Pitching
Chase creation
How pitchers earn swings at pitches that finish outside the strike zone.
Why it matters
Chases are usually created by believable strikes, count leverage, tunneling, movement, and hitter expectations rather than by a bad swing appearing from nowhere.
What to watch
- Two-strike pitches that begin on a strike-like path
- Repeated strikes that expand the hitter's protected area
- Breaking or off-speed pitches finishing just beyond the zone