Protect the plate can be applied to all hitters, but what does protect the plate mean? It means that when the time comes and you have two strikes on you, you will do anything to not let a ball pass the plate within the strike zone, or even outside the strike zone if it is close. Protect the plate and yourself from being called for strike three.
Things to think about when it you need to "protect the plate" when you are in the batters box:
- Know the zone
- What is the umpire calling strikes and balls
- What is the pitcher throwing
- You need to expand your strike zone
- Your swing
- Still swing hard
- Sometimes adjust your swing to a more compact swing
- Stay balanced
- Follow off balls that you are not sure about
- Close pitches
- Anything that is on the "black" or even off the plate
