Note: This piece appears in this home stand’s edition of Dodger Insider magazine, and is being reposted here with permission, special thanks to Jon Weisman. See www.dodgers.com/insider for more official team content and to subscribe to Dodger Insider magazine.
Getting ahead in the count has always been critical for pitchers. Based on league averages, the difference in pitching with a 1-2 count compared to 2-1 is like choosing between facing a minor-league journeyman or a big-league All-Star. But getting strike three can still be as challenging as any task a pitcher faces.