Who plays in your outfield?

[FastBat]

How many times do you see a stud SS in travel ball end up playing right field in college It's because you need those kind if athletes in the outfield at the higher levels.

Are you saying that the best athlete on an 18u travel team is at SS? I'm surprised by that, only b/c in my experience after 12U, defensively most players can catch a ball in a small range and throw it to first. I think maybe the smartest player with the best glove to cover steals is at SS, better glove than 2B (I always thought 2b was the weakest defensive player on the team). In the outfield, they have to cover far more ground and most players offensively can hit consistently in the grass.

I think the best athlete other than pitcher/catcher (not implying P/C are most athletic on team) would be SS or CF. But, CF is probably faster and SS is has a stronger more consistent arm.

Also, realistically most left handed players even in rec or 10u may play third base or ss, but I rarely see that outside of rec/10u. If you have a lefty player, why bother, I would just head straight to the OF.

I guess it depends on the caliber of play. But in rec ball, as an example, we put the best athletes at first and third (left handed or not). With the premise that third basemen has to cover from home plate backstop, to left field fence, to out of bounds left side fence, to middle of field; and opposite for first basemen. I never see fields set up like that anywhere else, so I guess it depends on the talent you have on the team! (Little rec ball humor there!)

 

[freddieball]

My daughter loves the outfield. Her first experience in it was when she first joined travel ball at 11u and in her first tournament on the first day. Playing against a older 12u team she threw out the tie run at home plate from left field to end the game in bracket play. Of course the credit also goes to the catcher for catching and tagging the runner, it was great and a confidence boost to her. My daughter has speed and is athletic. Funny story is she is probably the fastest girl in our school for JR High track and smokes by even the fast boys. Its pretty funny. She challenges them all the time to a race and she runs barefooted in the grass and beats them.

 

[grandpaviper]

There seems to be this mindset created in the younger girls that the girls who can't play anywhere else get put in the outfield. Consequently very few girls ever really want to play on the grass as a primary position. My observation is by the time they get to 14U outfielders are significantly more valuable. I watched a girl at Orrville this year, a center fielder, who won a ballgame all most single handedly with speed and outstanding defensive skill. She was in the right place on every play. I wonder how often coaches look at a girls physical talent and then intentionally develop that talent as an outfielder.

 

[Coach_Dave]

For those that believe playing the outfield is an insult, at a Coaching Clinic MSU's HC was giving a general breakdown of what she does with her scholarships each year. With each class she makes sure she adds 3 pitchers, 1 catcher, 1 shortstop and 1 centerfielder. The other 6 scholarships are divided up between the remaining positions. Point being, it takes skills to play the outfield well. Hide the weak kids out there and I hope you like triples...

 

[initfor51]

Are you saying that the best athlete on an 18u travel team is at SS? I'm surprised by that, only b/c in my experience after 12U, defensively most players can catch a ball in a small range and throw it to first. I think maybe the smartest player with the best glove to cover steals is at SS, better glove than 2B (I always thought 2b was the weakest defensive player on the team). In the outfield, they have to cover far more ground and most players offensively can hit consistently in the grass.

I think the best athlete other than pitcher/catcher (not implying P/C are most athletic on team) would be SS or CF. But, CF is probably faster and SS is has a stronger more consistent arm.

Also, realistically most left handed players even in rec or 10u may play third base or ss, but I rarely see that outside of rec/10u. If you have a lefty player, why bother, I would just head straight to the OF.

I guess it depends on the caliber of play. But in rec ball, as an example, we put the best athletes at first and third (left handed or not). With the premise that third basemen has to cover from home plate backstop, to left field fence, to out of bounds left side fence, to middle of field; and opposite for first basemen. I never see fields set up like that anywhere else, so I guess it depends on the talent you have on the team! (Little rec ball humor there!)

Oh my gosh...please stop the madness about left handers and their playing spots. Young lefty parents please don't listen to this nonsense. If a lefty wants to play second base, then by all means get her the work out there. About 5 to 6 years ago Texas A&M had a lefty second baseman.

Stop saying stuff and trying to categorize these girls based on old beliefs from years ago.

