Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Lack of Girls Fastpitch Softball Pitchers !

[Admin]

With teams and kids going year round at playing softball it's seems like every kid out there has a pitching instructor.

Then why is there such a lack of talent in the circle/pitchers at most ages and so many teams looking for a #1 or even a #2 Girls Fastpitch, Pitchers, to finish rosters.

Question ) Is there a shortages of #1 and #2 pitchers ?

And if there a shortages WHY ?

 

[crush191]

Too many teams have diluted the pitching talent.

 

[Chad Strahler]

I think too many looking for that pitcher to strike everyone out anymore and that just isn't going to happen. So...my opinion instead they should be looking for better fielding to surround their already good enough pitching to get outs. Look at real high level ball albeit baseball or softball, it's not k's it's good pitches to get the right hits to create outs....but you have to trust your DEFENSE to get the outs.

 

[fpitchdad]

With teams and kids going year round at playing softball

I think a lot of it has to do with what you said right here. Kids are playing year round. Pitchers need breaks after a summer of softball. They need time off and then back to basics, fundamentals, increasing speed and working new pitches, working on tighter, faster spins. Pitching in competitive games in the fall and winter will not make you a better pitcher. I have watched a lot of summer ball over the last 3-4 years since my dd has went to college and the level of pitching isn't near as effective as it was 3-5 years ago. I really don't think it is a shortage of pitchers, just that they are playing way to many games with no real offseason to practice and get better. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Chad Strahler]

I think a lot of it has to do with what you said right here. Kids are playing year round. Pitchers need breaks after a summer of softball. They need time off and then back to basics, fundamentals, increasing speed and working new pitches, working on tighter, faster spins. Pitching in competitive games in the fall and winter will not make you a better pitcher. I have watched a lot of summer ball over the last 3-4 years since my dd has went to college and the level of pitching isn't near as effective as it was 3-5 years ago. I really don't think it is a shortage of pitchers, just that they are playing way to many games with no real offseason to practice and get better. Just my 2 cents.

Intriguing... And not to disagree rather hear more. So what if they still play ball but do not pitch in games in the fall but then resume pitching lessons in the fall and winter?

 

[FastBat]

I think too many looking for that pitcher to strike everyone out anymore and that just isn't going to happen. So...my opinion instead they should be looking for better fielding to surround their already good enough pitching to get outs. Look at real high level ball albeit baseball or softball, it's not k's it's good pitches to get the right hits to create outs....but you have to trust your DEFENSE to get the outs.

That's what I think too. In 10u, I bet not too long ago if you didn't walk more than 3 per game you were a stud. Now it's no walks and 45 mph with hopes they can get her to 50mph by next summer. By the time my 2012 dd gets to 10u it'll be 60mph with 5 different pitches lol!

 

[fpitchdad]

Intriguing... And not to disagree rather hear more. So what if they still play ball but do not pitch in games in the fall but then resume pitching lessons in the fall and winter?

I guess as long as they take the time off from pitching and follow an offseason plan it would be ok. But my question to you would be, why the need to play so many games year round and not give these kids a break? I know quite a few college coaches and as a former HS coach I have attended a lot of clinics over the years and I always make a point to bring up this very topic here. Almost all college coaches agree that kids play way to many games in the summer, fall and winter and do not take the off time needed (especially for pitchers) to work on there skill.

 

[raidian70]

I will agree with fpitchdad, but I will also go further. When coaching high school ball a while back I had a freshman come in and say to me that she through 6 pitches. First of all, when should you ever throw your 6th best pitch in a game? The second thing is that because kids are wanting to learn so many pitches so soon, they can't spot the pitches they do have. I don't care how hard you throw if you can't spot the pitch. The best defense in the world won't help when you are supposed to throw in so the batter, pulls the ball, but the pitcher leaves it over the plate our outside where they go the opposite way.

 

[Admin]

I think too many looking for that pitcher to strike everyone out anymore and that just isn't going to happen. So...my opinion instead they should be looking for better fielding to surround their already good enough pitching to get outs. Look at real high level ball albeit baseball or softball, it's not k's it's good pitches to get the right hits to create outs....but you have to trust your DEFENSE to get the outs.

I agree with putting a solid defense behind your pitcher.

I was a big fan of keeping the ball around the knees and let my defense win the game.

I had a below average pitcher that saved our team all the time when we get in trouble.

She had no juice/heat.
She didn't even known what a rise ball look like.
She served up a nice juicy pitch that anyone could hit.

