About the Drop

[Hillhouse]

Maybe so, but you will never get me to say it out loud. I did clinics with Michele for many years. Caught her many times. Followed around the Redding Rebels. So I am biased like a mother hen!

Well, in fairness, I'm biased in the other way about her. But that's a different story and I'm not going to air the dirty laundry on here. However, I will not stop calling her: 2 Time Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith since that's how her name MUST be said on ESPN. It could be a law, I don't know. But, you will not hear her name without the preamble of the 2 medals.

 

[Quasimodo]

Well, in fairness, I'm biased in the other way about her. But that's a different story and I'm not going to air the dirty laundry on here. However, I will not stop calling her: 2 Time Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith since that's how her name MUST be said on ESPN. It could be a law, I don't know. But, you will not hear her name without the preamble of the 2 medals.

Ha ha, that is just how I introduced her also but before ESPN. Hey can I sue them for stealing my intro?

 

[Hillhouse]

What is the downside of having a battery that understands?

There is no downside, except it will put self-important youth coaches out of work. Boo hoo. There is absolutely no reason on earth 13-14 yr olds who are starting to throw different pitches cannot be taught what to throw and when. It would be EXTREMELY helpful if their catchers can come to pitching practice too so everyone can get a lesson together. If not, then team practices, live batting, scrimmages, etc. are all prime opportunities to learn. Pitch calling and selection should be discussed before games, after games and by all means DURING games. College coaches have no choice but to call pitches and call games because catchers are not taught how to do it from their youth. And a college coach's job is on the line in games so they aren't going to let someone call a game with no clue. But travel ball, and even to a lesser degree HS ball should be teaching the catchers (and pitchers) and letting them do it. Trial and error is how we learn many things in life, this wouldn't be any different. Giving up a HR on a bad pitch call is a teachable moment, not the end of the world. But youth coaches who's self worth is based on how many trophies they win will never relinquish control.

 

[Tatonka]

Thx Bill. The benefits as I see them are undeniable. I'd like to add to this comment - "Giving up a HR on a bad pitch call is a teachable moment, not the end of the world. But youth coaches who's self worth is based on how many trophies they win will never relinquish control." Time and again we've witnessed a pitch called (questionably) by a coach (HS and TB) in the dugout that get's hammered. Sometimes they've owned it, more often than not it's not acknowledged or discussed - sadly, there is no teachable moment occurring. And before someone says it, I'm not talking about an errant or mistake pitch here either but pitches delivered as called.

Now back to the Drop..... ;-)

 

[Hillhouse]

Thx Bill. The benefits as I see them are undeniable. I'd like to add to this comment - "Giving up a HR on a bad pitch call is a teachable moment, not the end of the world. But youth coaches who's self worth is based on how many trophies they win will never relinquish control." Time and again we've witnessed a pitch called (questionably) by a coach (HS and TB) in the dugout that get's hammered. Sometimes they've owned it, more often than not it's not acknowledged or discussed - sadly, there is no teachable moment occurring. And before someone says it, I'm not talking about an errant or mistake pitch here either but pitches delivered as called.

Now back to the Drop..... ;-)

Tatonka, sometimes the right pitch thrown at the right time ALSO gets smashed over the fence. Sometimes the hitter just wins. It is truly that simple. It's funny how some people, usually parents, will blame the coach for one pitch call resulting in a HR, but never mention the correct calls that led to 14 K's in the same game. They only focus on that one pitch. And there's no guarantee that pitch was thrown at the right spot with movement, maybe the pitcher flubbed it up? We don't know because we never hear that side, only that "stupid coach can't call pitches". And yes there is a lot of that. A lot by coaches with no FP experience and no true idea of how to set up a hitter for success in FP softball. But, it does go the other way too and that has to be acknowledged.

 

[cschoeni]

Tatonka, sometimes the right pitch thrown at the right time ALSO gets smashed over the fence. Sometimes the hitter just wins. It is truly that simple. It's funny how some people, usually parents, will blame the coach for one pitch call resulting in a HR, but never mention the correct calls that led to 14 K's in the same game. They only focus on that one pitch. And there's no guarantee that pitch was thrown at the right spot with movement, maybe the pitcher flubbed it up? We don't know because we never hear that side, only that "stupid coach can't call pitches". And yes there is a lot of that. A lot by coaches with no FP experience and no true idea of how to set up a hitter for success in FP softball. But, it does go the other way too and that has to be acknowledged.

My daughter is only 9 and has just been pitching about 10 months... After reading some of these posts I have recently let her call her pitches during our at home pitching sessions, when we simulate a batter . I think it helps her focus when she pitches, gives her some control and has gone well... Now hitting those spots is a different story... But it is fun listening and watch her tell me why she wants to throw a 2-1 fastball inside or a 1-2 changeup outside.... Gets her thinking..

 

[Tatonka]

Tatonka, sometimes the right pitch thrown at the right time ALSO gets smashed over the fence. Sometimes the hitter just wins. It is truly that simple. It's funny how some people, usually parents, will blame the coach for one pitch call resulting in a HR, but never mention the correct calls that led to 14 K's in the same game. They only focus on that one pitch. And there's no guarantee that pitch was thrown at the right spot with movement, maybe the pitcher flubbed it up? We don't know because we never hear that side, only that "stupid coach can't call pitches". And yes there is a lot of that. A lot by coaches with no FP experience and no true idea of how to set up a hitter for success in FP softball. But, it does go the other way too and that has to be acknowledged.

No no, I get that for sure and am always more than willing to give credit where credit is due whether it's the batter or the pitch caller.

 

[softballphreak]

You, Youth, whatever, lol...I've seen "Youth" coaches get schooled on this topic repeatedly by some of the best position pitchers and catchers to have ever played. They give lip service to it, nodding their heads in agreement and then just completely blow it off and not follow through in practice, scrimmages or real games. Are they afraid, lack the knowledge or tools to teach/coach this skill or what? Is it the issue of giving up control of the game? What is it? This is a different scenario than just being a bad coach and yelling at the players, using negative reinforcement or a ton of other bad coaching behaviors. Often these are excellent coaches in almost every other regard. What is the downside of having a battery that understands?

Do you have a link that coaches could use to learn to teach a battery those skills?

 

[softballphreak]

SERIOUSLY can this ⬆ be posted in the coaches forum please?

And YES ask the question why some coaches dont/cant/wont teach players pitch calling!

Same question I asked Tatonka. Are there good links to where a coach can learn these skills?

 

[radness]

Same question I asked Tatonka. Are there good links to where a coach can learn these skills?

Hmmm? Research the goooogle?
An excellent idea to fill a thread with links!