# 1st pitch strikes - why so few swings?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1st-pitch-strikes-why-so-few-swings/316899>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 13, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1st-pitch-strikes-why-so-few-swings/316899 "2005-08-13T21:23:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1st-pitch-strikes-why-so-few-swings/316899/21 "2005-08-21T03:03:12Z")

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> [@SaintCad](#):
>
> I think a better question is why do so many batters take a called THIRD strike. In little league I was taught to swing at anything close with two strikes and at least try to foul it off. I see so many pro batters see a pitch reasonably close to the strike zone and just stare at it. I know that batters are “looking for a pitch” but you gotta swing with 2 strikes.

Yoiu must be watching Frank Menechino play.

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1st-pitch-strikes-why-so-few-swings/316899/22 "2005-08-21T13:22:36Z")

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> [@SaintCad](#):
>
> you gotta swing with 2 strikes.

If the pitcher has any inkling that this is your philosophy, there’s almost no chance you’ll see a hittable pitch unless the count is full.

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