Hitting and Hitters Discussion Hitting fixes

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If you can't use "stats" and you can't use "video" then what do you use to measure success?? You guys are so funny!!!:lmao:

An example of what stats can tell you. I have a girl coming out this weekend to tryout for CF on my team. When her dad called me the first thing I did was look at her H.S. stats from last year. What did I learn? 1) I learned that her dad was honest 2) I learned she played a good conference schedule 3) I learned from the stats that she was likely a speedy leadoff slapper...How? BA .500 & OBP .588, scored over 30 times, no doubles, triples or HR's and nearly 20 SB's) 4) I learned that she is very solid defensively (two E's in 25 games played on a team without dominant pitching) 5) I learned that she may fit and I wanted to se her. Then I requested her profile which had stats that painted an even better picture for me. Stats are a great indicator of talent so long as how those stats were achieved is taken into consideration (Level of play, Team, Strength of conference etc. etc.)

Sonny

 

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Chip

Could you share with us on what kinds of things you look for when selecting a player for NKU.

Seeing them play is one.

What about players you don't get to see in person. Or does that ever happen.




If there are any other college coach's reading this, I am sure allot of us OFC'ers would like to hear it.




Straightleg

First of all they need to be an academic qualifier, 19 or higher on her ACT. We look for players who are competitive, selfless, work hard and players that want to play. We obviously want talented players but if you do not have the first 4 things you will struggle with us.

You need to see a player play or at least workout. I could give you a few dozen examples of how video and stats are misleading. I doubt many coaches take a player from a video or a profile with stats. I am sure there are other college coaches on here but they will not post or touch threads, I do not blame them.

 

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Chip

You teach hitting.
Could you share a common problem you see, and a fix
that works for you.




Straightleg

Players who pull everything and we all know what that leads to. Opposite field t work and letting the ball travel. I will be more than happy to elaborate more if you would like.

 

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Major league players are hitting off A, AA, AAA pitching as well. Which is the equivalent of hitting off PONY, USSSA, NSA in respect to travel ball. If we were to use ASA as a comparison to MLB, you would still have A, AA, AAA throwing in the MLB where stats are still held in high regard last time I read a MLB record book. ALL stats are relavent at any level of ball. Read the book "Moneyball" if you think otherwise.

I read it. Billy Bean's ideas written by Michael Lewis. Kinda boring from a softball standpoint but I read it. Billy did not like the sac bunt but loved him some OBP.

 

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Without question, stats/results are useful no matter who you are or what you do. I am sure P&G uses their results from consumer testing to determine if they are going to launch a product or not (I am sure it will launch if it smells good!!!). Everything has a measure which is what you look for when you test it.

One caveat I do have regarding stats &/or ability. I have been known as a coach who does not always take the best player over another. I measure kids on the "coachability" scale. If they don't want to be coached then why would I select them on my team? My job as a coach is to make sure each young lady is a better ballplayer & person than before they came to me. If I have done that then I have done my job which I track the results of & learn from. Those who know me, know that there is no one that wants to win more than I, but sometimes how you measure the "winning" is the important variable. Not that my ball career is over & has been for quite awhile, winning is watching the girls on my team improve & seeing that sparkle in their eye when they know that they have progress - priceless!!!!!! I track & remeber those times & that in & of its self becomes a stat!!

Kavin
Cincy Static

 

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can't believe I heard stats don't matter... then why require an ACT minimum. Maybe I misunderstood and forgive me in advance if I did.

 

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Summer will not get here fast enough

 

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Chip,

I know of you but dont know you personally. I was not addressing you but since you addressed me I will respond!

I coached against your assistant many times and he can tell you that our games were ALWAYS battles...sometimes he won and sometimes I won but we always battled. I definitely was not trying to be disrespectful...I was just agreeing with a very obvious point by Lady Knights which is that STATS and VIDEO are very helpful in evaluating a player. Why do MOST college coaches request a skills video if this is not true? Almost every college who is recruiting my daughter has asked for one. They do it because it is EASY to see good TALENT on video!!! I do not need to brag about my accomplishments...they can speak for themselves! My win % was well over .700 over the five years I had my travel team. I didnt coach last year but am returning this year. The accomplishments of the girls who play and have played for me is what matters most to me...measure me by that if you would like. I am not looking for an argument from you. I have had players who you have instructed (Pitching/Hitting) in the past and am not seeking to make judgement unless you would like me to.

