Foundation of “How” to Win — Pitching
Pitching is the foundation of “how” to win games. It falls under the objective Walks + Errors = 5 or less. The pitcher has the single biggest contribution to achieving this goal.
This is achieved by:
Throwing >67% first pitch strikes (2 out of 3)
Throwing >60% strikes overall
Getting 50% of hitters on or out in 3 pitches or less
If a pitcher accomplishes those things, he will keep his defense engaged in the game and will challenge hitters to put the ball in play. He will also pitch late into games, allowing the team to save other pitchers for later games. So, a lot rides on the pitcher to put his team in a position to win.
Again, these factors are totally within the pitchers control. Get ahead in the count, eliminate walks, challenge hitters and be efficient with pitches. Trust your teammates to make plays.