Thank you all for your responses! The bulk of the responses make it sound like the change should be used less often than it has been because of the fact that these batters aren't able to catch up to her fastball. That being the case, could someone recommend pitch selection if all she's throwing is fastballs? She can place it very well inside outside, high, low. Start inside and then play the outside of the plate? Outside all day long? Any advice here would be appreciated!!
Using the change up
- Thread starter Annesdad
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- May 17, 2012
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Most young batters have problems going the other way with pitches so I would live on the outside with the fastball. I would miss high in bunting situations.
Having said that I would be diligently working on another pitch as the fastball will not be effective for much longer as the #1 pitch unless she is throwing it in the top 10% of her age group. The change up can be a #1 pitch but a fastball cannot (again unless she throws it in the top 10% for her age group).
Having said that I would be diligently working on another pitch as the fastball will not be effective for much longer as the #1 pitch unless she is throwing it in the top 10% of her age group. The change up can be a #1 pitch but a fastball cannot (again unless she throws it in the top 10% for her age group).
Thanks a ton! I agree - will work with coach, who calls the pitches, to read the batter better. Also, if they don't swing at the first two there's no reason to throw the CU on 0-2.
In regards to how her CU looks - it looks just like she's throwing a fb. Just about everyone that watches her throw it is impressed by it. She is relatively good at placing it but I would say that the ones that she's getting hit are high and down the middle. I've been trying to explain that it needs to be in a place that they have to chase to hit it. But I think coach calls it down the middle because it was so successful in the past. Thanks again!
Thanks! I agree and she's got a drop ball but she's not game confident in it yet. I think some of the lacking confidence is due to the fact that the catchers don't stop it if it gets too low. I love catching it for her when we practice because I know with 5 more feet next season it will be nasty!
She needs to throw a CU even against batters that can not catchup to her fastball. She still has to spot it but no sprinkles for you if the bat touches the ball. If game is over one way or another lots of changeups.
What DD is good at is figuring out what umpire will give or take away from her, unless she knows umpire she does not have a specific plan.
What DD is good at is figuring out what umpire will give or take away from her, unless she knows umpire she does not have a specific plan.
- Feb 15, 2017
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Exactly correct. At 10u I have seen too many coaches live with a girl throwing gas past 90% of hitters only to find out as they move up in competition or age that pitcher to fail miserably because they don’t know how to “pitch” but just throw. Has to be a long term development mindset when they are young. If they have other pitches you have to use them selectively in games to build confidence and make them into a pitcher.
Almost always will be a count or situation where you can waste a pitch or two. 2 outs, ahead in the count, up big, down big etc.
Disgrace to be short sighted because as we all know teams have a tendency to live and die with pitching.
Oh I definitely intend to keep her throwing it, but we have one more 10U tournament this weekend and obviously they want to win!
Just looking for the best way to have her pitch when we get to the tougher comp on Sunday.
- Sep 29, 2014
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Oh I definitely intend to keep her throwing it, but we have one more 10U tournament this weekend and obviously they want to win!
OK for this weekend to just blow pitches by girls. But ultimately the answer is if the 3-5 hitters on the other teams can't catch up to her FB she probably needs to move up in competition, unless she has maxed out then maybe it's age up.
She should keep working the CU and drop. If she can location the FB and has a good drop and CU she will do just fine for the next 3-4 years until she can incorporate a rise or curve
I haven't read the entire thread so I don't know if this has been mentioned yet...
One of the issues I see with change-ups at younger ages (10U-12U), is that they usually are thrown too slow, which reduces their effectiveness. The idea is not to try to make the speed difference between FB and CU as big as possible, but rather just to disturb a batter's timing to cause a swing-and-miss, a foul ball (with less than 2 strikes), or - best of all - a miss-hit easy out. If her FB is around 50, low 40's will be more effective than mid-30's.
One of the issues I see with change-ups at younger ages (10U-12U), is that they usually are thrown too slow, which reduces their effectiveness. The idea is not to try to make the speed difference between FB and CU as big as possible, but rather just to disturb a batter's timing to cause a swing-and-miss, a foul ball (with less than 2 strikes), or - best of all - a miss-hit easy out. If her FB is around 50, low 40's will be more effective than mid-30's.
- Nov 18, 2013
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Oh I definitely intend to keep her throwing it, but we have one more 10U tournament this weekend and obviously they want to win!
Throw one change up in the first inning on Sunday. Their girls will start shouting "watch the change up" to every hitter and she can just blow FB's past them.
