Are slappers overrated?

[Country Boy]

From a defensive coaching standpoint, I fear slappers more than anyone else. Big hitters? Eh. So what. The hit a ball in the gap and double? So what? No pressure is on the D. They are usually stationary until someone can put the ball in play.
But a slapper? My entire D tenses up. They get on? Every single thing is affected. Every pitch is a concern. They steal and my C throws the ball to the fence? Next batter singles to LF, can we make the play at 3B? Slapper on 2B- does my SS decide to try to get her out at 3B on a gb?
A slapper can mess my team up mentally like no one's business. P gives up a big HR? No big deal. We get embarrassed on D by a slapper? Takes everyone down.

 

[canyonjoe]

It all comes down to production. If they are good at it they are extremely valuable if not then not so much.

The biggest mistake I see with slappers is to automatically put them up first when they aren't very good at it. You start
out so many games with 1 out.

Especially at younger levels with 4-5 inning games if you get your leadoff batter on it changes the whole inning. It's nice if they are a rabbit, but I would sacrifice speed for a 600 OBP any day.

 

[02Crush]

A slapper is only as good as a HC understands the concept and uses it appropriately. The SEC is not the most supportive conference for Slap Hitters.

 

[CoogansBluff]

So, what's funny is that Georgia, my favorite college team, opened the season today with 4 slappers in the lineup. Georgia is historically a 3-run HR team, not small ball, not in the least. Two of the slappers are new this year, sisters Sydni and Cortni Emanuel, one a Texas Tech transfer, the other a freshman. Another slapper is Niaja Griffin, who's been around but typically struggled. The fourth is Samantha LaZear, a player I like, but who does all those things that I was railing about - no extra-base hits, low walks.

Well, the four slappers go 6-for-8 w/ 2 walks and 7 runs in a 9-0 win over Coppin State. Rest of the team was 2-for-11. (Alex Hugo 1-for-2 w/ a 2B, in case anyone asks.)

 

[BuckeyeGuy]

The fourth is Samantha LaZear, a player I like, but who does all those things that I was railing about - no extra-base hits, low walks.

If she also has few K's, she's perfect for moving runners over lol!