college game thoughts

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
In my recent down time, I've spent a lot of it binge watching shows on Netflix, etc. Today, as I was taking a break from binge watching Longmire on Netflix, I was surprised to see Auburn-Alabama was on ESPN as I turned on regular cable for a small break in my binge. This was the first college game I have watched this year and every time i watch college softball I am convinced more and more that I know nothing about pitching despite doing it for my entire life.

I will take Amanda all day and twice on Sunday (pardon the pun of today) over Michele Smith in the color commentary. But, I think even she gets the pitches thrown mixed up. She mentioned a few "back door curves" when it appeared to me that Alabama's pitcher (Osario??) was throwing a low rise. Low rises will often have some additional side spin to prevent them from going too high in the zone. But I don't think there's too much mistaking a low rise from a curveball (front door or back door).

Alabama avoided throwing to the girl who apparently got hit in the arm yesterday. I couldn't figure out why. Ok, maybe she's a good hitter but #1 she's injured, #2 she might be gunshy on anything inside, #3 she's probably very uncomfortable swinging and #4 she's not used to all that body armor. I'd have gone right at her instead of 4 walks.

Whomever calls pitches for Alabama lives in dangerous waters. My rule of thumb is, with a 1 run lead there is no such thing in my arsenal as a riseball after the 5th inning. Riseballs, flat ones and good ones that were simply connected, will go out of the park more often that drop balls with good or poor movement. If I'm winning 3-1 and nobody is on base... ok, I'll dangle a few. But once a runner hits base, it's drop city and change up all day long (especially if the change up has downward spin and/or is kept low).

Ok, Alabama is playing their arch rival Auburn on the last weekend of season play. The girl pitching the game is winning 3-2. With 2 outs in the 7th inning (nobody on base) the coach pulled her for a relief pitcher. I fully understand that the girl coming the the plate has hit 2 HR's already but, lets face it... she hit good pitches. They weren't flat, the balls were in her eyes and she got her hands up and hit them. BUT, and this is a huge BUT... if I'm that pitcher (after the game and away from the others) I go into that coach's office and tell him "coach, that should've been MY game all the way". Rival team, I'm winning, nobody on, let me go right at her and not throw riseballs to her!!!!!! Steam would've been coming outta my ears on TV had that been me getting pulled. The girl who came in got her to ground out on a low pitch (go figure) and all's well that ends well. But, the competitor in me would be having a very frank discussion about this after the game. Anyone who's pitched a game in their life will know exactly what I'm saying. Yes, it's selfish. And this is probably why the coach didn't go to the rubber and talk to the pitcher, he made an executive decision and went straight to the umpire.

My friend who was visiting me was probably annoyed at my constant commentary on things. LOL. Poor guy just wanted to watch a game and I'm dissecting every pitch.

Bill
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Was it a case of replacing the rise ball pitcher for a drop ball artist to get the last out?

Not sure on this. But the last out was a groundball so, it would seem they changed tactics and didn't throw riseballs in her eyes to hit out. Either way it worked out. All I'm saying is, from a pitcher's perspective, I'd have been furious to come out. A simple mound visit to say "NOTHING ABOVE THE KNEES!" with a warmed up pitcher in the bullpen incase a runner gets on... would be what that pitcher deserved. IMHO.

Bill
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
First of all, good choice on Longmire. I started it but got busy and forgot about it. If you haven't watched it yet, you might try Hell On Wheels, I really liked it.

Second, there are a lot of people who would love hearing you take apart a game bit by bit. Would you mind setting up a GoPro in you living room and making video of you boring some friend with softball talk? You could put it on YouTube and a lot of people would love to sit and watch that. I have never thrown or called a pitch in a game ever but I can tell you that what you just wrote makes a lot of sense.

Hope you have less time for Netflix soon man.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
In my recent down time, I've spent a lot of it binge watching shows on Netflix, etc. Today, as I was taking a break from binge watching Longmire on Netflix, I was surprised to see Auburn-Alabama was on ESPN as I turned on regular cable for a small break in my binge. This was the first college game I have watched this year and every time i watch college softball I am convinced more and more that I know nothing about pitching despite doing it for my entire life.

I will take Amanda all day and twice on Sunday (pardon the pun of today) over Michele Smith in the color commentary. But, I think even she gets the pitches thrown mixed up. She mentioned a few "back door curves" when it appeared to me that Alabama's pitcher (Osario??) was throwing a low rise. Low rises will often have some additional side spin to prevent them from going too high in the zone. But I don't think there's too much mistaking a low rise from a curveball (front door or back door).

Alabama avoided throwing to the girl who apparently got hit in the arm yesterday. I couldn't figure out why. Ok, maybe she's a good hitter but #1 she's injured, #2 she might be gunshy on anything inside, #3 she's probably very uncomfortable swinging and #4 she's not used to all that body armor. I'd have gone right at her instead of 4 walks.

Whomever calls pitches for Alabama lives in dangerous waters. My rule of thumb is, with a 1 run lead there is no such thing in my arsenal as a riseball after the 5th inning. Riseballs, flat ones and good ones that were simply connected, will go out of the park more often that drop balls with good or poor movement. If I'm winning 3-1 and nobody is on base... ok, I'll dangle a few. But once a runner hits base, it's drop city and change up all day long (especially if the change up has downward spin and/or is kept low).

