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Why do lefty batters supposedly love the "down and in" pitch?
by Lou Raichle
Pitch down and in
Lou asked: We constantly hear that "that pitch was down and in (or low and inside), just "where lefty batters love it." Like everything in baseball, there are those hitters who kill that pitch from either side, and there are hitters who struggle with it, from either side. Physiologically, I have never seen anything that made the point left handers were superior in that regard. I have always kept my index finger outside of the glove. Started out that way as a kid, never changed. Why? Don't know. Saw someone doing it I'm sure. Found that provided me additional control, it is surely a personal issue with everyone. Just like hanging the pinkie on your bottom hand over the bottom of the knob on your bat. Some like it, some don't. I hit fungoes that way, feels to me like it provides some additional accuracy. No scientific measure for it but, just like everything else in baseball, if you believe it helps you in some capacity, it does. I always felt that keeping my index finger out did provide some cushion for it, thus less chance to bruise it. Hopefully your question will generate some interesting discussions and thoughts from our readers. Again, sorry for losing track of your question. Yours in baseball, Rick
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