Ok rookies, listen up...........

default

default

Member
I like the parent that tells there dd "good eye" when the pitch was 10' over her head... good eye? Didnt realize that was close enough for a "good eye" to lay off of????

That's a good one... 'Always drove me nuts. People should realize that you don't have to spew forth some clich? after every pitch. (Your kids are ignoring you anyhow.)
 
default

default

Member
One of my favorites is the lack of knowledge on what is a steal.


See below. (Taken from Stolen Bases | Baseball Scoring Rules) (I know this is from baseball)


When a baserunner advances from one base to the next while the pitcher is
pitching, and reaches safely he is usually credited with a stolen base (SB) and
if he is thrown out he is charged with a caught stealing (CS). But there are
many exceptions and nuances that are covered in section 10.07 of the official scoring rules.

Here are some basic points to keep in mind in determining whether to credit
the runner with a stolen base, caught stealing or neither:

On a Wild Pitch or Passed Ball

If the pitch is a wild pitch (WP) or a passed ball (PB), then the runner does
not get credit for a stolen base.

Exception: If the runner was running on the pitch
he is given the benefit of the doubt and does get credit for the steal. But if
he only starts running after he realizes the catcher isn?t going to catch the
ball cleanly, then it is not a steal.

If the pitch is a wild pitch or a passed ball, and the runner is thrown out
trying to advance, he is not charged with a caught stealing.

Exception: As in the case where he is safe, if he
was running on the pitch, then the WP/PB is ignored and he is charged with the
caught stealing

Also related to this, note that a wild pitch/passed ball and a stolen base
are mutually exclusive. If the runner was running on the pitch and gets credit
for the steal, then no passed ball or wild pitch will be charged. This article attempts to explain the difference between a
WP and a PB.

Pickoffs

If he is picked off a base, but makes it to the next base, whether directly,
or by successfully surviving a run down play, he also gets credit for a stolen
base

Note: as unfair as this is, the steal is charged
to the catcher. i.e., his percentage of runners thrown out goes down, even
though he was not involved on that play

If he is picked off a base, and is thrown out trying to advance then he is
charged with caught stealing

Note: Similarly to the above example, the catcher
here gets credit for the CS.

If he is picked off and called out getting back to the base, then no caught
stealing is charged

Sidenote: A baserunner who cares more about his
personal stats then helping his team win, should always go back to the base when
picked off. At worst he?ll be called out but it won?t hurt his negotiating
power in the offseason. If he tries to advance he may get lucky and end up with
a steal, but more likely will have a CS added to his record. If he wants to be
a good teammate, and knows for sure he has been picked off a base, then he
should try to advance. A very small chance of a fielder making an error and him
being safe, is better than a 100% chance of being out at first base.

For purposes of defensive stats, only the players actually involved in the
play get credit for assists and putouts. Even though the catcher may get credit
for throwing out a runner, only the pitcher and 1[SUP]st[/SUP] baseman would get
an assist on a 1-3-6 pickoff and attempt to advance to second play.

Steals safely on error

If a runner is stealing 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] base and the catcher throws the ball
into centerfield, the runner is given the benefit of the doubt and credited with
a stolen base. No error is charged to the catcher

Note: If the throw allows the runner to continue
to 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] base, then an error is charged to the catcher. Second base is
acquired via the steal, and 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] via the error.

If the catcher throws the ball in time to retire the runner but the fielder
drops the throw, and the runner is safe, then the runner IS CHARGED WITH A
CAUGHT STEALING!

Note: The catcher is given an assist and credit
for throwing the runner out, and the fielder who took the throw is charged with
an error. This is actually a concept that is applied across other scoring
rules. If a fielder makes a good throw, but due to an error on the receiver of
the throw a runner is safe, the fielder does get credit for an assist, and the
runner is charged with what would have happened without an error. For example
on a routine ground ball, and the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] baseman steps off the bag to
catch the throw when he doesn?t have to, the batter does not get credit for a
hit, even though he is safe. More about this in a later article.

If the catcher makes a perfect throw, but nobody covered the base, then again
the runner is charged with a caught stealing.

Note: Charge an error to whomever you deem should
have been covering the base. (Obviously the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] baseman for a steal
on third. Second baseman or shortstop on 2B. Pick whoever was closest to the
base. If in doubt, use the standard infield shift, and for a righthanded batter
assume the second baseman should take the throw and for a lefty assume the
shortstop)

Multiple runners stealing

On a double steal if one runner gets credit for a steal, award the other
runner a stolen base as well

Reasoning: This is giving the baserunners the
benefit of the doubt. If a throw to third base is not in time, the assumption
is that the catcher threw to the base he had the best chance of getting,
therefore the runner stealing second would have been safe if the throw went
there as well

If one runner is thrown out, then do not give the other runner anything. His
advance is treated like a fielder?s choice.

