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central drama in the game of baseball is the confrontation between
the pitcher and the batter. In this intense struggle, the pitcher
usually wins. A batting average of .333, indicating one hit out
of every three times at the plate, is achieved only by the star
hitters of the game.
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A fastball covers the distance from the mound to the plate in less than
half a second, requiring lightning reflexes and judgment from the batter
to even make contact. So when the hitter does make contact, he has to
try to make the most of it.
As Brian Johnson, formerly a catcher with the San Francisco Giants, describes it,
a hitter has to be aware of wind and atmospheric conditions to get the
most out of a hit: "Sometimes the wind might be blowing somewhat in towards
the plate in left field, and slightly out of the park in right. In that
case, you might take advantage by trying to hit the ball towards right."
In order to take advantage of a wind, hitters may try to alter the trajectory
of their hits. Former Oakland A's star Rickey Henderson says: "When the wind is
blowing in, you really try to keep the ball out of the air as much as you
can, and try to hit the ball on a line drive that can get through the wind.
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"Sometimes,
when the wind is blowing in and you hit a high fly ball you feel is
out of the ballpark, the wind will hold it up and it's just a deep
fly ball." Conversely, if the wind is blowing out, hitters may try
to loft a deep fly ball in the hopes that the wind will carry it over
the fence as a home run.
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© Exploratorium
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