I've wondered about this for a long time, and I wonder if someone can give me some insight on this.  I think Cards' pitchers have been throwing up way too many balls on a 2-2 count leading to a large number of 3-2 counts.  I used to think that this is a product of our large cadre of inexperienced pitchers not wanting to challenge hitters on a 2-2 count.  Instead, I think it is the way Dave Dunkin wants the pitchers to pictch on a 2-2 count, i.e. to waste a pitch on 2-2 hoping the hitter would chase a bad pitch.  I can probably point to many examples, but a prime example is Isringhausen's 2-2 pitch to Shawn Greene last night (Tue 6/26/07).  Kelly Stinnet clearly set up outside the strike zone, and Izzy hit the spot.  I've heard Joe Morgan talk about how he feels the 2-2 should be pitched, and he seems to put more urgency on the 2-2 than what I've seem the Cards pitchers do.  This is all the more frustrating as I've seen Cards pitchers walk batters after going 0-2.  I can understanding wasting two pitches to go to 2-2.  But why waste another one and go full?  If one is able to get in two strikes, why does it have to be so hard to throw a third one?  I've never played baseball on any significant level, so my perspective is purely from a fan's point of view.  I know Dave Dunkins is almost god in Cardinals Nation because he is an amazing pitching coach, but is he wrong about the 2-2 count?

Thanks for any insights.

Total Loser