Hard to Watch

4 girl's dad said:

I don't like slappers out of the box or runners leaving early, but we also are not giving glowing awards to those cheaters LOL. Pitching is a whole differ too animal. We don't have base running forum and a slapping forum here at DFP.

I respect your opinion. If the rules are a changing then lets make the change. Don't hold the others back that do follow the rules, AS THEY ARE WRITTEN.

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Define glowing rewards? US Nat'l team? Many have been there who cheat on the bases or maybe use an illegal bat. US Player of the year, not always a pitcher.

I realize I'm never going to win this argument because it seems like I'm advocating cheating. I'm not. But, very few on this board know the frustration of a slapper hitting a HR with a juiced up bat and polycore ball that would normally be a fly ball. Or someone who laces a line drive through the hole that would never have had that pop without those 2 things. It's all well and good to complain about IP's but, lets also address why it's happened so much so rapidly. A good percentage is from pitchers being frustrated by the bats and balls and trying to gain an advantage. Why are we stuck with 1950's rules while they get 2017 equipment? Again, I know I'll never get anyone to see beyond the "cheating is cheating" philosophy. All I'm saying is, I understand it and the rules need to change. AT THE VERY LEAST, get rid of 2 feet on the rubber!!!! Come on!!!

Bill

DD and I went to a city rec league game last night (some of her former HS teammates were playing). It was a 16U team (DD's friends) vs an older, experienced 14U team that plays quite a few tournaments. First pitch of by the 14U pitcher was called an illegal pitch - I was watching the batter so I didn't see what she did. So I started watching her and every single pitch that she threw was an illegal pitch - drag foot came way off of the ground and then replanted and sort of dragged. No question, nothing open to interpretation, every pitch was illegal and no other illegal pitch was called. All I could think about was how this girl would be in HS in the fall and since her older sister graduated I imagine she would get some circle time and nobody was even trying to correct this kid...

Hillhouse said:

A good percentage is from pitchers being frustrated by the bats and balls and trying to gain an advantage. Why are we stuck with 1950's rules while they get 2017 equipment?........All I'm saying is, I understand it and the rules need to change. AT THE VERY LEAST, get rid of 2 feet on the rubber!!!! Come on!!!

Bill

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Completely agree. I have been saying all along that many other rules of softball are modified over the years (lowering the high strike zone, moving pitchers back to 43 feet at 14U), why not make some changes to the pitching regulations to give a break to the pitcher, especially if there is a complete lack of compliance and enforcement of these 60 year old regulations? Just seems like common sense to me....