College pitching accuracy

Is it just me or does it seem like there are more wild pitches and walks this year than in previous years? The games I've watched seem like I'm seeing more. And I'm not just talking about the rain games, where you might expect it.

Also noticed that a couple of teams have been using position players as "emergency" pitchers or fill-ins. Wonder what's happening with that?

I have no idea on the walks and wild pitches, but there are probably some stats available that could prove or disprove your observation.

As to the 2nd question, I'm sure this happens every year, mostly due to injuries. This year it is probably just a happening to some teams you happen to be following. A local pitching coach I know has a daughter in D1, she hadn't been a pitcher since she was a sophomore in HS but was brought in to pitch a fair amount last year when their staff was hit with a rash of injuries.

Its not just you, I've seen some games in the last few weeks that remind me of 8u rec ball. walking the bases loaded using three different pitchers then a few HBP for good measure. I guess that is why they don't wear spotted jerseys,pitchers are always trying to hit spots. Sorry about that

Ken Krause said:

Is it just me or does it seem like there are more wild pitches and walks this year than in previous years? The games I've watched seem like I'm seeing more. And I'm not just talking about the rain games, where you might expect it. I see a revision on the rule that the batter does not need to make an effort to get out of the way of a pitch in the future.

Also noticed that a couple of teams have been using position players as "emergency" pitchers or fill-ins. Wonder what's happening with that?

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I'm right with you Ken. I have seen a bunch of 3 walk innings, many more runs walked in and a lot more HBPs than in the past. More wild pitches too, it just seems like pitchers are having to really stay out of the zone to combat the better hitting and they are not being given a good zone by umps. I have said "come on that was a strike" about a 1000 times this season in games where I do not have a rooting interest at all. Lots of knee high pitches on the corners being called for balls, belly high pitches called for balls etc. Almost seems like the umps have been given an order to tighten the zone.

I have been watching a bunch of college softball (shout out to watchespn.com), and while I have seen quite a few walks and hit batters, if you ask me the umpires as squeezing the strike zone, and the UF batters are leaning into the plate! LOL

JAD said:

I have been watching a bunch of college softball (shout out to watchespn.com), and while I have seen quite a few walks and hit batters, if you ask me the umpires as squeezing the strike zone, and the UF batters are leaning into the plate! LOL

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I loved it when the umpire finally started calling them on it at the end of the LSU series and during the Alabama game!

My guess:
More kids are throwing 60 today then 5-10 years ago.
Of the kids throwing 60 today compared to 5-10 years ago, the percent of Hurlers to Pitchers has increased is the issue. Lots of walks in High School stats (pretty tough for the BB to be fudged by a scorekeeper, it tells me a LOT) is translating into the same at College level. For example, what am I to make of a talent who hits 61-64 all day....yet has walked over 1 every 2 innings in high school? well, no other way to translate that but into a top conference commit (pac/sec)... yeah, im stumped.

DmystifieD said:

My guess:
More kids are throwing 60 today then 5-10 years ago.
Of the kids throwing 60 today compared to 5-10 years ago, the percent of Hurlers to Pitchers has increased is the issue. Lots of walks in High School stats (pretty tough for the BB to be fudged by a scorekeeper, it tells me a LOT) is translating into the same at College level. For example, what am I to make of a talent who hits 61-64 all day....yet has walked over 1 every 2 innings in high school? well, no other way to translate that but into a top conference commit (pac/sec)... yeah, im stumped.

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That only tells part of the story. How many K's does she have and what is her WHIP? If said pitcher is only giving up 3 or 4 hits per game it would still translate into a WHIP of about 1 which is damn fine. Add in 7-10 K's per game and that is one effective pitcher.

Bringing the high strike zone lower, plus not calling the low strike (which is the hardest zone to learn to call well as an umpire) - plus now you can't throw inside because if you miss it is a free base as it bangs off their elbow armor especially against Florida... So you have no zone to throw into especially if you don't want to throw anything in the middle. It is a small, small zone they are asking pitchers to throw in and it is no fun - as batters and coaches know it so there is a lot of zoning in for the batters.

Plus they are calling more IP's - not necessarily leaping, but presentation, feet on the rubber, etc and they are piling onto the pitchers hard this season. Which means a lot of pitchers are being asked to change their motion and mechanics in-game. No excuse for not being legal of course, but if you are worried every pitch about an IP call you are more likely to lose fine control.

From what I have seen this year, pitchers don't have to be too accurate. When we started in Arizona, that was some of the best umpiring I have ever seen. It continued for most of our Arkansas trip. However, from there, the plate has grown substantially. The other day, a young lady threw a 1 hitter at my dd's team. If you saw her team hit, you would think that would be impossible. However, the "river" was an ocean. All that young lady had to do was throw the ball forward. Of course it was the same for our pitcher as well. None of us "fans" knew what a strike was and so, I know the hitters were clueless. I made the comment that we could take an infielder and put them out there to pitch and they would have a very good chance of winning. I don't know how much the colder temperatures have to do with that but playing games below 30 has to have some effect. (Go ahead and yell at me now. LOL)

Just saw the comment on illegal pitches. We have not had one called in any game this year.