If you've been watching the Phillies Phight there way towards another world series you've definitely noticed Cody Ross destroying our pitching staff. It's no secret that whoever has been on the mound has been feeding him fastballs low and in, a pitch that he clearly handles well. To Cody's credit, he's managed to get himself into hitters counts and capitalize on our pitchers mistakes. If you've watched his career since he arrived in Florida in 2003, there's always been one part of Cody's game that hasn't allowed him to become an elite player: He can't hit an off speed pitch. He is a "Dead Red" hitter, meaning he is a fastball hitter. He's the type of player that goes to the plate looking for a fastball he can drive and he sure has the hands to do it.
That being said, I was infuriated that Cody Ross saw 3 fastballs in the same exact location. Now, I will say that Carlos Ruiz did call for each fastball on the outside corner, but the pitchers missed their spots. In that situation, they need to make sure they miss off the plate (outside), in the dirt, or go with something off speed. By the time game 2 rolled around, the approach should've changed slightly on Ross to the effect of "He's not seeing anything other than off-speed stuff." Luckily for the Phils, they were only solo homeruns and you'll hardly ever lose a game because of solo shots.
For any questions, comments, or inquiries about pitching lessons, feel free to contact Chris at AcesElite@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping in and have a great Monday!
