With only eight teams in the Carolina League, it is one of the smallest leagues in Minor League Baseball.  Thus, to fulfill a 140 game schedule we play each team in the league an astounding 20 times (10 games in each half).  Needless to say, you get a really good chance to study the opposing team.  Not only do we get to know the names of every player in the league, we know how hard they pitch, what pitches they have, their arm angle, what they like to throw in certain counts, what side field the hitter is most likely to hit the ball, if he has power, and if he changes his approach with two strikes.  And there are a lot of players who we have played against in prior years and leagues.  These are just a few of the details that we pick up along the course of the season. 

Not only are we paying attention to the opposing team, we are constantly studying our own team.  Defensively, we learn where to position ourselves based on our own pitcher.  For example, with hard throwers like Erbe and Arrieta, we’ll position ourselves slightly more to the opposite field since the hitter is less likely to pull the ball.  Infielders will learn the strength of the outfielders arm so that they know where to position themselves as cut-off and relay men. 

This is a lot of information to remember, and to help remind us, we keep charts on the opposing team.  Before a start, a pitcher may spend a few minutes reviewing that day’s line-up and see if there was a successful approach against each hitter.  As an offensive player, I keep a journal of every at bat I have against each team.  Before a series, I’ll take a look in the journal and find out how that team pitched against me.  Maybe they started each at bat with fastballs away and only came in when they were ahead of the count.  However, if I was successful in that last series and was taking the outside fastball to the opposite field, maybe the opposing pitching will change their approach.  It’s an on going battle between pitcher and hitter. 

As a hitter, you must have an approach at the plate.  Very few people can just step into the box and expect to hit the ball wherever it’s pitched.  You need to go up there with a plan of attack.  A strong mental approach will take you a long way in this game and you’ll find that those who possess a good approach will be successful.