Question on shooting pitchers and batters

Do you shoot vertical or horizontal when shooting your pitchers and batters?
Last season was my first real season shooting baseball. I would normally shoot horizontal and then crop vertical. I realize this is more then likely wrong. So yesterday was our first game and I shot my batters and pitchers vertical, in hopes I wouldn't have to crop. It seemed as though when the batter swung the bat , and ball went out of frame. If I zoomed back out to make sure I got everything in frame there was too much empty space up top and it still needed to be cropped. When the pitcher pitched I missed a lot of shots where the ball was releasing... the pitcher ended up out of the frame.

I hope my problem makes sense. Can you please tell me what would be the best way to make sure I get the player in frame when in motion? I'm trying to not have to crop much.

The shots I took on the wind up and stance turned out great, but, those can be a bit boring.

I am using the 40D / 70-200mm F/2.8

Also, do you shoot wide open? I just recently got the lens and this is my first real test. I did shoot at 2.8 but was not happy with most of the results.

Thanks for the help.

Shooting the pitcher - depends on the angle. Side angle I shoot horizontal, from behind the catcher I shoot vertical.

Batter, I shoot horizontal

Shooting batters horizontally gives you (potentially) the catcher, the bat as it moves out front and possibly even the ball when your timing is good!

I like to shoot pitchers vertical. This way, you can either have a hat to shoes shot, or a good crop from say the hip up to the extended arm.

dave

Pitchers and batters (and catchers - don't forget them) - at least for me - are almost always done vertically. Just about the only time I'll go horizontal is on a batter who is a lefty - because usually I'm on the wrong side for a lefty, and usually need to catch the follow through part of the swing. If I am on the correct side for a lefty - I will shoot vertifically. Plays at the plate - if those shots ever come my way and seem to be very elusive for me - would be done horizontally......

It's best to fill the frame with your subject and for me this usually means vertical or portrait orientation. When shooting for prints I probably have to crop some if not most images whichever orientation I shoot in. When shooting for publication I submit the full image then leave cropping to photo editors and they crop the great majority of stuff I submit. Cropping shouldn't be considered a bad thing -- the bottom line is to capture the action or story then crop out unnecessary real estate that detracts from that action or story.