Sorry just my opinion-like you had yours. Just for the record, I don't have a lefty-just tired of remarks like that.

 

[Concrete]

Good outfielders are like GOlD!! I been telling my players that for years, I finally have outfield that understands how Important they are. I had a parent complaining the whole year her daughter was playing outfield, they just didn't get it. Needless to say unfortunately I was unable to keep a good out fielder because she wouldn't by into her importance. I rely on my outfield as much as I do my Pitchers, they are game changers, running down fly balls,stealing extra bases away and saving runs.

Valley Extreme Black

 

[coachtomv]

Oh my gosh...please stop the madness about left handers and their playing spots. Young lefty parents please don't listen to this nonsense. If a lefty wants to play second base, then by all means get her the work out there. About 5 to 6 years ago Texas A&M had a lefty second baseman.

Stop saying stuff and trying to categorize these girls based on old beliefs from years ago.

Sorry just my opinion-like you had yours. Just for the record, I don't have a lefty-just tired of remarks like that.

No doubt! We have 2 lefty catchers that we would put up against any others at their age. One also plays outfield and one plays 3rd.

Our lefty 3rd baseman has made play after play and has heard all the critizism that she needs to transition to Outfield, BS, don't over look special because it does not fit into some cookie cutter equation. If they are taught how to modify the footwork and angles for a lefty, are smart and aggressive and have the arm with accuracy, don't dismiss them. I agree not all lefties can do it, but don't dismiss it. We play some of the best competition at our age and up and she has excelled at overcoming her "disability", lol. Come watch us play if you don't believe me. Heck, I think she wants to be one of the first lefty 3rd basemen in Colledge, I would not bet against her.

 

[ApogeeDemon]

I would still put your best in the infield based on percentages. On average, about 60-70% of hit balls in softball are in the infield. I want my best there because they are getting more chances. The politically correct answer is to say that every position is important but we all know you stick the weakest in left or right field. You probably have them there because they can hit but aren't the best fielders. Easier to teach left field that second base. These are just opinions.

 

[mike_dyer]

Nicely done. This thread should be fun to read now.....

 

[flygirlsdad]

Sounds like a rec ball opinion. Just my opinion.

 

[Irish196]

I would still put your best in the infield based on percentages. On average, about 60-70% of hit balls in softball are in the infield. I want my best there because they are getting more chances. The politically correct answer is to say that every position is important but we all know you stick the weakest in left or right field. You probably have them there because they can hit but aren't the best fielders. Easier to teach left field that second base. These are just opinions.

That's exactly the logic that makes outfielders feel like they aren't important. I agree this might be the case in lower level rec ball, but that's it. If all coaches paid as much attention to the outfielders as they do the infielders in the earlier years (both in practice and in compliments, etc.) maybe the outfielders would feel more appreciated. Furthermore these types of comments from parents and kids don't help either. My daughter played outfield a lot this year and we had one parent whose daughter was coming off an injury make a comment that if she wasn't ready yet they could just "stick her in right field" as if any invalid could play that position. I'm sure he didn't think about it before he said it or mean anything hurtful by it by my daughter did not feel good about herself that evening.
From what I hear (though we haven't hit this age yet) once you get into 14u and higher, all of the girls (and parents) understand how important good outfielders are and they finally get some respect.

 

[Concrete]

WOW ! You can teach any player to field a ground ball if beat enough of them at her. Tracking down a fly ball in the gap or coming in picking the ball of the grass is a skill you have or you don't. Tracking a fly ball is not as easy as it looks.
In good competition you cannot hide girls in the outfield.
JMHO

 

[Westler33]

when you get to the upper age groups like 14u and up I think a lot of games are won and lost in the outfield. If you have that stud center fielder that can go get it and make an out instead of a gap shot RBI double or a right or left fielder that will lay out on a shot fly with two outs and end the inning instead of catching it on the hop and trying to throw a runner out at home. That is the importance of a good outfield to me anyway just my 2 cents.

 

[gobug]

Playing the outfield well is one of the hardest aspects of the game to learn IMO. A good outfielder has to not only track a ball but know how to position herself with every hitter, be able to read a ball from the moment of connection and have the smarts to know where the best play is every time. Trying to "hide a player" in the outfield is a rookie coach's biggest mistake especially from 14U up. Heck, I've seen some 12U games that have been lost because the team got killed by their outfield.

