43 feet

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Member

• Jan 17, 2008

• #41

For those of you that don't believe 43 ft will make a difference go to the ASA tournament section of the OFC. Look up the scores from the 2007 Wolfpack Best of the Best Fall showcase. I was there this past October and some very good 18U high school pitchers looked real average pitching from 43 ft.

This distance in high school will be a joke!

 

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Member

• Jan 17, 2008

• #42

Fast,

That's ok. I know you are passionate about the game and the kids. I also don't have a major issue with 18U or even 16U going to 43' in travel. I don't think it is needed but it would be a good compromise. Those kids have college asperations.

I just don't think it is a wise move in High School. I just don't see the reasoning coming from anywhere but the college perspective.

 

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Member

• Jan 17, 2008

• #43

acorn, I was there to. The pitchers that lacked good movement were the one most affected from what I seen.

 

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Member

• Jan 17, 2008

• #44

the difference is more pronounced when players break out and play a couple of games at the 43 ft distance when they have been tuning their pitches at 40 ft. ? as i have said in the past my dd played at 43 ft all fall and the pitchers had trouble for 3 or 4 games and then the adustemt was made and the difference was minimal. ? playing all summer at 40' then switching to 43' for a tournament or two is not a good indicator of how moving the rubber permenantly will affect the game. ? as i've said the reason for moving the rubber is to get more offense and it simply won't happen by moving the rubber back three feet, what then 46 ft? ? improved hitting is mentioned somewhere in this thread and the most dramatic improvements in hittng have been the results of bat technology and small strike zones. ? ?a pitchers transition from high school senior to college freshman is more affected by a 18/19 year old freshman pitching to a 22 year old player that has been on her college strengthening program for 3/4 years than by a 3 ft move of the rubber. ? i don't like the move because there is nothing really gained by making the move, the safety issue is bogus, ? the increased offense will be temporary and we will be right back to " the game is too pitcher dominated", ?or " i just paid $250 for dd's bat a strikeout just ain't right". ?

? ?

 

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Member

• Jan 29, 2008

• #45

We were at QDSN this year. Allegedly there were over 1000 pitchers that applied for 48 spots, all HS that came from 17 different states. My DD was up to bat 6 times. She was hit with a pitch, and walked on straight balls two other times. Half the times at bat, these elite pitchers were nowhere close to the strike zone throwing from 43 feet. Either they were just not that good or the three foot extra distance was seriously hampering their ability to throw strikes.

Now take the "not-so-elite" and put them in the same position.

I guess I would have to say it is a miracle that this game ever made it this far given all of the changes it evidently needs. If it is such a horrible game as it is, why do have so much participation, so much interest, and why is it growing so quickly?

 

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Member

• Jan 29, 2008

• #46

My guess is it's the parents of so-so hitters who want pitchers moved back. I doubt it's the parents of high school pitchers.

 

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Member

• Jan 29, 2008

• #47

Yeesh---I can see we're gonna have to drive a stake through the heart of this one, it just won't die. ?

 

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Member

• Jan 29, 2008

• #48

I can still remember the jump that happened when dd went from 35 to 40 when she started playing as a 12 year old, tough at first but she adjusted. Sometimes now as a 15 year old she has even started throwing from 43. The strange thing is some pitches seem to move better at 43 than they do at 40. She doesn't seem to let it bother her to much. Fact is they either put in the time to keep their skills good or they don't. Pitching is work and the better ones will put out the effort.

 

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• Jan 29, 2008

• #49

Well said SoftballLover, if the mechanics are sound the adjustment is no big deal.

 

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• Jan 29, 2008

• #50

Bo, you ever pitch?

 

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Member

• Jan 29, 2008

• #51

No, the DD does the pitching I do the catching. The long toss is part of the routine, no real trouble with location. Like stated before if your rotation is good the extra distance gives the ball a bigger break. What may be lost in velocity (minimal, imho) is made up for with movement. If the move is made (i don't really have a preference) the girls will adjust. From talking to girls that have made the move to college, and catching my dd from that distance, the adjustment doesn't seem as earth shattering as some make it sound (imho).

 

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Member

• Jan 29, 2008

• #52

bo6608 that is exactly the point. why make changes just for the sake of changing. if a change is to be made make it something that has a purpose. as i have said earlier the given reasons, safer for the pitcher and more offense, just won't materialize. it matters not to me, no more kids playing but i just don't like the follow the crowd, do something just for sake of doing something, that seems to follow this topic.

 

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Member

• Jan 29, 2008

• #53

... and I guess we could use the same argument that why NOT change it if it isn't a big deal to the pitchers and hitters but it could benefit some who may just happen to desire to play college ball??

 

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• Jan 31, 2008

• #54

Fast....that "argument" puts us right back to square one of this topic.

 

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Member

• Jan 31, 2008

• #55

good observation pck, but the argument that it helps someone play college ball to pitch at 43 ft in hs is one of the bogus arguments that the lets change crowd game use. i accept that the change will come, i just want the people who have practically made fun of the slow pitch game to admit that they really want to move the fastpicth game closer to the slowpitch game and this change is just one step in that direction.

 

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• Feb 2, 2008

• #56

I just want to know where all of these bad pitchers are from and why don't I ever get to hit against them ???

Appoligies to Ringer and Statman for making the first sarcastic post in this thread, but I waited a long time.

 

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• Feb 4, 2008

• #57

Lots of small DII and below high schools lack quality pitching.

 

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Member

• Feb 5, 2008

• #58

It is going to happen. It is only a matter of time. Start working on it now.

 

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Member

• Feb 5, 2008

• #59

40-43 It doesn't matter. A college coach is going to know weather or not if your kid can play at the college level. The coaches are looking for specific attributes and if your dd has it they will be receiving some info from the college. IMO, 16U and above should move to 43.

How about those New York Football GIANTS!!!!!

 

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Member

• Feb 5, 2008

• #60

Why change something when there is no clear point or reason in doing so? ?I could probably come up with 10 other things we could change about the game, if I wanted something to argue about. ?