Sonny

Your right about one thing my team that was all from one school had to battle every FALL BALL game againts which ever high school pitcher you could find to play that weekend.

I know we don't want to start talking about player retention and records on this board.

 

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I haven't been following this thread, but looked at the last several posts. I read Moneyball a few years ago and buy into about everything that's in there. I pretty much already believed in most of the concepts.

One of the things in that book I like is the value of walks. If we hate walks so much from our pitchers, why don't we like them on offense? Of course, we don't want to go up looking for walks, but if the pitcher gives you one, you need to take it. If you don't, you're swinging at balls, which means you're OBS is taking a dive.

The other thing about Moneyball I like is evaluating players based on results instead of simply their tools.

 

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JoeA1010, I agree with you on everything....we love walks and your comment on results. I'm sure we've all faced the umpire with the size 5 youth shoe box strike zone (FastpitchBlue, hopefully this isn't you). Especially when the zone is tight and my ladies can identify the zone as such and really earn it and stay fundamental by not chasing bad locations. Nothing better than them getting on base-Period. At 10u, it makes or breaks the game many times. Don't get me wrong, if they can pound the ball and get extra bags, yeah, that's awesome.

I haven't' read Moneyball. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

 

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Summer will not get here fast enough

no doubt!! You can go ahead and say that again.

 

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It is great there is so much passion and this has been a great thread. I will tell you and absolute FACT. Stats can be and are misleading, I see players stats all the time and they are valuable but hardly validate a players ability in many cases.

I think Howard is a knowledgeable about hitting as anyone I have ever met. He uses video and that is a great tool. I think we are getting carried away with the video, again I think it is a great tool. The reality is we can find great results with a bad swing and poor results with a great swing. I think my point is being proven now with the back and forth about heel plant and hip rotation.

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I do not see where Chip said stats don't count!! He goes on to make good points in his later post as to why they are misleading. I think he is saying stats alone do not make a good player. Attitude I believe is key...Do they follow instruction..are they team players..ect... All he was trying to say before everyone started acting the fool, there's way more to evaluating a player than just stats or a video. JMHO

Mike

 

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Alright...back to the business of hitting fixes...lol. What is the most effective way to ensure all three gears(Hips, arms and hands) are working together as efficiently as possible to create that effortless swing?

Sonny

 

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hopefully this re-stokes the right fire...

 

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"A person who talks a lot is sometimes right."
Spanish Proverb

That sure is a lot of post there Lady Knights!!

Everyone can find fault, few can do better!!;&
English proverb!

Mike

 

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get-r-done... hillbilly quote-Larry the Cable Guy

 

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get-r-done... hillbilly quote-Larry the Cable Guy

Now Lester that was funny!!!:lmao::lmao:

Mike

 

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the shoe fit too well to not bring in some well needed humor on this thread. Lots of serious "positioning" and "posturing".

I must say you guys teach me everyday!! I'll continue to watch and learn.

 

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the shoe fit too well to not bring in some well needed humor on this thread. Lots of serious "positioning" and "posturing".

I must say you guys teach me everyday!! I'll continue to watch and learn.

Daniel son...Wax on...Wax off...lol

 

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It is great there is so much passion and this has been a great thread. I will tell you and absolute FACT. Stats can be and are misleading, I see players stats all the time and they are valuable but hardly validate a players ability in many cases.

I think Howard is a knowledgeable about hitting as anyone I have ever met. He uses video and that is a great tool. I think we are getting carried away with the video, again I think it is a great tool. The reality is we can find great results with a bad swing and poor results with a great swing. I think my point is being proven now with the back and forth about heel plant and hip rotation.

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I do not see where Chip said stats don't count!! He goes on to make good points in his later post as to why they are misleading. I think he is saying stats alone do not make a good player. Attitude I believe is key...Do they follow instruction..are they team players..ect... All he was trying to say before everyone started acting the fool, there's way more to evaluating a player than just stats or a video. JMHO

Mike

Mike finally someone read Chip's posts as he said time and time again that video is good. The cheap shot artists couldn't resist
or couldn't read. He got right to the point and was insightful as he usually is.