The Pitcher's Father

[MNDad]

You also need outfielders who can judge fly balls and not turn routine outs into hits and singles into doubles or triples. You need corners who can handle bunts and the middle infielders that cover the right bases. Pitchers a big piece to the puzzle, but they’re not the only piece. There’s too many pitchers parents think the game is all about their DD’s. That’s what made the OP so funny. We all know cases where it’s spot on.

 

[chinamigarden]

I'm a pitcher's dad. I don't think she is the most important player on the team, but she is in the most critical position. To me the most important player is the player who is either holding the ball or the ball is on the way to her. Once my dd lets go of the ball, the catcher and the batter now become the most important players on the field. If the ball is hit, the fielder it is heading too becomes the most important player on the field, once its thrown, the player it is thrown to becomes the most important player on the field...

It just so happens that because the pitcher begins every single play, she is the most important more often which is why her position is so critical.

My dd was playing first base yesterday and I was talking to another dad who has coached my dd for many years in TB and I said, I wish I could watch her play a whole season at first base, it would be so much less stressful.

 

[JJsqueeze]

Oops, good point. I stand corrected.

But, Lets play a game with just a pitcher, no other defense at all. If the pitcher is the only important position then that should be all a team needs. One player. Put a pitcher in the circle and that's it and lets see what happens.

I think most are missing the point. While the pitcher is one of the most important positions, its not the singular most important. If the catcher cant catch, you will be screwed also. Have a really weak first base that ducks when the ball is thrown to her, you're done. Can you get away with 2 outfielders? Even no outfielders? Yes, but you better be able to hit the ball when your team is at bat. But, I do not disagree that a really weak pitcher with a lot of walks will kill a team. Once again, for that team to be able to compete they better be good at hitting.

Point is, softball is a team sport and you cannot rely on one singular player to make or break the team.

Come on man. How do you go from "most important" to "only position needed". 'I also happen to think that quarterback is the most important position in football. So clearly I think a quarterback must be able to take on an entire defense alone.

Anyhoo- back to reality...lets flip the script. You have to draft a team. You have the first pick. There is a stud pitcher available and a big bat with a good glove. After this round all the players are equal and mediocre. Who do you choose?

 

[JJsqueeze]

Another hypothetical- do you think the bandits would trade Monica Abbott to any team in the league for any single position player?

 

[BobInMadison]

I know that is the politically correct thing to say but let me ask you this. Your team has 13 players, your only 2 pitchers quit the team, you are screwed, and the team implodes and disbands (just happened to one of our local 12U TB teams). Contrast that with 2 of your outfielders quit the team. You can easily replace them with other players from the team and the team will survive. Not saying outfield is not important, but the pitching/catching battery is the most critical link to the success of the team.

That happened with DD's TB team, except it was the #1 catcher and an IF who left the team, taking away two of the best hitters as well. No tourneys yet this year, but the #2 catcher is a lot better, and is now a solid #1 catcher, the #3 pitcher learned to catch well, and one of the new girls we brought onto the team can pitch, and will probably be a relief/ pool play pitcher.

The pitchers all stayed with the team. In fact, there are now 5 pitchers instead of 4, and all are better than they were last year.

Now, consider what would've happened to the team if the two best pitchers left.

 

[BobInMadison]

I will say a word for the catchers, esp. since this is the catching forum.

Some of the stats freaks did an interesting study.

Which is better for a team: an OK catcher who is a stud hitter, or a stud catcher who is a lousy hitter.

Also, if you have a stud catcher, what is the MINIMUM acceptable BA for the stud catcher to be more valuable than the stud hitter who is an OK catcher.

Results: partly because of framing (I'm NOT jumping into that thread!), a stud catcher is better than an OK catcher who is a stud hitter.

Minimum acceptable BA: .000
The stud catcher is ALWAYS better for the team.

We've all seen situations where stud pitchers have lost games because of a bad catcher or bad fielding. I know one girl who was her HS team's best pitcher last year, but rarely got into the circle because she was also a stud SS, and nobody else on the team could play decent SS. She would up winning games with her glove, and was all-conference SS. OTOH, DD #3 saw that girl pitch last week, same team, and the D lost if for them. Same with the JV game. The JV team had a stud freshman P who starts on a 16U TB team, and the fielders couldn't get anything.

Edit to add: the stats freaks were looking at MLB, esp. a certain catcher for the Cards. Apply to softball at your own risk.

 

[MNDad]

Come on man. How do you go from "most important" to "only position needed". 'I also happen to think that quarterback is the most important position in football. So clearly I think a quarterback must be able to take on an entire defense alone.

Anyhoo- back to reality...lets flip the script. You have to draft a team. You have the first pick. There is a stud pitcher available and a big bat with a good glove. After this round all the players are equal and mediocre. Who do you choose?

I get your point, but who do you pick if you have a big bat with a good glove and several pitchers who are equal and mediocre? Just because a girl steps into the circle doesn't make her more important.

The problem with some pitchers parents is they THINK they have Monica Abbott.

 

[MNDad]

That happened with DD's TB team, except it was the #1 catcher and an IF who left the team, taking away two of the best hitters as well. No tourneys yet this year, but the #2 catcher is a lot better, and is now a solid #1 catcher, the #3 pitcher learned to catch well, and one of the new girls we brought onto the team can pitch, and will probably be a relief/ pool play pitcher.

The pitchers all stayed with the team. In fact, there are now 5 pitchers instead of 4, and all are better than they were last year.

Now, consider what would've happened to the team if the two best pitchers left.

You'd have 3 pitchers instead of five and they'd get more innings and soon be better than the Prima Donnas who left?

 

[BobInMadison]

You'd have 3 pitchers instead of five and they'd get more innings and soon be better than the Prima Donnas who left?

Well, with DD #3 being one of the top pitchers, I will admit she gets the Prima Donna treatment from the coaches. I work in a different city, and spend most of my nights in a little crash pad away from home. And, the coaches live in the neighborhood. So, the coaches give DD #3 a ride to and from most practices. Better to give a star pitcher a ride than have her leave the team, I suppose.

 

[Rocketech1]

No one is saying that softball isn't a team sport and of course every player plays an important role for the team. But to say one position is not as important as another is a fallacy. You build a team around your pitchers and catchers. Every player draft I have been involved in, the 1st round every coach picks the best available pitcher. The 2nd round was either another pitcher or a stud catcher. That is why I say the pitcher/catcher battery is critical to the success of the team. You are not going to build a team around your 1st baseman and right fielder.