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Online now: 2 members: TABLE SETTER 11, dawg888; 82 anonymousDiscussion: Which Is Tougher?
| Posted | Discussion |
| March 11, 2011 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | Which Is Tougher? As you know, there are lots of guys that can hit softballs at high exit speeds, sending softballs 300-400 feet or more. Also softball infielders are closer to the batter due to the softball fields shorter base paths. So which do you think would be tougher.... Play infield on a Baseball team or Play infield on a Softball team? |
| March 11, 2011 pitcher55 Men's 55 130 posts | depends on what level your playing.i think AAorAAA would be easier tha baseball.baseball players are swinging good composits,and if they hit it square,lots of velocity there.i think major+ and maybe major would be tuffer.their able to hit it square with the slow pitch,and those guys can rip. |
| March 11, 2011 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | Oooops I forgot to mention that I was only compairing Baseball and Softball infielders fielding balls hit from the batter and not anything else like base runners stealing bases. |
| March 12, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Hey, shut up & pitch--overall, I think softball is tougher because with the large sweet spot, a much higher number of balls are hit very hard in your direction on the field, and the fields are not nearly as well manicured, so the hops are not as true. You see very few bad hops in major league baseball. Sure, you get eaten up once in a while in baseball, but not like softball. Also, and this is a guess-correct me if I am wrong-----A softball being larger would have more air resistance than a baseball. If both are hit 450 feet in calm conditions, wouldn't the softball have to have a slightly higher initial velocity to achieve the same distance? |
| March 12, 2011 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | Webbie25 I think you are correct. I believe that there are many softball infielders would be able to handle most baseball action and even some MLB action. The biggest drawback for the softballers would be that they just don't have the range as most baseball infielders, particularly at higher levels. The advantage of youth! I think that the softball being larger is much more likely to come at the softball infielder like a "knuckle ball" when sharply hit more often than in baseball. That's my 2 cents! |
| March 12, 2011 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | Webbie25 I think you are correct. I believe that there are many softball infielders would be able to handle most baseball action and even some MLB action. The biggest drawback for the softballers would be that they just don't have the range as most baseball infielders, particularly at higher levels. The advantage of youth! I think that the softball being larger is much more likely to come at the softball infielder like a "knuckle ball" when sharply hit more often than in baseball. That's my 2 cents! |
| March 12, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | a few years back i did both(52),played 3rd even with the bag to 4 or 5 steps back in baseball,wouldn't think of that in softball(at least 5 steps back,min,preferably at the grass line) unless i knew the hitter couldn't hit a ball real hard.really doesn't make that big a difference in which level,just more can do it(hit it hard) at the higher levels. yes more knuckle balls in softball. |
| March 12, 2011 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Moving the bases back to 70' would have helped a lot and made it a much better and safer game but the brass didn't want that. Thank goodness they did pass the rule allowing sleeveless jerseys though. Very important! |
| March 12, 2011 Mr. Manassas 244 posts | I think that there is another factor in making playing IF in softball tougher. There will be many more balls hit on the sweet spot in slowpitch than in baseball. |
| March 13, 2011 stick8 1992 posts | Jawood I agree 100% with you on the 70 ft bases. I can also see the importance of sleeveless jersees. Gotta show the pipes!! lol |
| March 13, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | We played the 70 foot bases in Vegas and everybody I talked to loved it. I hope they adopt it. |
| March 13, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | They can adopt what they want. The two problems will be (a) getting the parks/complexes to move the bases back and (b) getting the parks/complexes to cut the infield deeper to allow the infielders to safely play deeper and take advantage of the longer bases. |
| March 14, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Gary-most infielders I have seen are already playing at the depth they feel comfortable at. If I was playing infield, I would stay at that depth and take advantage of the extra 5 feet that the hitter has to run which gives me a fraction of a second longer to make the play at first, and create more double plays. The extra 5 feet, or 10 feet running to second really cuts down on the almost automatic double for a lot of fast guys. Gee, they made the shift from 60-65 fee easily, this would work, too. |
