Question for parents of pitchers: Live hitting

Let's say your daughter (pitcher) and mine are similar in skill and age.

Would it be helpful/worthwhile for your daughter to throw competitive batting practice as a way to practice together? Both players are working on things. Pitcher is trying to get batter out. Not a case of grooving the ball down the middle.

I'm thinking about asking some pitchers to do this and wondering if parents will be eager to do it, or think it would be a waste of their time. Also thinking of ways to make it a good proposition for both.

Reason I'm seeking more live hitting is that DD struggles (like many) to match front-toss swing to live swing.

If the pitcher can throw strikes, it is great!

The Issue I have had in the past is that things grind to a halt because the pitcher does not throw enough strikes. You also probably need a C, or you need to do it yourself.

Sign my DD either as a P or batter, or both. No need to convince us. If she is pitching the batter might see a lot of changeups, like you said both players are working on things.

quincy said:

If the pitcher can throw strikes, it is great!

The Issue I have had in the past is that things grind to a halt because the pitcher does not throw enough strikes. You also probably need a C, or you need to do it yourself.

Sign my DD either as a P or batter, or both. No need to convince us. If she is pitching the batter might see a lot of changeups, like you said both players are working on things.

Click to expand...

Yeah, would need to get a catcher. If I catch, then I can't observe the hitter and make observations. Which my DD might prefer. But sorta defeats the purpose if improving mechanics is a goal.

I'm a big believer in live hitting, although there are two major obstacles when you try to do it as a team. One is that you really need two fields, one w/ a catcher, pitcher and 2-3 hitters, and another for the rest of the team to do the same thing, or something different. Not a good use of time if half the team is just shagging.

You touched on the other obstacle - Got to throw strikes, and many teams (especially younger) don't have 2-3 pitchers that can do that. Too many balls, or worse yet, too many HBP. You need multiple competent pitchers. Can't ride just the ace for too long.

I do believe that it needs to be competitive, meaning pitcher is trying to get batter out, or else it's not helping the pitcher, and the pitcher is risking getting hurt.

It is a great way for pitchers and hitters to get "realtime" reps. Agree that the other girls need to stay active though. It's good I'd there are other hitting stations and just a couple of girls shagging.

I am blessed with multiple catchers... so every week we have a scrimmage against ourselves. Basically, its 5 on 5 and a few parents will play outfield. Its mostly about infield and pitching. Its always a team favorite practice.

Some indoor training facilities organize and hold, for a price of course, off-season batting cage games that are 3 v. 3 or 4 v 4 (sometimes called Trios or Quads) w/ a pitcher, catcher, and 1 or 2 other hitters plus a parent umpire (outside the cage). Each team hits v. the other team's pitcher and catcher and tries to accumulate as many points (arbitrary values assigned i.e., line drive to back of cage is 5, fair line drive to side of cage is 3, walk or a fair groundball past pitcher is 1 etc) before recording three outs (strike out, groundball fielded by pitcher, pop up etc) before switching after 2 or 3 innings worth of outs. Very good way to get live hitting in, experience near game-like pressure for the pitcher, and a good opportunity for catcher-pitcher to learn to call pitches and work as a unit!

The HC of our travel team has our pitchers do it all the time. Great way to get live reps for pitchers and batters, and they work on base running while they're at it.

I like the idea and would sign up. I agree about having a catcher; she could be working on skills as well.
You could have one other girl in the field to get any hits or practice an occasional throw down to second or third from the catcher.

Greenmonsters said:

Some indoor training facilities organize and hold, for a price of course, off-season batting cage games that are 3 v. 3 or 4 v 4 (sometimes called Trios or Quads) w/ a pitcher, catcher, and 1 or 2 other hitters plus a parent umpire (outside the cage). Each team hits v. the other team's pitcher and catcher and tries to accumulate as many points (arbitrary values assigned i.e., line drive to back of cage is 5, fair line drive to side of cage is 3, walk or a fair groundball past pitcher is 1 etc) before recording three outs (strike out, groundball fielded by pitcher, pop up etc) before switching after 2 or 3 innings worth of outs. Very good way to get live hitting in, experience near game-like pressure for the pitcher, and a good opportunity for catcher-pitcher to learn to call pitches and work as a unit!

Click to expand...

Never heard of this. Pretty good idea.

I've thought of the idea of organizing something similar that would be done outdoors. Would require renting fields. The goal would be to provide as many at-bats for hitter, 'batters faced' for pitcher, as possible in a short period of time. Consider that we spend two days at a ball-park for 12 at-bats in a tournament (sometimes more, but sometimes much less). Seems there would be value in getting 8 at-bats in one hour. If organized correctly, I think it could be done.

I like this idea, too.

At least when the weather is warm, there are always fields available outside (though the winters can be rather NASTY!).

DD's team has 13 players. Sometimes they will put most of the girls on the field, and have the coaches pitch for BP and fielding practice. It would make more sense to play a 5 vs. 5 or 6 vs. 6, with girls pitching. The coaches could play some of the outfield positions, I suppose.,