A weapon every pitcher should use

There are times in a game when the pitcher should throw a pitch that the batter is expecting. There are no bones about it. The count is 2-0 and the only pitch the pitcher can command is his fastball. The batter knows it and is sitting "dead red."

The pitcher needs to have a designed shakeoff. Simply, it creates doubt in the batters mind when he sees the pitcher shake off a signal from the catcher. He is certain that the catcher is calling fastball. And yet, the pitcher is shaking his head. The batter must think "this doesn't make any sense." Therefore, the very aggressive hitter now becomes slightly defensive and vulnerable in a situation that he certainly should not be. In fact, you'll know it's worked when hitters freeze on those 2-0 fastballs down the middle.

A note of caution, this should not be overworked. It could become predictable if the pitcher always shakes and throws a fastball following a shake off the head.

It's definitely something that should be in the repertoire of every pitcher.