike zone, what pitches the umpire is calling a strike and ball, and help a hitter build a plan around the existing strike zone that day.   It is amazing how many pitches a hitter can eliminate just by paying attention to how the umpire perceives the strike zone on a give day.

Pick up on pitcher tendencies / patterns

A hitting coach is responsible for picking up on a pitcher’s tendencies and count patterns.  Sometimes tendencies become immediately evident and sometimes they take a few innings but when / if a tendency or pattern is discovered it is the job of the hitting coach to communicate this to the players ASAP!  Coaches should look for count tendencies, pitches after a foul ball, 2 strike tendencies, RHH vs. LHH tendencies, doubled up pitches, location tendencies, etc….

Help the hitter understand how he or she is being pitched

A hitting coach should be charting each pitch (type, height, and location on plate) and breaking down the way the opposing pitcher is attacking a hitter.  This is particularly important when playing a series against a team.  The information needs to be transferred to the hitter in the most concise and usable way possible.  Once information is communicated, the hitting coach is responsible for noticing if the team switches attack plans as well and help the hitter adjust to this. 

Communication system:

A hitting coach needs to have a communication system with hitters.  We have found that having a central location that the hitting coach can always be found at is step #1 in establishing great communication.  We have purchased a folding table that we bring to all away games (and home games) and we setup the table in generally the same location in the dugout each game.  Hitters are instructed to “check in” with the hitting coach when in the hole to see if there is any new information they need to know prior to going on deck. 

In summary, hitters need to understand that the opposition not only has to get the hitter out, but the opposition has to get the entire hitting staff out as well.  The hitting coach should be acting as a human “super computer” pouring over data and providing the best and most up to date information to assist the hitter with reaching base safely.  A hitting coach can slightly tilt the odds to increase a hitters chances of success.  Regardless of the performance of an individual hitter during the game, a hitting coach should always be thinking, what information can I provide this hitter to increase their chances in their next at bat!