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Jul 1, 2010
171
16
Perhaps it is something less easily measured, quick twitch muscles? Just a guess, no data.

Also, I think length of arm and size of hands can be very helpful. DD has "monkey arms" (her words) and that causes issues for clothing sizes, but does seem to result in a faster than average pitch speed.
 
Jul 19, 2014
2,390
48
Madison, WI
You are reading far, far, more into a handful of studies than can possibly be read into the studies.

The study I read on ERA and durability was by SABR. The study cautioned that it was only measuring pitchers who made it to the majors.

It is far more instructive to note -- among pitchers who have really made it to the top in baseball or softball, players in the top 1% of height are extremely overrepresented. Top pitchers in the bottom 50-60% are rarely if ever seen.

The short baseball great? Martinez, at 5'11" 2 inches taller than average.
The short softball great? Amanda S, at 5'6", 2 inches taller than average.

The physics is simple.
Taller softball players have 4 advantages on the average:

1. Longer arms = longer lever = more torque. This is precisely the reason why rowing is dominated by tall men and women. Swimming as well. Phelps has freakishly long arms.

2. Longer legs = longer leap. Amanda S has amazingly strong legs and can get an incredible leap at 5'6", but she is a different type of genetic freak. She needs the power to compete with much taller ladies.

3. Taller -- usually bigger and stronger. Faster pitches that way. Not 100% correlation, but on to be average stronger.

4. Taller -- usually bigger hands and better grip.


If height really weren't an advantage, we would see more short girls pitching. My DDs have been on teams with short pitchers. At the young ages, there are as many short and tall girls pitching. By 14u the starting pitchers are usually among the tallest girls on the team. By the time they get to the national team, short girls, meaning 5'2" or shorter, are pretty much non existent. Even average girls, 5'3" to 5'5" are extremely rare.
 
Dec 8, 2015
249
18
Philadelphia, PA
Oh, now I understand...it is all so clear!

My DD#3 (on left) played this young lady (on right) (Candace Parker) in HS hoops:View attachment 10962

If only my DD#3 had worked harder, she could have held Candace (SEC Rookie of the Year, NCAA Finals MVP, 2 time Olympic Gold medalist, WNBA Rookie of the Year, WNBA MVP) to 20 point instead of 21.

FYI, Candace and DD#3 played ball against each other for several years. Candace got the best of DD#3 in all games, except for one game in the 3rd grade--when Candace had the flu. Somehow, someway, DD#3 learned to live with the crushing reality that Candace was a much better ball player.

(As an aside, playing Candace made my DD#3 a better ball player. When DD#3's D3 hoop team won the championship, she was paired against three D3 All-American post players in a row. She would always say, "At least she's not Candace. I'll be OK.")

Are you saying Candace Parker did work hard and coasted on talent alone?
 

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