Miss With Purpose
Define the intended edge or chase area, then separate exact execution, usable misses, and wasted pitches.
Foundation
Miss Quality · Intent
Level
L1
Length
24
Pitches
Fastball
Goal: Measure how often 24 fastballs finish on the assigned spot or inside an explicitly defined competitive-miss boundary.
WARMUP
Before the first pitch.
Complete a proper throwing warm-up before scoring pitches. Use full-body movement, progressive catch play, and enough mound-ramp-up pitches for the listed pitch types and delivery modes to feel ready.
Warm-up throws are not included in the workout score, but they still count toward the pitcher’s total throwing workload for the day.
Use the pitcher’s established primary delivery—Windup or Stretch—for all 24 pitches. Record the delivery used and use the same delivery whenever this workout is repeated.
Sequence
Edge Lanes
- 4 FB — Glove-Side Edge Lane
- 4 FB — Arm-Side Edge Lane
Below Zone
- 4 FB — Middle-Down, Below Zone
- 4 FB — Arm Side, Below Zone
Off Edge
- 4 FB — Glove-Side Off Edge
- 4 FB — Arm-Side Off Edge
Target and Miss-Quality Definitions
- Edge Lane: A narrow band at or just inside the called edge. A COMP result is immediately off that edge without leaking toward the middle.
- Middle-Down, Below Zone: The reachable area immediately below Middle-Down. A COMP result is at the bottom of the window or slightly deeper while still reachable.
- Arm Side, Below Zone: The reachable area immediately below or slightly farther arm side of Arm-Side Down. A COMP result stays near that chase area.
- Glove-Side Off Edge / Arm-Side Off Edge: The reachable lane immediately beyond the called edge. A COMP result is at the edge or slightly farther off while still usable.
- MISS: The pitch loses the planned area, leaks into a more dangerous location, or becomes unreachable.
Grade every pitch against the boundary defined for its block. Record SPOT, COMP, or MISS and continue without a makeup pitch.
24 tracked pitches: 24 FB; 8 pitches in each block.
Development or preseason: 1–2 times per week with about 48 hours between structured mound sessions.
In season: 0–1 development bullpen per week. A game appearance or other meaningful mound session replaces it.
Track This Session
Choose Bullpen Session. Name it Miss With Purpose — [Pitcher]. Create 3 markers.
+
SPOT
Fastball finishes within its assigned target.
+
COMP
Fastball finishes within the defined competitive boundary.
+
MISS
Fastball finishes outside the defined competitive boundary.
Coaching Focus
- Define both the SPOT area and COMP boundary before each block.
- Keep the same delivery and full fastball intent when working near or beyond the assigned area.
- Do not reward a miss that leaks toward the middle or becomes unreachable.
- Let the recorded finish location support—not replace—the coach’s grade.
- Stop when fatigue changes effort, delivery, or command.
RESULTS
Score the Session
Count SPOT and COMP pitches out of 24 as usable pitches. Review SPOT and COMP separately so an exact hit and a usable miss remain distinct.
18–24 usable pitches
Great
The pitcher consistently worked near the intended edge or chase area without wasting pitches.
14–17 usable pitches
Competitive
Miss quality was usable in several blocks, but one target produced too many pitches outside the competitive boundary.
0–13 usable pitches
Keep Working
Too many pitches lost the planned area. Widen one boundary and rebuild one miss pattern at a time.