WCWS...Regionals

[ontheblack]

The coach was complaining about the rule in general, not about its selective enforcement.

Outfield play has been horrendous.

[jonriv]

Noticed the poor outfield play too- not just dropped balls, but poor positioning, cutting off balls in gaps etc...

Why is this the case?

Poor coaching? neglect? I know it has been suggested that since many Big programs recruit middle infielders, many of the OF are converted infielders- (I do not have any first hand knowledge)

[Sam]

The most impressive thing so far is the bats......pop ups off the label going over the fence for homers. The game is a joke.

[jonriv]

I disagree sam- the number of HRs is not like it was a few years ago- have not seemn any cheap HRs either

[Pale Rider]

One train of thought...maybe the crazy train...but here it is..
Moving fences etc...Teams who recruit the girls who can still hit it a mile...will get them...

Defense isn't an issue when you put up 10 runs in every game...My .02?...Its better when several kids can change a game with one swing at a fat pitch a super pitcher leaves hanging...
To quote a friend of mines mantra in the PAC 12..."You hit, you play"...

[DonnieS]

The most impressive thing so far is the bats......pop ups off the label going over the fence for homers. The game is a joke.

What I see is more really good hitters than really good pitchers right now. And thats not just watching my kids 50 or 60 games, but I try to watch as many of the top 15 or so schools as I can.

[exD1dad]

JonRiv I had heard a couple of years ago from a veteran coach that some D1 teams go after SS only expecting them to be the best athletes & that translating to the ability to play in the grass, but that can't be the case as SS usually have a gun for an arm & the throws I see look like 14U sometimes

Now my Dad played fastpitch in the '50's & the 1st thing he told me when my DD started was "if she can hit, she'll play, so teach her all the positions"" It's obviously still true today

[Vess Express]

My favorite part of the illegal pitch circus, is when the coach comes out to talk about it. What could they possibly say to the ump each time?
“Oh, I didn’t know that was illegal”
“She didn’t get called for it last week”
“Tell me again what you think is illegal?”

MEMO TO THE COACHES: There is no way you did not know your pitcher was illegal, and you know that she is liable to get called for IP at any moment. Please stop acting like you are in utter disbelief when it gets called. You are fooling no one.

I think it is correct that many teams choose infielders or batters who are fast, and just assume they will do fine in the outfield. Some will do okay, but an infield type throw to first with a side arm, or a quick upper body release, usually won’t make it from the outfield to the plate. It rarely stays on a straight line, either.

The game now has batters that can have speed and power, and you have more defensive players involved other than the pitcher and catcher. (Hence the reason for more errors, I think) It’s almost like everyone expects one to get hit out in a game. The pitcher’s biggest job now, is to limit the bleeding by keeping as few runners on base as possible, when the big hit comes. I don’t think the game is a joke, I think it’s better. 1-0 games are boring for most people.

[jonriv]

Have the games seemed extra long to anyone?

[AlwaysImprove]

Sam did you have a particular game where you saw mis hits for homeruns. I am not seeing anything like we saw in the past.

To me, blues have the strike zone squeezed to about 12 inches wide, -3 inches on each side. Pitchers have to totally groove the ball now.

Seems like last year they were giving the inside pitch up to half a ball inside and the outside pitch a full ball out. I find the pendulum swinging ever changing strike zone in softball a total laugh. Seems like right now we are take some off the top, some off the bottom, some off the outside and quite a bit off the inside.

Ding dong activist umps think they are so smart. They are constantly 1 year behind the game. As they race to catch up they over compensate. I like how they reference that the baseball changed their strike zone. But baseball only changes their zone about every 10 years or so. Softball changes their strikezone more often than umpires change their underwear.

I am not saying don't adjust the strikezone on occasion. But frick. Chevrons, some off the top, some off the bottom more on the outside, less on the inside. Let's just have the strikezone changing folks take about 4 weeks off so we have a bit of consistency.