Keeping Pitchers Happy

[Battle]

I suppose but out of 414 innings the #1 pitched 207 of them. To me that is still riding the #1. Maybe I'm wrong.

You're wrong. Pitching the #1 less than half the innings for the regular season isn't riding her. The post season is a whole different animal. Better examples of teams that rode their #1 are FSU, OK, Stanford and TX.

I'd say the minimum requirements for a staff is to have at least 2 pitchers that can reliably start conference games (e.g. ASU, Mich, Minn, Neb, UCLA), Next year is going to be very interesting at Mich as they have a highly regarded incomer joining their 3 returning starters.

But they don't pitch them less than half the innings. Out of roughly 400 innings. #1 pitches over 200 of them for most teams. Most of the time, it's more than the #2 and #3 combined. Out of roughly 60 games, #1 pitches 32-35 of them. I guess it could boil down to how you define "riding the #1". That's still a lot to me but maybe I'm wrong again.

[Battle]

How do you keep pitchers happy? Most teams want 3 pitchers. How do you balance 3 pitchers (14u and up)? DD is on a team with 3 pitchers. #1 pitches just about every game and the #2 or #3 come in for relief if the score is lopsided enough in our favor. #2 gets more innings than #3 but not by much. #3 is expected to continue pitching lessons and practice regularly so she is ready to go just in case. Coach was telling me that he does not understand why he can't keep a #3. He has a lot of pitching turnover including #1s and #2s. It is not just the #3.

I know everyone wants to play to win but I think having more than one pitcher is an important aspect of that. How do other teams balance their pitchers?

That's really a million dollar question. #2 and #3 will leave because they are not #1. #1 will leave if the team is not winning due to a poor defense and offense (or so they think). #1 goes to another team only to find they are now #2...and so it continues...If you do try to rotate the pitchers and lose to teams that #1 feels should have been won with her...well now you have another problem.

Good luck getting a straight answer...Like me, most can only quote the problem.

[Pale Rider]

Compound...Female, Parents, multiple, Softball, PITCHER and Happy is not a compatible substance...Ignites instantly upon misuse...Like nitro glycerin

[Black&Red00]

This is the first time DD has been on a team with 3 good pitchers. #2 and #3 are pretty equivalent. It just seems that if you are fortunate enough to have 3 solid pitchers, you would want to try to keep them. When I look at some of the top teams on Game Changer, they seem to utilize more pitchers especially in pool play. I saw quite a few teams that in a 3 game pool play on a Saturday, 3 pitchers got a game each on Saturday. My guess is the #2 and #3 will leave because the coach keeps saying he will try to get them time pitching but first priority is winning games. Team does win games when #2 and #3 are pitching. #1 will probably move up an age division and this team will be left with no pitchers. Anyways, was just curious since my response to coach was that #3 should leave and #2 probably will if he doesn't make some changes.

[hit4power]

Compound...Female, Parents, multiple, Softball, PITCHER and Happy is not a compatible substance...Ignites instantly upon misuse...Like nitro glycerin

When did it become the coach's problem to keep everyone happy? I manage a large a group of people at my job and the last thing I worry about is any individual's level of happiness...

It's the coach's job to clearly communicate expectations, provide training and feedback, and a level playing field (no pun intended) for all players to earn as much playing time as is reasonable based on performance and other factors. That's how it is on my DD's college team and pitchers are no different than position players. Everytime I've seen unhappiness it's b/c the coach isn't communicating well or the player/parents just aren't listening. The coach that can't or won't communicate with players/parents deserves what s/he gets, and the coach that can't handle parents who don't listen or cause problems shouldnt be coaching.

My kid was the #3 pitcher on a 14U team and had no issue with it as the coach was encouraging but clear about what she had to accomplish in practice and pool games in order to get more bracket time.

[DonnieS]

I found that raw meat was helpful.

[PDad]

But they don't pitch them less than half the innings. Out of roughly 400 innings. #1 pitches over 200 of them for most teams. Most of the time, it's more than the #2 and #3 combined. Out of roughly 60 games, #1 pitches 32-35 of them. I guess it could boil down to how you define "riding the #1". That's still a lot to me but maybe I'm wrong again.

Rogers pitched 180 of the team's 369 innings in the regular season. Like I said, postseason is a different story. A mitigating factor for Florida has been winning so many games via run-rule.

IMHO, having #1 throw more than 2/3 of the innings is definitely riding her. I checked the innings on the teams with the best ERA last year and I believe the norm for #1 was around 58-65%. Many coaches are getting smarter and trying to keep their #1 fresher.

[PDad]

How do other teams balance their pitchers?

Based on your other post, it looks like you know the answer to this question.

This is the first time DD has been on a team with 3 good pitchers. #2 and #3 are pretty equivalent. It just seems that if you are fortunate enough to have 3 solid pitchers, you would want to try to keep them. When I look at some of the top teams on Game Changer, they seem to utilize more pitchers especially in pool play. I saw quite a few teams that in a 3 game pool play on a Saturday, 3 pitchers got a game each on Saturday.

This is the more troubling aspect.

Coach was telling me that he does not understand why he can't keep a #3. He has a lot of pitching turnover including #1s and #2s. It is not just the #3.

He's a moron if he doesn't understand why they keep leaving. I hate to think how many other things he doesn't understand.

You should keep an eye on other teams to identify well-coached ones that could use your DD next year.

[ontheblack]

There are several coaches in top orgs that treat their pitchers this way. They don't care because there is a long list of of families lined up with checkbook in hand waiting to pay these coaches to add their kid to the meat grinder. But they win, we see their teams at PGF, so it is ok.

Nowhere else would dads allow other adult males to treat girls the way they do except travel softball. We put up with it in the name of character building.

[jtat32]

You're wrong. Pitching the #1 less than half the innings for the regular season isn't riding her. The post season is a whole different animal. Better examples of teams that rode their #1 are FSU, OK, Stanford and TX.

Stanford only had two pitchers to start the season (both freshmen), and one went down early with an injury, so they really only had one true pitcher. Many position players made pitching appearances.