| March 14, 2011 4Four4 Men's 60 87 posts | SU&P - Baseball! Played 3b/C in both for many years. Play even with the bag. Its always been harder for corner IF to see location on a pitch - especially if its a curveball/slider/k-ball. The ball itself is harder with relatively larger stitching causing it to bounce off field surface imperfections differently. More "true" hops in softball. And, 70ft. sound s good to me,too. #4 - DH The Tub |
| March 14, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | 4four4,not sure what your saying,but i have had more bad hops playing softball than ever did playing baseball.you are right about the corner inf'ers not being able to see pitch location,but that is in both SB and BB. webbie mmmmm you need to stay in the outfield....LOL..... |
| March 15, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | mad dog-you disagree? |
| March 15, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | ok....... |
| March 15, 2011 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Gary, We'll bring a couple of shovels to every tournament we play in and take about 10 minutes to move the bases back to 70'. Most infields (not all, of course) are cut deep enough to add an extra 5 feet for the bases. Remember, 70' bases is also a benefit for the baserunners at first and third. How many times are you on base with one of your own dead pull power hitters at bat? Not even a glove on your hand to protect yourself! |
| March 15, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Not saying it would be a bad idea, I am just not sure how feasible it would be at a lot of parks/complexes. |
| March 15, 2011 olie04 Men's 50 48 posts | Move the bases back 5 feet, use a dubbed down bat and ball, change the age divisions,etc.etc.etc. This is senior softball. If you have the desire and ability to play, you play. If you have to request changes to the game then maybe it is time to either stop playing softball and opt for a more sedintary activity. There are divisions available to match your abilities and skills level. Senior softball is a sport that is competative. If you want it to be safer for you/match your skill level, may I suggest a non-competative division that plays on 70 foot bases,only on Saturdays and Sundays, with USSA bats and crappy balls, where you have no umpires to make bad calls, and no tournament directors. Questions? |
| March 15, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | olie, you miss the point. The 'requests' came when the old guys insisted on the special bats and all of the subsequent silly rules. If you cannot hit with a USSSA bat, perhaps YOU need a 'non-competitive division'. If you can only compete with the special bats, you might not be what you seem to think you are and need to think about checkers. |
| March 15, 2011 olie04 Men's 50 48 posts | No, I made a point. Too much whinning about making changes to an already fun game. As for USSA bats being used, I say lets use them. I don,t need to hit it 500 feet. 400 is fine by me. |
| March 15, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | I think the problem is the changes often asked for seem to be in direct response to trying to accommodate the special senior bats. Those are what initially changed the "fun" game you are referring to by (a) making it much more dangerous and more importantly (b) taking much of the defense and baserunning out of the game. |
| March 15, 2011 olie04 Men's 50 48 posts | You are absolutely correct. Why do we need special bats,longer bases. Lets just play the game the way it was intended to be played. Offense,defense and occasional strategy. Good call Gary19 |
| March 15, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | why did they move the pitchers mound back to 50' in the 80's,why did they move the bases to 65',hell NSA has had 70' bases for at least a min of 5 years,with 53' mound. |
| March 15, 2011 olie04 Men's 50 48 posts | Variety? If all sanctions had the same rules then how do you appeal to the people who disagree. Offer different options and you may capitalize on the majority. These are basic economic strategies. Look at the subtle differences in cars from manufacturer to manufacturer. The same holds true with softball sanctions. NSA,ASA,USSSA, etc. Just my observation. Then you have the choice to play which game you like the best. |
| March 15, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | olie04,yeah i did like the diff's back in the day,but most are all geared toward the batter now a days,ASA has brought their pitching height close to all the others now(6-10'),tho they still use a good ball(44-375) they also have the 52-275 ball,where as USSSA, has gone to the 40-325 and the 52-275/300 ball b/c of the cheating going on in softball now a days. so really not much diff,except for senior ball now a days... |
