As the Boston Red Sox made short work of the Rockies in the World Series last week (sorry Panozzo!), one glaring capability stood out to me.  The ability of the Boston pitching staff, most notably Josh Beckett, to get ahead and stay ahead of hitters throughout the playoffs was amazing!  You hear it religiously at baseball games of every level..."Get ahead!"  Beckett and the Sox staff put into work exactly what coaches have been preaching forever.  With the ability to attack the strike zone and go up 0-1 in the count, Beckett kept his pitch counts low, forced hitters to stay on his game plan, and forced hitters to hit his pitches.  Throwing strike #1 is the most important pitch in baseball!  Who says that pro athletes can't teach the young players of today good lessons?  Beckett's statistics speak for themselves.

(10/3/07-10/28/07)

First Pitch Strike % - 64%

1 of First 2 Pitches for Strike % - 87%

2 of First 3 Pitches for Strike % - 74%

% of 1-1 Counts that become 1-2 Counts - 81%