- May 17, 2012
- 2,807
- 113
Other than say the person actually throwing the ball...
If a catcher calls the pitch but at pitcher has a right of refusal (shakes head yes or no) who is really calling the game? It's semantics....
Pitch Calling
- Thread starter Coach904
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Other than say the person actually throwing the ball...
If a catcher calls the pitch but at pitcher has a right of refusal (shakes head yes or no) who is really calling the game? It's semantics....
- May 16, 2016
- 946
- 93
It's not about how many you'd "Like" them to throw... it's "How many CAN they throw reliably?"
- May 17, 2012
- 2,807
- 113
You are not better than random chance.
Put a water bottle on a bucket on top of home plate. Have them throw their best pitch 10 times. If they can knock the water bottle off the bucket 7 out of 10 times, without hitting the bucket to do it they are pitcher. Otherwise calling pitches is just an exercise in futility and all you are doing is enabling a fantasy for the pitcher and their parents.
I was thinking water bottle is too skinny , but then I realized that with even half decent speed, you really only need to touch it to knock it off.
At most levels I would agree, but at the highest levels in college it makes a big difference. But you need to have the data to make good decisions. Which is why they call pitches from the dugout. To your point with the information and a pitcher that can execute you are no better than Magic 8 Ball.
radness
Possibilities & Opportunities!
- Dec 13, 2019
- 7,270
- 113
24 years As a fastpitch catcher. Calling pitches from behind the plate.
Add coaching years 49 years in s.b.
My opinion,
Fastball is LEAST called pitch.
In fact, hardly ever use it.
It is generally not the fastest pitch either.
It is a flat pitch that screams
CRUSH THIS PITCH
In fastpitch, pitches start in
the strikezone (pitchers knee).
Fastballs start as a strike and make a bee line path to the hitters bat.
No movement. Straight line.
( not like baseball where pitches start out of the strikezone and come into zone)
Strategize pitch locations by remembering in softball the spin moves out of the zone!
Up and down
In or out
Use only the edges of the plate.
And the river.
Even further off plate to waist pitches and get batters to chase.
Mix in change ups. They make every other pitch faster!
Amanda Freed great words to learn by setting up a batter!
Thats my simple take
on pitch calling.
Success is in the books!
Enjoy
Add coaching years 49 years in s.b.
My opinion,
Fastball is LEAST called pitch.
In fact, hardly ever use it.
It is generally not the fastest pitch either.
It is a flat pitch that screams
CRUSH THIS PITCH
In fastpitch, pitches start in
the strikezone (pitchers knee).
Fastballs start as a strike and make a bee line path to the hitters bat.
No movement. Straight line.
( not like baseball where pitches start out of the strikezone and come into zone)
Strategize pitch locations by remembering in softball the spin moves out of the zone!
Up and down
In or out
Use only the edges of the plate.
And the river.
Even further off plate to waist pitches and get batters to chase.
Mix in change ups. They make every other pitch faster!
Amanda Freed great words to learn by setting up a batter!
Thats my simple take
on pitch calling.
Success is in the books!
Enjoy
Last edited:
If you want use a milk jug. You will still be lucky to get 7 of 10.
If your fastball does not have significant movement you are doing it wrong. If you cannot master a fastball I would be suspect of all your pitches.
