El Duque Posted October 18, 2004 Share Posted October 18, 2004 As far as I know, Mariano Rivera is one of the best closers in the game. But I cannot handle him. He has only two pitches and I do not know how to make him strike out somebody. Can somebody helm me out of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkB Posted October 18, 2004 Share Posted October 18, 2004 He actually has 3 pitches, although only 2 types. The cutter and 2 fastballs. The key is to mix up your location. On a *-2 count, don't throw a strike. Throw a cutter, middle of the plate, but off the right of the plate. Just enough so that it looks like it will catch the edge of the zone, but by the time the batter has commited, it has dropped off the edge and it about an inch or 2 off the plate. This should get you quite a few swinging strikes or weak grounders to 2nd base/1st base. If the batter doesn't fall for that, I usually try the cutter again, but instead of trailing it off the plate, trail it onto the plate from the inside inwards, or just lay one down and away to righties that just catches the corner. With lefties however, if step 1 doesn't work, I usually give them a 4 seamer down and away. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Duque Posted October 20, 2004 Author Share Posted October 20, 2004 Thank you MarkBTheYankee! Now I can you use him as a closer and do not have not rely on others who are not supposed to be a closer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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