No throw is made

If no throw is made it may be scored as a stolen base, or as defensive
indifference (DI). The distinction is apparently based on your mind-reading
abilities. The rule says to not score a stolen base when a runner advances
solely because of the defensive team?s indifference to the runner?s advance.
Now, as a scorer, you need to guess whether the catcher didn?t throw the ball
because the runner was too fast and he knew he?d be safe anyhow, or if there was
a runner on 3rd base and he didn?t want to risk that runner scoring on a bad
throw, or if the team was in fact indifferent as to whether or not the runner
advanced. The inning, score of the game and how the defense played the runner
(held on, pick off attempts etc) are all used to help read the defense?s mind.
 
default

default

Member
One of my favorites is the lack of knowledge on what is a steal..

i always thought if DD takes a base...she gets a steal. If DD is catching...wild pitch. If DD is pitching...passed ball.

pretty simple this way...keeps our family happy.:cap:
 
default

default

Member
i always thought if DD takes a base...she gets a steal. If DD is catching...wild pitch. If DD is pitching...passed ball. pretty simple this way...keeps our family happy.:cap:

Lol. That's good.
 
default

default

Member
Marietta 3rd Kelley advanced to second on a balk; Curry advanced to third on a balk; Mayo scored on a balk. 1 1

Is it safe to assume the stat keeper was a former baseball player, and they were really Illegal Pitches?
That line was generated by software. NCAA softball tracks IPs that advance runner(s) as a balk - they appear on pitchers' stat lines as bk.

On that same day, Alabama's Jury threw 3 IPs in the 2nd inning that advanced a runner. The software they use substitutes "illegal pitch" on the play-by-play for softball games, but they appear on the pitcher's stat line as bk (see Alabama - Softball).
 
default

default

Member
Well, that takes the fun out of my rant...!

But, technically speaking, the stat keeper could have been a former baseball player ;)
 
default

default

Member
I noticed that this usually happens in rec ball -- the team, and parents are begging the pitcher to "just throw a strike" -- as if that's what the poor girl in the circle hasn't thought of doing it before. Or if the pitcher just thought she'd throw 12 consecutive pitches anywhere but over the plate, because, heaven knows, THAT'S NO FUN.
 
default

default

Member
No matter what team you're coaching, there's always at least 1 Mom that will strongly remind you that you're not allowed to bunt with 2 strikes in softball. :eek:

and doing it is how you win championships. Just saying. Love mom's like this. Big time coach helpers!
 
default

default

Member
I have and will bunt with two strikes ! sometimes the best chance to get the ball in play.
 
default

default

Member
A bunt is a bunt. Should not matter if you want them to do it on the 1st strike, 2nd strike or 3rd strike. If they can do it on 1 or 2 strikes then they should have no problem doing it on the 3rd strike. Some think calling a bunt with 2 strikes is crazy, I think it is awesome depending on the situation. Bunting should be second nature to these kids and that means everyone on the team, not just a select few.
 
default

default

Member
The game has transformed into a short game over the years. Used to be you only had a couple players that were expert bunters. With the pitching these days it is the only way some teams get contact. It is not unusual anymore to see 12 strikeout or more in a game.

The way pitching has progressed over the years solid hitting has taken a backseat to slapping and bunting. It is no surprise to see over half the team batting left handed slapping now.
 
default

default

Member
While I agree that bunting with 2 strikes can really surprise a defense and be a good weapon, I personally think it's just a low percentage move a vast majority of the time. While bunting should be second nature, the fact of the matter is that there are way too many players that don't do it as well as they should. The only time I will ever consider it is if I have an outstanding bunter facing a pitcher who I know she can handle, and if I think she has a better chance of doing it successfully than hitting away. I've probably seen it tried 50 times over the years, and I can count on one hand the number of times it's been successful, with maybe 1/2 of the failures resulting in strike outs. And when that happens, you often see some pretty deflated players. I'll take my chances letting my players hit away, and move back my corners a little to dare you to bunt ... just my opinion ...

Optimizer ... I have no idea how long you've been around, but my observation is totally the opposite of yours.
 
default

default

Member
Optimizer ... I have no idea how long you've been around, but my observation is totally the opposite of yours.

Im with you guys... alot of the game has went to power hitting. Look at the popularity of power hitting instructors like my lil fat friend.
 
default

default

Member
Power hitting is King now.

Look no further than Oklahoma last year.

You can shut down small ball with great D and pitching. You can not shut down a ball 20 feet over a fence.

To win it all you need to have a team that can play both ways at times due to the pitching you will see along the way. But the short game is not the only way or seems the preferred path.
 
default

default

Member
I see "knowledgeable" power at the plate, speed on offense and defense, and overall skills elevated at all positions at "the new game". Softball IQ is very high too, and probably will continue to be. You can't have a super slow player anywhere to be in the top. Top power hitters are now surrounded by hitters with upper level speed and upper level power, small ballers are very common, slappers can hit to the wall or drop in the gap off the pitch, and specialists exist in every facet of the game. The one through four batters are not the only ones that can blow a game out. It's a fun game and every so increasingly more difficult. Pitchers get a ton of focus and yeah a girl bringing it 65 these days had better have movement up and down with off speed. Basic stuff will send them back to the bench.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure big schools or elite teams may have a girl or two at 3.0+ to first, but, I'd bet she has a cannon (70+mph arm), incredible reaction time, crazy athleticism, and can manage a bat like Copperfield running a magic show. She just has no top end speed or her last gear ain't there.

Don't tell me your stomach isn't in knots when the first three batters are <2.8 to first or even better and then come up next time and crush balls all over the grass. Good luck with that!
 

Similar threads

P
Replies
71
Views
9K
softballheart
S
S
Replies
0
Views
708
sftbll2010
S
Top