 

[coachtomv]

I can hit thumbs up all day for these responses. My older kid played outfield and some 2nd and knew the importance of outfield play. She never thought she was a bad player being hidden and saved the game many times out there. She loved the outfield and was a natural at it and was proud of it.

This past season at 12u, especially when playing up, our outfield won or lost it plenty of times. I can't really tell you percentages, I guess more infield plays in total, but the outfield plays were the difference between extra bases and scores thats for sure. Nothing worse than seeing a ball hit to the grass and holding your breath because you "hid" a player out there. A smooth confident outfielder is a joy to watch and nice to know you have them out there thats for sure.

Thats one of the reasons we searched for more athletes this year at tryouts, the older they get, the faster the game gets. You better have good smart infielders with the foot work and smooth confident athletes in the grass.

 

[ApogeeDemon]

Hey, sometimes the truth can hurt. All coaches do it. They do hide players in left or right. Playing second is much more complicated than left. You have to worry about bunts, turning 2, playing first, slap defense, etc. In left or right you might have to move a little. Many college coaches use former shortstops to play outfield because they are usually the most athletic kids on the field. It's not rec ball at all. Its just what happens. You can hate it all you want, but it will still happen, so hate away.

 

[gobug]

Hey, sometimes the truth can hurt. All coaches do it. They do hide players in left or right. Playing second is much more complicated than left. You have to worry about bunts, turning 2, playing first, slap defense, etc. In left or right you might have to move a little. Many college coaches use former shortstops to play outfield because they are usually the most athletic kids on the field. It's not rec ball at all. Its just what happens. You can hate it all you want, but it will still happen, so hate away.

Obviously from my AV you can see that my DD's primary position is pitcher. Her secondary position is 2B. Her current coach who in our opinion is top notch has also started playing her in the OF because he's a big believer in playing where you're needed at any particular time. He's also big on his players learning all aspects of the game.

Guess what? DD has had a harder time learning outfield than she did 2B. Tracking, timing and learning the OF is tough. Excuse the pun but its a whole different ballgame and demands a very different skill set than IF.

By the way, as a pitcher, DD knows darn well that its the outfield that will win or lose games at the higher levels. Even if a pitcher is doing her job and producing field-able balls, if the outfield isn't good, it doesn't matter what she's throwing.

As a previous poster stated, a good outfield stops the multi base hits and runs.

In regards to your statement "All coaches do it.", no, only the bad ones do.

 

[initfor51]

I am a coach and I don't hide anyone in the field. As a coach, I teach girls not hide them. Sorry just my opinion.

 

[rubsomedirtonit]

. ..Many college coaches use former shortstops to play outfield because they are usually the most athletic kids on the field..

I have heard this before. Are there any college coaches or former players around the forum that can verify that? I would like to know how much truth there is to it.

 

[ApogeeDemon]

Obviously from my AV you can see that my DD's primary position is pitcher. Her secondary position is 2B. Her current coach who in our opinion is top notch has also started playing her in the OF because he's a big believer in playing where you're needed at any particular time. He's also big on his players learning all aspects of the game.

Guess what? DD has had a harder time learning outfield than she did 2B. Tracking, timing and learning the OF is tough. Excuse the pun but its a whole different ballgame and demands a very different skill set than IF.

By the way, as a pitcher, DD knows darn well that its the outfield that will win or lose games at the higher levels. Even if a pitcher is doing her job and producing field-able balls, if the outfield isn't good, it doesn't matter what she's throwing.

As a previous poster stated, a good outfield stops the multi base hits and runs.

In regards to your statement "All coaches do it.", no, only the bad ones do.

Just because YOUR daughter had trouble mastering the outfield, doesn't mean its harder. You saying that only bad coaches do it, that's an opinion. So you have a girl that can hit the lights out of the ball but stinks in the field. You would stick her at shortstop? How about first? That's stupid in my opinion. You want her in the lineup and if you already have a dp, you stick her in left or right. Go ahead, stick her at short, or catcher, and see what happens.