Meatballs - Topic Revisited

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Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
IMO... A pitcher should never be told to just throw meatballs, whether it be pitching in a batting practice or scrimmage or any other time. A pitcher's intent is to strike out the batter, and that is exactly what she should do whenever she pitches!
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
I agree mostly with that. I don't like my DD throwing BP as the point is for girls to hit and serving up a meatball helps neither her nor them. That said I have my DD who's 11 start her pitching practices with me throwing 5 right down the plate.
Her PC would have a fit if he saw this. I do it so she is comfortable that she has it if she needs that one more strike and feels that she can use her FB to strike out the batter. Once she was consistently throwing her FB her pitching coach took her off the center of the plate and onto the corners. That's the right way to do it but she still needs to know how to "jam it in" when she needs to.
She is playing both REC and travel this season. I'm excited to have her play REC as she's pitching against slightly less skilled hitters and she will be able to choose her own pitch selection where in TB the coaches call all pitches.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
IMO... A pitcher should never be told to just throw meatballs, whether it be pitching in a batting practice or scrimmage or any other time. A pitcher's intent is to strike out the batter, and that is exactly what she should do whenever she pitches!

I can only agree with half of that... no pitcher should be told to throw easy meatballs.

But the pitcher's intent is to get an 'out' which might be a strike out, but could also just as easily be inducing an easy ground ball or a pop-up. Not every pitcher can be a strike out pitcher all the time... and also pure strike out pitchers need to understand they need a 'Plan B' when they are facing superior hitting or if it is just not their day.

You replace 'strike out' with just an out and I can agree with you 100%
 
May 6, 2014
532
16
Low and outside
Strikeout pitchers can be hard to play behind. It can be fun watching them do their thing, but that is largely what you are doing, watching. Then when the ball finally gets hit to you in the 5th inning............
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
No-hitters are not all that common, relatively speaking. More times than not defenses have to make plays. If meatballs are to be thrown in practice or scrimmage, I don't believe it should be the pitcher doing it.
 
Last edited:
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
IMO... A pitcher should never be told to just throw meatballs, whether it be pitching in a batting practice or scrimmage or any other time. A pitcher's intent is to strike out the batter, and that is exactly what she should do whenever she pitches!

Sometimes the pitcher wants the batter to hit ....... not a solid contact, but something that can be fielded for an out.

There are many "pitch to contact" pitchers that are quite effective.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
No hitters are not all that common relatively speaking. More times than not defenses have to make plays. If meatballs are to be thrown in practice or scrimmage, I don't believe it should be the pitcher doing it.

A decent pitcher should be able to routine hit the edges of the plate.

There is a big benefit to a team seeing plenty of live pitching.
 
Jun 18, 2012
3,183
48
Utah
A decent pitcher should be able to routine hit the edges of the plate.

There is a big benefit to a team seeing plenty of live pitching.

I have no problem at all with pitchers throwing at hitting practice if they are able to throw their stuff, rather than be told to just throw meatballs.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
I have no problem at all with pitchers throwing at hitting practice if they are able to throw their stuff, rather than be told to just throw meatballs.

Consider the activity a pitching workout. Few pitchers train to throw a pitch down-the-middle of the plate. Simply live on the edges, get a workout in, and let the team see a live arm.
 

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