I vaguely remember the frustration of that game. She wasn't choosing pitches well, but don't recall exactly.
The "acid test" of a breaking pitch
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I vaguely remember the frustration of that game. She wasn't choosing pitches well, but don't recall exactly.
- Jul 17, 2012
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Why is it that so many posters disregard the value of the curve and the screw. From what I have gathered to this point, the Rise is a pitch that most young pitchers have very little success with. Let me rephrase that. A rise for the younger pitchers is no more effective than a high fastball. A curve or a screw, in my opinion are great pitches to work the corners of the zone. Even if there is no hard break, that modest drift can get a hitter chasing pitches that are slightly out of the zone. That seems like a pretty good strategy to me, especially if you have a pitcher that did things right and really learned to command her pitches.
I like a good curve and "screw" as tools in the box. For my taste, the up/down/location/change of pace are the bread-n-butter. A curve is an easy spin to teach and it gives the batter something to think about. A good "screw ball" is location/perception pitch that can be an asset. I think Carly said it best in another thread--use what you have well.
- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
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I stand corrected. She didn't pitch in the last game, it was Aleah Macon and Donna Kerr for UCLA. They beat AZ 15-9. Meg did win Most Valuable Player with a ridiculous .706 batting average in the WCWS.
I was watching some warm ups today. Lower college level. The pitcher calls a rise. It acted like a screw. She then says or a screw. I laughed inside. Watched some of her game. She was throwing better in the game than warm ups. The change the drop and a high fast ball were the pitches I watched. It's fun showing up to the fields and an un announced game is being played. My daughter was practicing on the same field as college girls. Fun for her to watch.
the acid test for a breaking ball/
Are the batters off balance, or are they squaring them up and hitting them hard?
Its really what matters most isn't it?
Are the batters off balance, or are they squaring them up and hitting them hard?
Its really what matters most isn't it?
- Dec 7, 2011
- 2,368
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Right! - full circle back to my point => If a good catcher gets off balance catching a pitcher then most assuredly an average batter will be "off balance" too.
- Oct 22, 2009
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We had gale force winds earlier this week, pitching classes were challenging to say the least. I made one of my high schoolers stop throwing the screwball because the wind was catching it and pulling it back across the plate, making a question mark path. It was scaring the heck out of her dad.
