Michelle Smith calls out Monica Abbott

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Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
Watching USA Red versus Puerto Rico and at the top of the 2nd or 3rd inning Abbott is warming up and Michelle calls out her step off the rubber. She said she is going to have to tighten that up a bit or something like that. Thought that was interesting....

Regardless, Abbott is so fun to watch pitch and man that girl is good. I mean GREAT!

Another takeaway from this game is Puerto Rico had a batter facing Abbott that is going to be a freshman at Washington next year. Just graduated high school and facing Abbott in the circle. Talk about a mixture of a dream come true and the most intense moment of her life.

Love this game!

S3
 
Last edited:
Sep 14, 2011
768
18
Glendale, AZ
....Another takeaway from this game is Puerto Rico had a batter facing Abbott that is going to be a freshman at Washington next year. Just graduated high school and facing Abbott in the circle. Talk about a mixture of a dream come true and the most intense moment of her life.

Love this game!

S3


Similar story...in 2008, TEAM USA was touring the country on the "Bound for Beijing" tour and played an exhibition game in my neighborhood. The other team was a mixture of local players, college, former college and a couple of HS players.....

Late in the game, with Team USA ahead by a considerable margin, the local team inserted the HS pitcher, who was going into her JR year. She had a 1-2-3 inning, ending the inning by striking out Jessica Mendoza. This pitcher did go on to have a pretty nice career at Arizona St University, so she was the real deal......
 
Last edited:
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
Similar story...in 2008, TEAM USA was touring the country on the "Bound for Beijing" tour and played an exhibition game in my neighborhood. The other team was a mixture of local players, college, former college and a couple of HS players.....

Late in the game, with Team USA ahead by a considerable margin, the local team inserted the HS pitcher, who was going into her JR year. She had a 1-2-3 inning, ending the inning by striking out Jessica Mendoza. This pitcher did go on to have a pretty nice career at Arizona St University, so she was the real deal......

Very cool! That would be an ego booster for sure!
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Similar story...in 2008, TEAM USA was touring the country on the "Bound for Beijing" tour and played an exhibition game in my neighborhood. The other team was a mixture of local players, college, former college and a couple of HS players.....

Late in the game, with Team USA ahead by a considerable margin, the local team inserted the HS pitcher, who was going into her JR year. She had a 1-2-3 inning, ending the inning by striking out Jessica Mendoza. This pitcher did go on to have a pretty nice career at Arizona St University, so she was the real deal......

not to be debbie downer but, is this the same pitcher who went onto have a hugely successful season, winning the Nationals, then teams figured out she was one dimensional with bad mechanics and didn't win after that?? People can say what they will about the overall career but, nobody can take that ring away she carried them to.

But, as my body falls apart so does my mind, I could be thinking of someone else.

Bill
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
Far from the same story, but something from the International Cup. DD2's PC coach was asked to pitch for one of the national teams, not one of the top 10 ranked teams in the tournament, but she was super excited none the less. DD1 gets batting lessons from this same player. She is worried the coach, who is still in college is going to double the rate she charges after playing for a national team.
 
Jul 5, 2016
652
63
The commentary on the Japan - USA game was unbearable. To listen to Michelle Smith and fellow commentator carry-on, you would think that things like walking the #8 or #9 batter or fielders not being in the right positions or pitchers missing locations don't matter until you get to the international level. Granted Team USA and Japan are the best of the best, but I also know that all the mistakes that can hurt you at the top level are just as damaging in mid-level travel ball or town travel or high school.
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
schwabach, you forgot to say "2 time Olympic Gold medalist" Michele Smith. EVERY time her name is mentioned, the gold medals are mentioned first. It must be in her contract. Am I jealous of that? Yes, a little. I'm big enough to admit it. Maybe I'm naive but I'd like to think if they put men's softball into the Olympics maybe I'd have had a shot at one. But no..... even when the former ISF was lobbying to get softball back into the games.... they decided to merge with baseball forcing countries that do not play baseball/softball to spend millions on 2 separate stadiums. Take 2004 Greece for example. If men's softball was in the games, Greece could've used the same field for both genders bypassing the need to build a baseball field. There has always been contention between IOC and MLB because MLB will no send players to the games, which takes away from their claim that the "World's best athletes compete". But, with one field being built, all they'd have had to do is move the homerun fence back for the men and move the pitching rubber back 3 feet. Same field, no additional costs. Sorry to hijack. As a side benefit, they might discover a male who knows the game and can announce better than 2 time Gold Medalist Michele Smith!!! Someone who doesn't dumb down the game where we feel like idiots and she is there to educate us on everything. Including all high pitches being a rise, all inside pitches a screw ball, etc. etc. instead of just saying "she missed inside on that pitch". OMG, sorry folks, my blood boils when I think of her commentary.

Bill
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
The entire family is watching the final USA/Japan game and I yelled at the TV, "geez....shut up....just stop talking!!" They all looked at me like I was crazy!
 
Nov 16, 2015
184
18
Michelle Smith is brutal to listen too. I am often yelling at the tv with her as well. there has to be someone better.
 

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