Pitching and Pitchers Discussion #1 Pitcher Needed

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Seen this around the forum quite a bit lately and have to ask, what does your current pitching staff think about this statement? Could just be me, but it seems like it would be a slam at your current players.;&

 

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Totally agree. Unless you've had a candid discussion with your existing pitchers before advertising something like this, you may well have shot yourself in the foot by such a post. We are lucky in that we have a fully staffed battery and we advertised for tryouts with the specific statement that we do not need pitchers or catchers. I think that probably made our pitchers and catchers feel a little bit better about themselves.

 

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Well, what it tells me is that the coaches are looking for the girl who throws 55 plus. From what my dd's pitching coach tell us (and she's former college pitcher as well as coaching in some of the top organizations in the state), there aren't that many who do throw legitimately that fast, and in the upper divisions this year, straight speed will go out faster than it came in at 43 feet.

 

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I think what this really means is that there are too many teams out there. I suspect most of these teams have a partial roster and a couple of girls who can pitch but really don't want to because they themselves know that they are not really pitchers with a future ...

 

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It seems like everyone has their own idea of what they are looking for and the same girl who one team may think is no where near a #1 may be another teams dream come true. That #1 pitcher needs a #1 defense and solid bats that can produce runs or it is all for nothing. As a team the pitcher and fielders will feed off one another.

The other part to the #1 Pitcher is how many are judged by speed alone and how many are judged by proper mechanics with proper spins.

 

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Amen, beenhitdad, as far as defense.

 

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Don't think it's a good idea to label pitchers 1, 2, 3. Try to use your best pitcher depending on the team you are facing. Work in other pitchers to change things up.

 

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I think teams should have something of a rotation. Depending on one pitcher is easy, especially if she is flat out dominant, but my dd's team this past summer had three fairly equal pitchers, and it worked out pretty well. There were times when the coach would go with the hot hand on consecutive games, but the competition and teamwork between pitchers was fun to see.

 

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I think teams should have something of a rotation. Depending on one pitcher is easy, especially if she is flat out dominant, but my dd's team this past summer had three fairly equal pitchers, and it worked out pretty well. There were times when the coach would go with the hot hand on consecutive games, but the competition and teamwork between pitchers was fun to see.

Exactly!

 

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Agree with the statement of too many teams out there. If you aren't the starting pitcher on your team just pack up and go to another. There are too many girls and even their parents that team jump from year to year just so they can play the position they want when they want to and if that doesn't work they just up and start their own team. Problem with that is you may very well be on the best team for you for your exposure but if you weren't the one on the mound at the exact time that there were coaches watching your game you were mad and would quit. How about do your best no matter where you are playing and hitting? How many girls are picked up by a college for pitching and never pitch in a game, they play first or outfield. If you practice harder and really work at it who is to say that your team can't have more than one great pitcher. That is definately needed when playing 18U when we played many games a day.

 

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I think teams should have something of a rotation. Depending on one pitcher is easy, especially if she is flat out dominant, but my dd's team this past summer had three fairly equal pitchers, and it worked out pretty well. There were times when the coach would go with the hot hand on consecutive games, but the competition and teamwork between pitchers was fun to see.

you hit the nail on the head philbob, -and for all the pitchers-dad -coaches out there the competition is good for dd- she will then continue to try harder instead of sitting back always knowing she'll get to pitch alot of the games- jmho

 

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We've been seeing all these posts from teams looking for #1 pitchers. I really think that's coachspeak for 55 plus.
A pitching coach, who I respect greatly, tells me that the coaches reverence in Ohio for speed in the circle is what keeps Ohio lagging behind the leading softball states in the country.

 

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Many of us watch the college games on TV. How many of those pitchers overpower the batters? I've seen successful D-1 pitchers who throw low 50s be successful. They use location, spin, off-speed pitches to try to keep batters off-balance. Speed will overpower poorer batters, who are mostly on the weaker teams. So when a team advertises for a #1 pitcher, what does that tell you about that team's goals for the year?

 

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We've been seeing all these posts from teams looking for #1 pitchers. I really think that's coachspeak for 55 plus.
A pitching coach, who I respect greatly, tells me that the coaches reverence in Ohio for speed in the circle is what keeps Ohio lagging behind the leading softball states in the country.

Completely agree!

 

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I have 3 that I rotate and we consider all of ours #1's.

 

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A team advertising (like in forum posts, etc.) is probably going to be hard pressed to find the pitcher they are truly looking for. Think about it... the top pitchers are not going to be looking for teams late in tryouts, or after the season has started. They are always skimmed off the top as first picks, because they have searched out the team they want to play on. It's a given that the top teams are built around the better pitching staff.

The top pitchers are always hungry for "circle time". Ask a college coach what pitcher they would want: One that is perfectly comfortable sharing time, or one that wants the ball every pitch of every inning. They want eager, aggressive and hungry! A pitcher who's satisfied being number two will struggle for position as she gets older. We're not talking Batbusters here, this is Ohio fastpitch.

It's kind of a catch-22. Good pitching is what every team is looking for, but the good pitcher is also constantly looking for that special team where she can really contribute, AND be seen by college coaches. If you don't keep your best pitcher "well fed", you'll starve her off to another team next season.

When a coach loses a quality pitcher, the "why?" questions must be asked - but by then it's usually too late. Why did she leave? Did the coach really strive to build the team, or just remain at a stagnant level? Did the coach replace that second baseman who really couldn't cut it, or keep her because of a friendship? Tough choices, but sometimes those tough choices have a domino effect, and can adversely affect other parts of the team you didn't imagine.

So when you see a "pitcher wanted" sign, it could be because of injuries, boyfriends, daddyball ship jumping, or just about anything. But more often than not, it's because a pitcher was not "well fed".

 

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daddyball ship jumping

LMAO, now thats funny.....lol

 

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That may well be Sammy, but why then are coaches continue to look for that flame-throwing #1, when not that many may be on the market at this stage?

 

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That may well be Sammy, but why then are coaches continue to look for that flame-throwing #1, when not that many may be on the market at this stage?

Not sure I understand what you are asking. Maybe these coaches are trying to say that since they missed out on a top 5 draft pick (so to speak) they are now willing to guarantee a #1 spot to the next one they can get? And you know what happens when a travel coach starts making guarantees about positions and playing time...

Any pitcher wanting to progress to a more competitive team would be wise to avoid ANY coach who offers an automatic #1 pitching spot. Any reputable coach will only offer a roster position. Everything else is up to the player.

 

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Not sure I understand what you are asking. Maybe these coaches are trying to say that since they missed out on a top 5 draft pick (so to speak) they are now willing to guarantee a #1 spot to the next one they can get? And you know what happens when a travel coach starts making guarantees about positions and playing time...

Any pitcher wanting to progress to a more competitive team would be wise to avoid ANY coach who offers an automatic #1 pitching spot. Any reputable coach will only offer a roster position. Everything else is up to the player.

You guys are reading way too much into these posts....Most of these teams that are posting "Looking for a #1 pitcher" are really looking just for a dedicated pitcher - thus far they have not attracted a deidcated pitcher....