Average pitchers, what is the problem?

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ArmyStrong

Going broke on softball
Sep 14, 2014
87
8
Pacific NW
My DD pitches on a 14A team. Our team is competitive and our pitching is average for an A team. We have many pitchers, and it's easy to see some of our pitchers don't share the same passion in pitching as some of the better pitchers we face. School ball, other school sports, boys, Netflix, etc. lure our pitchers away from fitting pitching practice into their busy schedules.

Many times we hear, "Good pitchers practice so that they can hit their spots, great pitchers practice so they can't miss their spots." Unfortunately, our pitchers can hit their spots many of the time, but can also leave them fat just as often.

The challenge for our team is to find a way to get our pitchers to voluntarily carve out time to work on their pitching in addition to what we work on at practice. Until then, we cannot expect them to thread the needle on a consistent basis. I can't wait for school ball to end. My DD will then have time to focus on her pitching consistency.
 
Feb 28, 2015
307
28
Heatbox
We know how many strikes the umpire didn't call by how many times DD2 smiles. It's usually 3 to 5 a game and everyone knows it was a strike but the umpire........It's also not her excuse but she's smiled since 10U......
 
Feb 17, 2014
551
28
IMO, some pitchers have it and some pitchers don't. There is something physical with their bodies that help great pitchers be great. My DD is a big strong kid, can hit the ball 275 feet. She can't get to 60 pitching to save her life. She's been stuck at 58-59 for 2 years. I have sought advice from many of the big names on this forum and still no luck. Is it work effort? I don't think so. We spend a lot of time pitching. I think Sparky had a good point with twitch reflexes. Some of these kids just have it. I have seen pitchers with horrible mechanics throwing 65 and mine tries to have good mechanics and can't come close to that.
 
Feb 18, 2014
348
28
You also have to take into account the quality of hitter the pitcher is facing. DD2 is average speed, can find the edge of the plate, but is a freshman pitching varsity. The umpire from what we saw would not give the inside and she had to adapt to a zone against a team of quality hitters. She went 11 pitches against a junior. She threw one ball, the hitter fouled off 9 times, quite a few were probably 220+ feet, including one that hit a truck in the parking lot, before she finally gave up a hit.

She actually pitched better than her average yesterday, but that team crushes the ball.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
Too many parents let their DD use the umpire as an excuse. Pitchers have to adapt to the umpire.

E.g., as the kids get older, the batters are less interested in the umpire's strike zone and more interested in "getting a pitch to hit".

DD adapted today! :)
Threw her first HS no hitter!
 
Last edited:
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
We know how many strikes the umpire didn't call by how many times DD2 smiles. It's usually 3 to 5 a game and everyone knows it was a strike but the umpire........It's also not her excuse but she's smiled since 10U......

It is best not react. This type of non-verbal communication is not lost on Umpires and others and often only makes things worse.
 
Feb 28, 2015
307
28
Heatbox
It is best not react. This type of non-verbal communication is not lost on Umpires and others and often only makes things worse.

Actually I don't even think the ump sees her smile through her mask. It's just a quick grin when the catcher yells great pitch. Usually the fans or coach are letting the umpire know he missed it.
 

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