Offense vs Defense

[Eric F]

Didn't you know that all the DDs on here hit .600, the pitchers throw 60+, the catchers have 1.5 pop times, the slappers all run 2.7, and all of them have good power! Oh yeah, and that is at 12U!

Fixed.....

 

[slugger3]

She is 14 and has improved her BA and SP every year while increasing the competition level. Our goal used to be to hit over .400 but with the numbers I see people posting here it looks like the average DD is hitting over .600 and slugging over 1.000.

What i was trying to convey, was that my oldest DD is a decent hitter with big power....and small speed, and that cost her more than anything when it came to college coaches thoughts on her (from what they were telling her TB coaches)
The numbers she/I are focusing on now are the 20 yard, home to first times and the Home to home times...
She's getting very strong in her lifting, but we are shifting leg workouts to train her leg muscles for explosiveness out of the gate...
Coach James posted an idea of doing plyo box jumps...so my 3 DDs are doing that in our basement on the end table until the snow melts.

What she really needs to work on is the 0-10 yard times. Out of the gate she is very slow...but makes up for it on the top end. So i think her overall 20 yard time could see a pretty good improvement.

I tried to view the ODM stats for 10, 20 and 40 yard times, but for some reason I can't get it to open and read
That would give us a base line comparison for her to aim for.

Anybody able to get into the ODM stats for times?

 

[Chaz McNulty]

I think giving up hits because your fielders don't have the range to get to the ball is more frustrating than errors. This goes back to the OP. Do you want that slugger in rightfield over the speedster who turns the foul flyballs into outs, takes away the gap, and can charge in on bloop singles and turn some of them into outs? It is the plays the slower player never even gets to attempt that make the biggest difference IMO. They don't get scored as errors so at the end of the day this player personally gave up runs due to lack of range but those runs belong to the pitcher and her ERA and we lost a game!

I say all that, but on the other hand, homeruns are a thing of beauty to behold when your team is in a tight game!

I'll take the slugger. The difference between an average outfielder and a great outfielder might show itself in one out of three games. Remove your number 3 batter from the line-up and you have all kinds of problems.

 

[slugger3]

I just googled ODM average and a new page came up with a limited amount of stats...
DD1 40 yard times compare very well to those posted on ODM. But she's getting her butt kicked in the 20 yard with a 3.0.
So now I know the focus truly is on the 0-10 yard times.

Thanks to Mr T, for the ODM thread!

 

[625ender]

If you want to make a pitcher great get them a defense behind them.

 

[Greenmonsters]

I did. I prefer Dave Weaver's response to the question though

I'm old and forgetful so you'll have to remind me! Please

 

[YOCOACH]

I'm old and forgetful so you'll have to remind me! Please

When a coach would ask him what the catcher's pop time was, he'd ask them what their pitchers time to home was. Since I'm a smartass by nature, I prefer sarcasm over cold logic.

 

[Greenmonsters]

When a coach would ask him what the catcher's pop time was, he'd ask them what their pitchers time to home was. Since I'm a smartass by nature, I prefer sarcasm over cold logic.

DD worked most with Jay, but started with Dave. I can see Dave's explanation reasonating with her and being the reason why there never was a difference in her approach (or pop times) whether it was a game or showcase.

 

[Elk Grove Hurricane]

Good questions, OP. I see poor OF defense at a lot of different levels, if chicks dig the long ball in baseball, most managers/head coaches dig the long ball in softball. As the kids age up, part of the problem I see is that a lot of coaches think that any good infielder can learn outfield so they just don't care to see the exceptional outfield defenders. It may only help in a handful of games over the course of the year, but I saw enough Oakland A's playoff games at the height of money ball to know their poor OF D cost them big time when it mattered most.
I kind of get it in softball because dominant pitchers can make any OF look good enough. Last fall I saw a 10U team who played a girl who literally waddled (poor kid is really out of shape at a way too young age) out to LF but they got away with it in most games because nobody could pull one of their pitcher. Hitting is improving at all levels of softball though o hopefully we see a few kids emulating Jackie Bradley Jr. in softball in the near future.

 

[Westwind]

The best first baseman I've ever seen play FP was a 6 ft lefty. Fast and quick, strong accurate arm, great hands and feet, with a full-split stretch to boot. Infielders just had to get the ball barn door close to first base, didn't matter if it was in the air, bouncing, rolling, and you could put an out in the scorebook. A real difference maker on defensive skills alone; however it didn't hurt that she was a gap-power hitter who could bunt and pseudo- slap.

Kid like that is like gold. Your infielders can take shots at outs they normally would not take without fear of giving up extra bases. Her arm opens up all kinds of options to get a sure out and hold some runners on 3. Gives you a chance to get valuable bonus outs after the sure out if you work on it. Plus tall left handers who can hit the ball hard are what coaches recruit at the upper levels.

Last... If she's good, that pop up that falls on the first base side is a out every time. What happens on the next pitch when that pop up is dropped....? Bueller?