Strategy intangibles include getting ahead, upsetting hitter rhythms, reducing walks, pitch location and the consequences, and working fast. All of these intangibles are important to the winning pitchers because they can use in their favor not only their pitching but also statistics and psychology. Hitters tend to get upset and often are not ready to hit when the pitch is delivered. Pitchers who work fast usually have a better defense behind them. Pitchers who work slowly make their fielders relax, losing their mental or physical readiness to make a play.
Fielders are alert and on their toes when playing behind a fastworking pitcher.
Umpires like to call strikes when a fast-working pitcher is throwing. The faster a pitcher can get his or her team off the field, the sooner they can start scoring runs. Often a successful pitcher who is working fast has a hypnotic effect on the opposing team. Before they figure out what is going on, it is the eighth or ninth inning. With a fast-working pitcher, a game can be played in a shorter time.