Ok, Alabama is playing their arch rival Auburn on the last weekend of season play. The girl pitching the game is winning 3-2. With 2 outs in the 7th inning (nobody on base) the coach pulled her for a relief pitcher. I fully understand that the girl coming the the plate has hit 2 HR's already but, lets face it... she hit good pitches. They weren't flat, the balls were in her eyes and she got her hands up and hit them. BUT, and this is a huge BUT... if I'm that pitcher (after the game and away from the others) I go into that coach's office and tell him "coach, that should've been MY game all the way". Rival team, I'm winning, nobody on, let me go right at her and not throw riseballs to her!!!!!! Steam would've been coming outta my ears on TV had that been me getting pulled. The girl who came in got her to ground out on a low pitch (go figure) and all's well that ends well. But, the competitor in me would be having a very frank discussion about this after the game. Anyone who's pitched a game in their life will know exactly what I'm saying. Yes, it's selfish. And this is probably why the coach didn't go to the rubber and talk to the pitcher, he made an executive decision and went straight to the umpire.

My friend who was visiting me was probably annoyed at my constant commentary on things. LOL. Poor guy just wanted to watch a game and I'm dissecting every pitch.

Bill

If you'd text me where you're at and what room, I'd be there in a heartbeat and we'd actually have a discussion! Heck, your only 2 hours away. Let me know!!!!! I hope you recover quickly. Emily misses you as do I! We'd like to come up and visit if possible. It's not like you don't have my number.
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
Not sure on this. But the last out was a groundball so, it would seem they changed tactics and didn't throw riseballs in her eyes to hit out. Either way it worked out. All I'm saying is, from a pitcher's perspective, I'd have been furious to come out. A simple mound visit to say "NOTHING ABOVE THE KNEES!" with a warmed up pitcher in the bullpen incase a runner gets on... would be what that pitcher deserved. IMHO.

Bill

Interesting comment and observation. Just finished watching Oregon v. FSU go 8 innings. Mike White pulled his starter in the 8th, with the game tied 1-1. His relief pitchers didn't give up a run, on the other hand FSU kept their starter in for the bottom of the 8th and she gave up a double to the lead-off batter, next batter bunts her to 3rd, the next batter hits a sac fly, runner scores, game over. I really like how Mike White coached the 8th to win the game.

By the way, your girl Jenna Lilley is starting to get her hitting groove back just in time for the post season...
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Alabama avoided throwing to the girl who apparently got hit in the arm yesterday. I couldn't figure out why. Ok, maybe she's a good hitter but #1 she's injured, #2 she might be gunshy on anything inside, #3 she's probably very uncomfortable swinging and #4 she's not used to all that body armor. I'd have gone right at her instead of 4 walks.

Kasey Cooper is easily Auburn's best hitter and is on Team USA. Alabama was going to make someone else in Auburn's line up beat them and I cannot blame them, she just broke the record for most RBIs in SEC history.
 
Last edited:
May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
2 things:

1. all of Kasey Coopers walks were not intentional
Alexis Orsorio has a history of difficulty finding the strike zone.
Even her coach when interviewed during this game said she pitches too cautiously, "nibbling at the edges" and felt her stuff is good enough to go right after hitters. Against this same team on the previous friday, she pitched for the win with 11 walks sertting a school record

2. This was the last Alabama game of the season, and thus "Senior Day". Sidney Littlejohn came in to pitch the last out because she is the only senior on the pitching staff. This was probably planned, and Orsorio was probably expecting to be replaced. If anything, its Littlejohn who could be pissed to not get the start in the last home game of her career?
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
2 things:

1. all of Kasey Coopers walks were not intentional
Alexis Orsorio has a history of difficulty finding the strike zone.
Even her coach when interviewed during this game said she pitches too cautiously, "nibbling at the edges" and felt her stuff is good enough to go right after hitters. Against this same team on the previous friday, she pitched for the win with 11 walks sertting a school record

2. This was the last Alabama game of the season, and thus "Senior Day". Sidney Littlejohn came in to pitch the last out because she is the only senior on the pitching staff. This was probably planned, and Orsorio was probably expecting to be replaced. If anything, its Littlejohn who could be pissed to not get the start in the last home game of her career?

Orsorio was looking gassed out too.... she'd thrown something like 180 pitches in that game. Her control was suspect at times, In fact I believe she set a school record for BB in one game!
 
Nov 3, 2012
480
16
.

Second, there are a lot of people who would love hearing you take apart a game bit by bit. Would you mind setting up a GoPro in you living room and making video of you boring some friend with softball talk? You could put it on YouTube and a lot of people would love to sit and watch that. I have never thrown or called a pitch in a game ever but I can tell you that what you just wrote makes a lot of sense.

Hope you have less time for Netflix soon man.


I though Bill Hillhouse's analysis of this game is awesome. 1st: I love this strategic approach to calling games. I never pitched but my daughter pitches so Im learning. I wish my DD coaches and catcher who calls pitches would put this thought process into situational pitching. Bill has some great insight. He should put a video or write a short book on pitch calling that every travel and high school coach should read.

Bill's analysis is colorful. Why not put him in the booth and let him be the color guy on ESPN softball. Seriously. Not that the commentators are bad now, but I think he could a more detailed level to the commentating.
Bill should throw his resume over to ESPN or Big 10 network and give it shot.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,479
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top