Change of position

[Randall Softball]

here is a new question for anyone. My daughter is a freshman in College and either pitches and then either plays short or 1st. Over the weekend they moved her into a DH role and my daughter has always played and never has DH'd. She has to hit, She has the 2nd highest avg, and then leads or is 2nd is every offensive category, except triples. Anyway is there any advice out there how to get her to adjust to being a DH? The coach actually has several other options but chooses to use her as the DH. The first time in the DH she went 0-3 and snapped her 11 game hittng streak and to add she has hit safely in 17-24 games,. She told me after the game that she dwells on the failed at bats and does not have defense to change her frame of mind.
Any suggestions out there.

 

[sluggers]

When she makes an out, she has to accept she made an out, and let the emotional part of it go. She is going to fail more often than succeed...if she fails 60% of the time, she will be an All-American.

Then, she needs to analyze the at-bat and determine specifically *HOW* the pitcher got her out. Did she make a mistake? Did the pitcher throw a great pitch?

She should spend the time between at-bats preparing for the next at-bat. She should be studying the umpire's strike zone and studying the pitcher.

What does the pitches does the pitcher throw? Which ones are good and which ones are not so good?

She needs to focus on "tells". A tell is a way for the batter to determine what pitch the pitcher will throw. She should really be looking at the pitcher's hand for the different grips the pitcher uses, and then find a way to detect the grip. She should be looking for patterns in the pitch selection. Most pitchers do some kind of backswing...most pitchers don't hide the ball on the backswing, so she should be able to pick up the grip. Once she sees the grip, she knows the pitch.

What does the pitcher throw when she is ahead in the count? What does she throw when she is behind in the count? What is the general plan the pitcher is following? The reality is that most coaches are predictable--they have preferences. So, she should think about how to predict what the pitcher will throw.

As to the umpire, she needs to be really looking at the umpire's zone, and try to figure out what she/he is or is not calling as strikes.

She also should check out the other team's defense for problems. Where are the weak positions? How is the other team covering bunts? How can she take advantage of what they are doing to get on base?

 

[Mark Murphy]

It is very difficult for any player to suddenly stop playing defense and solely rely on offense. Softball and baseball is a mental game and you have to be focused to keep yourself in the game. She is more than likely thinking (subconsiously) that she has failed somewhere to be reduced to only one aspect of the game. Both sides of the game are very important, and she has to prepare mentally that as a DH success is hitting the ball 3 out of 10 time at bat! If she can do that she will be considered a great hitter! 0 for 3 in one game is nothing to worry about, she will bounce back. What she can do to keep her is the game is to study the pitcher. Watch the mechanics of the pitcher and identifly any variences in the mechanic. (IE tipping pitches) She can then transfer that to the plate when hitting. She will also be able to pass any information along to her teammates making her feel like she is still contributing to the game without her playing defense.