What exactly qualifies a pitcher as 'Elite'?

[JJsqueeze]

Ooooh... good one!

Ok, Ricketts or Gascoinge?!

That is a really hard call. I often wondered if Gascoigne was better. It hard to argue with 72 MPH. But Gascoigne was awesome. Both elite, but one was underappreciated. I would not be surprised if she is more effective in NPF than Ricketts.

 

[Ken B]

Earned Run Average - NCAA.com
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/softball/d1/current/individual/278

 

[JJsqueeze]

Earned Run Average - NCAA.com

This is deceiving because with her being #2 she presumably faced the easier part of the season (lower level opponents) and her IP was so much lower. Not saying this is the case, as she did awesome in the WCWS final, but overall I'm sure she faced easier situations than Ricketts as the number 2.

 

[Ken B]

That is a really hard call. I often wondered if Gascoigne was better. It hard to argue with 72 MPH. But Gascoigne was awesome. Both elite, but one was underappreciated. I would not be surprised if she is more effective in NPF than Ricketts.

I think stats go out the window when you step in to the box to face Ricketts. Just sayin...

 

[butcher-boy]

I feel somewhat intimidated posting on the same thread as Hal but hear goes. First of all I think an elite is in the eye of the beholder. I have seen teams in our area with the self awarded title of " Elite whatever ". I could never figured out what made that team elite. IMHO I would offer that a pitcher would be considered " Elite " if it was by acclimation. What I mean is a college all american pitcher could be considered as elite. Any pitcher that has been selected to pitch on a professional SB team would qualify. There will always be pitchers that have better qualities than the ones I mentioned but have not been recognize, not much you can do about that.

 

[JJsqueeze]

profastpitch.com: Statistics

NPF pitching stats-

 

[Ken B]

I think stats went out the door the year Langenfeld led UCLA to the title. She achieved "elite" by will.

 

[RubberBiscuit]

That is a really hard call. I often wondered if Gascoigne was better. It hard to argue with 72 MPH. But Gascoigne was awesome. Both elite, but one was underappreciated. I would not be surprised if she is more effective in NPF than Ricketts.

Dittos with JJ here

 

[sftblldad7]

There has been a couple maybe you have heard of them, Fernandez, Finch ( in there prime ) and I think we maybe adding another soon

 

[JJsqueeze]

this thread needs a dose of contention-I'll start. Finch was and is overrated and gets a little "hot chick" boost. She was a very, very good pitcher but she seems to be on a little bit of a pedestal. There, I said it. let the acrimony fly.