What are These Pitcher Parents Smoking??

[GunnerShotgun]

If a changeup is effective because it is an un-fast ball, then wouldn't an un-drop ball be effective for a pitcher who also throws a drop?

Yes it's called a rise ball.

A rise ball doesn't drop as much as a fast ball which gives the illusion it's rising.

To me a bulletspin is the same as a regular fastball. It doesn't "rise" or "drop".

 

[knightsb]

It helps that Cat throws it 70+ MPH.....bullet spin is great if you are trying to hit a spot, but I would not suggest leaving it over the white part of the plate against a good batter unless the pitcher is wearing a mask!

 

[knightsb]

Cat Osterman in her pitching video for the USA team teaches a "cork screw" hence, bullet spin, for her FB. I suspect, however, that she throws it to just hit a spot and not be so much in the strike zone.

 

[Rocketech1]

Why do you suppose that is? We have a very popular pitching coach in our area, and her bullet spin is getting girls signed at the D1 level. Are you thinking they are not as good at lower locations? I have one of her girls throwing 56 with very few pitches in her bag, and she is doing reasonably well against righties at high level 14U.

I think I know the PC you are talking about but my understanding is that she teaches bullet spin mechanics as the basic fastball pitch and then works off these mechanics for the other spin pitches. Kinda like she is the the anti-hello elbow advocate. When first learning to throw the fastball, she would advocate getting the hand inside the ball, instead of behind the ball that many PCs teach. With that said, I don't see too many bullet spin fastballs used at the D1 level (other than the tilted up rise balls thrown high in the zone which are all too common).

 

[corlay]

(other than the tilted up rise balls thrown high in the zone which are all too common).

Great save...
(golfclap.mov)

 

[Westwind]

Here is a "for real" 60 plus 12u with an '02 birthday. Last I knew her one time high speed was mid 60's and it is my understanding that she hits 61-62 regularly in games. She is on a 14's team this year. She is 6'02" and has "for real" thrown in the 50's since the first time we saw her in 10's. When you see a 10 or 12u girl throwing that hard it is really, really obvious and it sorts the crazy claim parents from the real deal. I have seen some very hard throwing '02 pitchers this year and they when you watch them and compare them to this gal they aren't even in the same room.

My older dd is a first year 18 and despite parent claims, I gave not seen many 60 plus pitchers even at her age. If you listen to parents on this board and at the park, 60 plus pitchers are everywhere but when you see it you know it. IMHO, if you are standing there watching a pitcher, wondering if the gal really throws 60, she probably isn't...

https://app.nsr-inc.com/prospectResume/pProspectResume.aspx?id=193724

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bNR-gq-cz2Y

 

[corlay]

IMHO, if you are standing there watching a pitcher, wondering if the gal really throws 60, she probably isn't...

I frequently use pocket radar discreetly at tournaments and clock a few pitchers that look "fast".

I have clocked 2 local 14Us (one playing 16U, one 18U Gold) that cruise in the low 60s...
They are both large in stature (5'10"+, and 150lbs+) and both work hard and have good mechanics (no muscling H/E here).

But that's about it.
And I've witnessed them both get smacked around a little, despite their speed;
but usually they are pretty dominant in the circle.

 

[CoachKevin]

Just got back from OKC 18A HOF... There was 1 pitcher in the Tournament that broke 60. Most of what was shown on the big screen was 55-59 out of all the teams there. The team that won the Tournament, the kid was throwing 58-60.

 

[Westwind]

Corlay would you agree that those two stand out even among the older girls they at with?

That is bringing it at any age imho....

 

[riseball]

Just got back from OKC 18A HOF... There was 1 pitcher in the Tournament that broke 60. Most of what was shown on the big screen was 55-59 out of all the teams there. The team that won the Tournament, the kid was throwing 58-60.

That was I saw when we were there last year.