She knew it, our defense knew it, the umpire knew it, the batter knew it and are parents knew it.

All we had to do was play solid defense.

 

[3ballbratz]

There probably are too many teams. But there seems to be plenty of talent at the other positions. I think its partly because it takes alot of extra work which discourages many girls. And coaches including college coaches will ride one pitcher all season till the bitter end. Who wants to work their tail off all year to be #2 or #3 in the rotation , only to see 10% of the circle time ? Other positions become more appealing. Imagine being the #3 pitcher on the Alabama team this summer.I took my dd to a mlb game this past weekend and she was blown away by how many pitchers were in the bullpen. It made me realize how differnt the two sports are in that aspect. Baseball teams carry 10 pitchers+ and will not hesitate to use 3 in one inning just to match up righties and lefties. They have pitchers used soley for specific matchup situations. I think its a lack of development of pitchers in the sport. Until coaches are truley interested in using mutilple pitchers on a consistent basis girls would rather play elsewhere.

 

[Passion4theGame]

Defense wins Championships.

 

[GeneralsDad]

I think young girls see the crazy pitchers parents and don't want to risk ruining theirs. ; )

 

[LADY_KNIGHTS]

Supply does not meet demand....simple as that. There are a lot of very average pitchers out there, which many could develop into that #1 or #2, but for some reason or another they won't put in the time to get better.
Secondly, and more importantly...
Don't know that the pitching has changed much over the last 5-6 years, but the great equalizer was when they moved the pitching rubber back to 43 feet for 14U on up. An average pitcher could be somewhat effective at 40ft...just not the case anymore with so many hitters working as hard if not harder than the pitchers to get better.

 

[HITTER23]

Its definitly diluted, look at all the new teams this tryout season touting come to their tryouts. If you have 2 decent pitchers or one stud youre lucky. If you have 3, then youre golden. You have to be patient, alot of these (and established teams) will fold due to not having enough, October/November has almost become another tryout season.

 

[Lenski65]

The increase in the number of teams plus the pitching distance moved back 3 feet plus the year-round play equals the lower number of dominant pitchers.

 

[mike_dyer]

it's seems like every kid out there has a pitching instructor.

I know a kid who plays up and is one of the best pitchers in the state in the age group she's playing up in. It would be scarry to see her playing against kids her own age. Sees a pitching coach about once every year and a half or so.

Shoving feathers up your ### does not make you a chicken.

 

[Heat#12]

Its definitly diluted, look at all the new teams this tryout season touting come to their tryouts. If you have 2 decent pitchers or one stud youre lucky. If you have 3, then youre golden. You have to be patient, alot of these (and established teams) will fold due to not having enough, October/November has almost become another tryout season.

So, so very true.

 

[Outwork]

I think its because by 16u, the pitchers that are not throwing 60 realize that they are not going D1 and therefore, give up the position and become one of the hundred or so 1st baseman out there; or start focusing on D2 & D3 schools and therefore, don't change teams. Fact of the matter is, very few pitcher actually throw 60 in a game. I don't care what anyone else tells you, its more rare than you think. Sure, you have girls that can throw that in a lesson (usually ankle high and wild) but thats not the same.

in my opinion, its much harder to hit the pitcher thats cruisen at 57 mph with alot of movement/change of speed but kids these days know that will not get them the D1 ticket

 

[HITTER23]

I think its because by 16u, the pitchers that are not throwing 60 realize that they are not going D1 and therefore, give up the position and become one of the hundred or so 1st baseman out there; or start focusing on D2 & D3 schools and therefore, don't change teams. Fact of the matter is, very few pitcher actually throw 60 in a game. I don't care what anyone else tells you, its more rare than you think. Sure, you have girls that can throw that in a lesson (usually ankle high and wild) but thats not the same.

in my opinion, its much harder to hit the pitcher thats cruisen at 57 mph with alot of movement/change of speed but kids these days know that will not get them the D1 ticket

good post...

 

[freddieball]

I like what Wildcats said. I think all positions in travel ball are getting better and better each year. That stud pitcher at 10u is now average at 14u because the competition at the same age has now developed and caught up. Its coming down to regardless of how good the stud pitcher's are, the batting is getting so good that she will be hit off of. Teams still have the high hopes of getting that dominant pitcher that can still get some K's and this is why it looks like there is a shortage. I also think there is a lot of discouragement going out to these young pitcher's. Some of these young ladies are giving up pitching at such a young age, some is because for some reason some travel coaches expect they can throw 50's and 3 different pitches coming into 10u or that is at least what they are looking for.