Thats exactly what I do...I throw the ball, take 2-3 steps back and get ready to defend against a ball coming directly at my face....anything else I do after that is bonus...I've got to protect my head....I've had one bounce up into my chin a few years back.....that hurt...not as bad as the one that hit me directly on the inside of my ankle......it hurt so bad it burned.....
I had a buddy get his face smashed pitching....it was just a matter of time until someone got seriously hurt so they banned some Miken bats and some others I think....