Pitch location - when to enter

[DenverJuggler]

The instructions for the version I just downloaded say I need to enter what happened, then enter the pitch location.

I'm sure there's a reason for this, but don't understand why. It's more intuitive to me that you pick where the pitch was, then push the button for what happened.

When a pitch results in the end of the inning and there's a pitcher change at the half of the next one it seems more intuitive to just select pitch location, then have to remember what happened at the beginning of the next half of the inning.

I didn't see any comments on this - am I the only one having issues?

[gadgetfreak]

This has been discussed before. Not all safe plays are a result of a ball being hit it in the field I believe was the answer. But do a search on this forum. I learned more here than with the videos (no offense FTM).

[FTMSupport]

No offense taken... it is why we started the forum --- to have users sharing ideas.

The main reason for doing it last is that the pitch location does not effect the outcome of the scoring. It is really an "optional" thing to enter. If it was done first, we would require you to do it before entering the play (which is the real "meat" of the scoring), and you could potentially miss some important details. Entering it last (at any time before the next pitch) allows you to enter it if you want to, but if you miss it because of a complicated play, stats will not be effected, and you can still enter it if you have time after entering the play. Same goes for pitch type and pitch speed.

[DenverJuggler]

Thanks for your replies, but I"m still a little confused; Please bear with me.

I got a second reply during my update so I'll reply to both here.

FTM Support:
Why would I be required to enter the play "first?"
No matter what, after a pitch I enter ball/strike. I'm talking about picking the location on the speckle chart before I hit that button. If it's a special case I would do the same process I would normally do, which is select the other button for that case

It's easier for me to put the location of that pitch, then select ball/strike/in play or whatever. I'm confused why the play order would be effected by this optional item or why it matters for how the application tracks this. Are there corner cases for passed ball, wild pitch or something I'm missing? Even if that's the case, I would always be on that page, select where the pitch was on a passed ball, then go to the screen for passed ball and advance the batter.

What am I missing here?
Sorry if I'm being dense.

Is there a specific example to help me understand?
=====
Here's my reply to the user:

I'm not talking about the Batter's Spray Chart, I'm referring to the speckle chart for pitches. If there wasn't a pitch and something happened, I can still swipe to the screen on the left and access the information for advancing runners, pick off attempts, or any other situation by clicking on the runner or other buttons.

I'm suggesting you click the speckle chart first for the pitch location, then proceeding to pick ball or strike. It seems that whenever you click on a pitch to the batter it would have to be a ball or strike. Is the issue if the batter was hit by the pitch? Even for that I don't see how the order would be effected negatively if I clicked the location first, then clicked "In Play" and then clicked "Hit By Pitch" I could still track pitch location and the event that occurred.

I'm sure there's a reason for the current way it's done, but I didn't understand what it was and I was hoping it could be changed to the other way that I feel is more intuitive and doesn't present any problems getting back to that pitch location when an inning ends and when a different pitcher starts the next inning; plus it could be a long time at the end of the last inning for that pitch and the beginning of the next inning with that side at bat.

[FTMSupport]

Having it last allows you to score the play (which is REQUIRED), then you can optionally enter pitch location. Many users do not use pitch location at all. There are also times when you look away for a second and do not see the location, but hear the ball hit the bat. You look up, see what happened, score it, then can ask the person next to you where the pitch location was. Nobody is going to want you asking what the pitch location was as the play is going on - they want to watch the action.

As a general design rule, requiring the entering of OPTIONAL information before entering of REQUIRED information is not a good flow.

We undestand it may not be the most intuitive way to do things, but it is a one time training issue, and once you understand the method, we do not think it should pose any issues.

Thank you again for spending the time to help make this a better product.

[DenverJuggler]

OK, so I think I'm understanding part of it now, but am still a little fuzzy.
Are you saying the reset for that pitch on the speckle chart occurs after a play is scored?

Because I have plays now where I don't pick anything on the speckle chart (just select Ball/Strike/whatever when I don't know) and it doesn't record anything and that's fine.

What happens for the last pitch that pitcher pitched from the Speckle Chart perspective? Is it still tracked to that pitcher (even if a different pitcher takes the mound when that team is back up to bat) or since it's optional it's disregarded?
And if that's the idea, that because this is optional it may not be tracked, that's OK. I just didn't get that.

I understand what you're saying about required VS optional information (I didn't know that - good to know) but it's not a burden to put that in before a play takes place. If you're watching that screen you enter that, then whatever happened and I don't think it would mess up the flow. If I touched the screen and didn't want to put placement either a reset button could be used or you could press the same place, or press on some real estate that's not used as a way to take away the dot so it doesn't count.

If it's a matter of the application is too complex to change this, or that because it's optional it's just not that important then that's fine and I understand that. I just don't see how it's a 'better' way to go or how it impedes the process of selecting ball/strike/other to enter the play.

Hope that made sense.