I'm always willing to be convinced I'm wrong about something, but I just don't understand the preferred softball styles of starting at the base.
I get that, if running in a straight line, you want to face your target and go (I don't much care about the arguments between starting behind the bag/in front of the bag). But here's the thing: that only makes sense if you're definitely, 100% of the time, sprinting in a straight line to the next base.
So here's my question: Are there just not that many line drives caught by infielders in fastpitch softball? Because if you don't do a baseball start (facing, basically toward home plate if you're on first or second), you're almost guaranteed to be out if your back is to the base when the ball is hit.
Or is the rationale that stealing is so important in the game that you'll sacrifice the occasional double play for the advantage facing the base gives you?
This is one of those baseball/softball differences that don't make sense to me, but I'm willing to be convinced.
I get that, if running in a straight line, you want to face your target and go (I don't much care about the arguments between starting behind the bag/in front of the bag). But here's the thing: that only makes sense if you're definitely, 100% of the time, sprinting in a straight line to the next base.
So here's my question: Are there just not that many line drives caught by infielders in fastpitch softball? Because if you don't do a baseball start (facing, basically toward home plate if you're on first or second), you're almost guaranteed to be out if your back is to the base when the ball is hit.
Or is the rationale that stealing is so important in the game that you'll sacrifice the occasional double play for the advantage facing the base gives you?
This is one of those baseball/softball differences that don't make sense to me, but I'm willing to be convinced.