Hitters who are pull or long ball conscious often pull their head, front shoulder and rotate too soon on the inside or outside pitch. If the inside pitch is thrown to the six inch area between the plate and batter's box and the batter swings at this pitch, there is a high probability the ball will be missed, fouled off or hit for an out. Furthermore, after pitching to this area, this makes the pitch thrown to the outside part of the plate more effective. Hitters who pull their front shoulder, step towards the rubber or away from the plate are often afraid to get hit. The inside pitch accentuates their fear.
Many pitchers have control problems because they either look at or are very conscious of the hitter.
Pitching inside forces the pitcher to throw to a spot and block out the hitter. Of course, the pitcher must be taught to pitch to the six inch area described previously and not at the hitter. In a double-play situation, the hitter who fails to extend his arms on the inside pitch often hits the groundball. Pitching inside makes other pitches more effective. Good hitters who are challenged inside and make an out are much like a football team running a play at the toughest defensive player.