Pitchers Parents: Opinions Needed

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Jul 2, 2013
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For years on this site I've read comments about how to decide which team a DD pitcher should be on. There always seems to be two common themes: get her on the team where she will pitch the most or get her on the best team you can so she can pitch against good competition.

Well, DD is in a position to choose between these two options. She can join an "A" team where she will be the third or fourth pitcher and get limited innings but face top competition or join a "B" team where she will be the first pitcher and pitch as much as she wants. What are everyone's thoughts?
 
Jul 16, 2008
1,520
48
Oregon
For years on this site I've read comments about how to decide which team a DD pitcher should be on. There always seems to be two common themes: get her on the team where she will pitch the most or get her on the best team you can so she can pitch against good competition.

Well, DD is in a position to choose between these two options. She can join an "A" team where she will be the third or fourth pitcher and get limited innings but face top competition or join a "B" team where she will be the first pitcher and pitch as much as she wants. What are everyone's thoughts?

This is a tough question. Is she the 3rd or 4th pitcher because she is the youngest, or are those pitchers that much better? Does she have the ability to challenge the #1 or #2 to take those spots or are those spots filled by Coaches kids? There are a lot of different items to think about.

I think getting reps is important, but it should be the right reps... If she is mowing down the competition as a "B" pitcher, then the reps aren't really helping her.
 
Sep 28, 2015
150
18
Welcome MightyMo!

Is her speed equal or better then 2 of the 3 other pitchers?
If your DD would be competing for 1 or 2 and or equal to those as the 3rd pitcher then the A team makes sense.

If not....play on the B team and be focused on the development of her pitching and not on the result (ie success facing bad hitting) and the level of play won’t be a problem.

One more thing. Is it a good A team? If not the tourneys will be 4 games and home and limit your opportunities even more! Likewise you want the B team to be on its way up and attract other pitchers to help you out!!

Good luck and it is awesome you have options!


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Last edited:

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
For years on this site I've read comments about how to decide which team a DD pitcher should be on. There always seems to be two common themes: get her on the team where she will pitch the most or get her on the best team you can so she can pitch against good competition.
Well, DD is in a position to choose between these two options. She can join an "A" team where she will be the third or fourth pitcher and get limited innings but face top competition or join a "B" team where she will be the first pitcher and pitch as much as she wants. What are everyone's thoughts?

If she wants to be a pitcher she should lean towards the more innings - especially if you are in the younger age groups. 3rd and 4th pitcher don't get a lot of opportunities and if they are borderline already and they get hit around, this can quickly become no opportunities especially on bracket days. There really is no such thing as a 4th pitcher - that is just someone who can throw some strikes when we are up 10 or someone to rest our 1 & 2 when we down 10.

Age group? And how is the rest of her game? If she is going to be 3rd or 4th pitcher and also 10th or 11th batter/fielder then it is really easy - go to the B team.

The issue is always players who are 'A' level batters/fielders but 'B' or 'developing' level pitchers. In this case if she REALLY WANTS to pitch - you go to the B team for a season to see if she really wants it and if it is really for her. If pitching is just something she does but is OK if she doesn't - then in that case most of those girls chose the A team and pitching will slowly fade away as an option unless someone gets injured.

If you are in 10U/12U/1st year 14U going to decent B team wont make a difference long term - as they mature, the 'experience gap' between good players on 'B' teams players is easy enough to bridge when they are ready to head to an A team. Normally by the time they are in HS they are either a pitcher or they are not.
 
Jan 22, 2011
1,610
113
My daughter choose to be on a very good team from October-August 5th that she knew she was the 4th best pitcher, but was fine with that because she wanted to play at a high level with a good team. I also didn't want her to get a lot of innings while her mechanics were still flawed. Over 10 months, she pitched about 8 times, only 2 complete games. However, she played almost every inning in games that mattered and batted 3rd for at least 4 of the 10 months.

Now that she went to see Javasource, Doug, Anna Miller, and Ken B last weekend, I want her on a team that she is the P2 breathing down the neck of the P1. On the team she just joined, it sounds like that is likely the case.

If she isn't the P1 or P2, the HC and I will be having a discussion about letting her guest pitch this fall.
 
Last edited:
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
The most important question was left out by everyone. On the good team does the coach have a DD who pitches? If the answer is yes the decision is easy.
 
Feb 21, 2017
198
28
DD2 is pitcher and for many years we would pitch in any league, or any opportunity. I think the innings helped her become who she is. I kind of thought of it like the movie Hoosiers but in this case it is 43ft. Hit your spot equals a success, period. Worry about the batter after you master that.


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Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
Depends a lot on her age and aspirations. In general go with the best coaching. If she’s younger or a beginner go for innings. If she’s older and has college aspirations tougher competition will be more beneficial. I wouldn’t shy away from #3 if it’s a strong team with good coaching. The #4 might be ok, but only if it’s the right situation. Highly competitive team expecting to make deep runs in tournaments. Great coaching and highly motivated teammates to make her a better player.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
When DD first started pitching games in first year 10U, I wanted her top 2, to get the circle time. The skill was developing and I think the reps were crucial. We're 2nd year 12U now, and I feel a little bit less strongly. It would still depend on the situation, but she's got the basics now. She's got solid mechanics, can locate her fastball, has a change up and a movement pitch. If we were looking for a team and she had the opportunity to be on a higher level A team where she was a #3, it would be worth considering. I don't think I'd want her to be one of more than 4, or lower down than the three-spot, as long as she wants to keep focused on pitching. Though in the end, we try to leave these things up to her. I'm not sure what she would choose.
 

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