Pitching at the WCWS

[FastpitchFan]

Did you watch the Women's College World Series this weekend?

Wow, this amazing softball is just an incredible treat. I love it!

Speaking of the WCWS, have you noticed how modern pitchers are literally work horses? They can go on forever and remain super effective. A perfect exemple was the 10-inning game between UCLA and Auburn.

The modern pitcher at the WCWS has speed, movement, mental toughness, and..... endurance. Pitching endurance is the biggest difference between today's pitchers and what we saw 5-10 years ago.

What is the secret for this pitching endurance? You're probably thinking that they do a lot of cardio work.

Truth is, what you think is cardio work like running a few miles isn't what they do at all. That's not pitching specific and will NOT contribute to pitching performance much.

The superior conditoning they do is very pitching-specific. The more generic you are in your training, the less benefit you will get from your workouts.

Be specific, pitching specific that is. That's how you achieve such high levels of pitching awesomeness!

- Coach Marc

 

[Hillhouse]

All due respect Marc... (yes, I still owe you that email... it's coming if I ever have a day without doctor appointments) When making it to the WCWS much of that "wow factor" that you put into the endurance can be summed up in 1 word: Adrenaline. 9, 10, or 11 inning of an elimination game should give someone all the adrenaline they need to stay strong. I can remember the final days of one of the most prestigious tournaments in North America (circa 1999) and it was 100+ degrees. This was already after pitching 4 of the 5 pool play games on Fri and Sat. We made the top 4, which meant 2 wins for the championship (seeds 1 vs 4, 2 vs.3) We won our semi final 3-0 and headed into the championship vs. our arch rivals. And I cannot overstate RIVALS, like the greatest rivalries in all sports: Duke-North Carolina, Bo Sox-Yankees, Alabama-Auburn, and Police-soccer fans all tied into this one game. I was pitching against one of the greatest pitchers ever (now BYU pitching coach Pete Meredith) and it was pure adrenaline that kept me going. We won 3-1, a game that is still one of my most memorable for the rivalry, winning THIS tournament, etc. And my team gave me 3 runs, all I needed to do was keep them 1 run less than we had. B7 inning, my adrenaline got the best of me and I walked the lead off batter. San Jose St head coach Peter Turner came up to bat and swung at an inside drop ball FIRST PITCH, hitting a ground ball for a 5-4-3 double play. With a 1-1 count on former U of Utah and Southern Utah head coach Kyle Magnusson, I got him to pop up to shallow left field on an outside low rise to seal the victory. I still get goose bumps thinking of that.

Of all the games I've pitched (wins and losses) that is one I will never forget and adrenaline got me through it. I could recite dozens of games where I went 15 innings but without the adrenaline, pressure, etc. that takes over in big games, big tournaments, and with that the pitcher can do more than in a run of the mill game. Sometimes the inspiration for the game IS the game.

Bill

 

[Rockjerry]

The thing I noticed the most this weekend was the hitting. It seemed not so long ago pitching dominated. Now you see girls turning on a 68 MPH fastball and lining it over the fence or pulling it down the line. You reference that UCLA-Auburn game which ended 11-10. And it ended on a bases loaded walk. I think Corda had nothing left in the tank. She threw a lot of pitches in that game. She was still throwing hard but the control was gone. Nonetheless, there was some great softball played over the weekend. It should be a great Finals, Haeger against that Wolverine lineup, Wagner against the Gator lineup

 

[Hillhouse]

In what little I watched of the games, I also found the umpiring to be SHOCKING behind the plate. Talk about squeezing pitchers and forcing balls down the middle for the offense.

As a pitcher, I realize I'm biased but, I thought the strike zones have been horrible. Brutal.

 

[JJsqueeze]

In what little I watched of the games, I also found the umpiring to be SHOCKING behind the plate. Talk about squeezing pitchers and forcing balls down the middle for the offense.

As a pitcher, I realize I'm biased but, I thought the strike zones have been horrible. Brutal.

It's not just your bias. The K zone graphic repeatedly showed PUs making horrible calls. Especially high and low squeezing and inconsistency. The UCLA-Auburn game was especially bad. I am hopeful that with the increased visibility and coverage that some changes are made. It really takes away from the game when the cat and mouse between the pitcher and batter is removed from the game because the pitcher has no reliable spots to work.

 

[PEPPERS]

In what little I watched of the games, I also found the umpiring to be SHOCKING behind the plate. Talk about squeezing pitchers and forcing balls down the middle for the offense.

As a pitcher, I realize I'm biased but, I thought the strike zones have been horrible. Brutal.

DD talked about the same thing, she could not believe the small strike zone she was seeing at the games.

 

[sutherlandfinch]

In what little I watched of the games, I also found the umpiring to be SHOCKING behind the plate. Talk about squeezing pitchers and forcing balls down the middle for the offense.

As a pitcher, I realize I'm biased but, I thought the strike zones have been horrible. Brutal.

absolutely Bill. I've seen a ton of softball this season including the Mary Nutter classic in Palm Springs. One definitive difference I've noticed is that when the teams are not playing televised games you are more likely to see a "regular softball strike zone " Once the cameras are on the umpires get tight, brutally tight. (Stage freight?) No rivers, no corners, no partial on the plate. Maybe a growing pain for the popularity of the sport but TV changes a lot.

Another aspect- the TV commercial breaks. Holy smokes. Can you imagine trying to pitch in the scenario you explained and have 10 to 12 minutes breaks between action because the previous inning ran too long and extra commercials need to be inserted? Watching starting pitchers run back-and-forth to the bullpen to keep throwing to stay warm has to be at an all time high. But I guess that's show biz.

Sorry to hijack your thread Marc
Conditioning of course is extremely important. But caffeine is the lifeblood of champions ( I learned that during the commercial break in the 10th of the UCLA game)

 

[AUtiger98]

I agree 100%. I thought they squeezed it in every game I watched. I was trying to teach my DD (9 yr. old) about the strike zone (the K zone box on TV was a big help) and there were several times when she turned to me and said "why wasn't that a strike"?

On another note, in the lost to Auburn, UCLA's pitcher threw 197 pitches. It is fair to say she ran out of gas after 10 innings.

 

[Eric F]

On another note, in the lost to Auburn, UCLA's pitcher threw 197 pitches. It is fair to say she ran out of gas after 10 innings.

What I found interesting is that Carda's speed never failed - although she was throwing more change-ups in the last couple of innings. Her control really disappeared.

I thought that was a spectacular game. The emotional roller-coaster ride was fantastic. I couldn't help but feel very sad for Carda. That's a rough way to finish a great career.

 

[abbygale]

I felt like Carda never had control from the start in that game. Her misses were huge. Just one of those days. Unfortunate it was that game when it happened.

On a side note: I think that any body part hanging over in the river, should be fair game for bruising. Ball or a strike but no base.