Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 3 members: Ack, Doyle3, TABLE SETTER 11; 65 anonymousDiscussion: teams looking for players
| Posted | Discussion |
| Feb. 11, 2016 UMBACH 68 posts | teams looking for players have you noticed, a lot of teams on here looking for players, one thing they all have in common, is looking for a pitcher, interesting, there are getting harder to find! |
| Feb. 12, 2016 Sparky.1 Men's 75 284 posts | The Pitcher's position use to be an awesome spot on the field especially in the 'old days of USSSA for creative talent. Umpire's had to "call" a pitch instead of just watching if the ball hits a mat and all in all, if a team back in those days had a quality & creative Pitcher(s) even in the ASA format, your team was more than likely be very competitive. Now a Pitcher has to be willing to be a "target", able to throw a "hitter-friendly" ball to hit a mat at a height that is "hitter-friendly" to a batter that is using a high-tech bat and is served very well if he/she has past experience as a Hockey Goalie especially performing in all of the mandatory gear. Those 'old days are gone forever as is the true wonder of the game! |
| Feb. 12, 2016 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | There is still an art to pitching with the mat. There are pitchers and there are throwers. Good pitchers have movement on their ball and works the edges of the mat and stays away from the middle of the plate. Throwers are ones that can basically throw strikes down the middle of the plate. |
| Feb. 12, 2016 Sparky.1 Men's 75 284 posts | So true Fred. Like the 'old days however, the "Throwers" are still the vast majority and like you said, "down the middle of the plate". High tech bats & balls, limited arc, extra expenses on mandatory protective gear and it's no wonder that there is a "premium" on Quality Pitchers. The game today, has done little if anything to help Pitchers develop as in the 'old days. Now it's just find someone who can at least hit a mat and call it even and if you are fortunate enough to secure a "Pitcher" and not a "Thrower" in today's game, thank your lucky stars. |
| Feb. 14, 2016 UMBACH 68 posts | GET SCREENSand this wont be a problem anymore! |
| Feb. 15, 2016 B94 Men's 50 138 posts | Fred S - well said in identifying pitchers and throwers. I agree 100% with your analogy in separating the two - the other thing teams need to realize is that a pitcher will walk a few guys if he is doing his job as opposed to the thrower who may not walk anyone. To this day it amazes me how many teams want a "pitcher" but are the first to squawk when there are a few walks thought the pitcher may have only missed the mat by an inch or two... |
| Feb. 15, 2016 titanhd Men's 60 638 posts | Sparky in the "old days"what did the game do to help develop pitchers? |
| Feb. 15, 2016 k man Men's 65 326 posts | In addition to having a pitcher who can pitch, you are really blessed if you have one who can a) field his position (like having an extra infielder) b) can get to 1st base on a play to the right side and c) we have 1 who can get to 2nd base allowing middle infielders to play off the bag. Regarding walks, good teams we play against smell blood when a pitcher can't find the plate. Batters become very choosy, fielders are on their heels and nothing good ever seems to become of walks. As they say "Oh those base on balls" and yes I do not envy them with how close they are to the batter. I am more than happy to be as far away as possible in the outfield. |
| Feb. 15, 2016 PoollShark Men's 50 90 posts | The problem with pitching in senior ball is the mat. You have to serve it up to a batter holding a missile launcher in their hands. I preferred, for better or worse that the umps call the balls and strikes. It allows a pitcher to pitch and forces the batter to be more aggressive IMHO. Another solution might be a bigger mat? |
| Feb. 15, 2016 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | You can still pitch with the mat. Nothing says you have to throw it down the middle. I pitch the same (around the edges) with or without a mat. The thing with the mat I don't have to depend on an ump's judgement to call a strike on the edge of the plate Also with the mat it opens up the whole front edge of the plate for the pitcher. You throw a 6 footer which hits the front edge of the mat and there aren't many hitters that can hit that pitch. |
| Feb. 15, 2016 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | I'm siding with Fred S on this one. I've been pitching for more than 60 years, and counting batting practice, rec leagues, and tournament play, I have literally pitched more than 1,000,000 pitches. In the old days (post-fast pitch), you not only had to worry about the umpire's interpretation of height, but also his eye for depth (did it go through the individual batter's strike zone) and inside/outside pitches. With the introduction of the mat and home plate as part of the strike zone, the main issue is the umpire's interpretation of 6 to 12 feet. If it hits the mat, it's a strike, and most umps are very good at perceiving that. And occasionally, I get an ump who will give me a strike even if there is a divot in the ground next to the mat or plate. "The edge of the ball brushed the mat" that ump will say. I prefer the accuracy of the mat over the vagaries of the ump. What would be a good thread is the pros and cons of the "edge-nibbling" pitcher who occasionally walks a batter versus either the "thrower" who seldom walks a batter, or the pitcher who comes down the middle when behind in the count. How important is a walk as contrasted to the pitcher who gets batters to swing at pitches outside of the strike zone? I'm a pitcher who hates to walk a batter and would rather give up a single after a 3-0 count (with the potential for a fly out or mishit ground ball). Am I wrong? |
| Feb. 15, 2016 mck71 Men's 60 344 posts | Omar, to me, it depends on the situation. If I have 1st base open I might not "groove" a 3-0 or 3-1 pitch because if I walk someone I now set up a force-out or if the guy have been getting good swings on me. The only concern is always making sure you stay consistent on throwing strikes as when you nibble too much, can make your defense sit back a little too much, especially later in the day after a few games, bad weather, etc. I find a LOT of senior players take a strike so getting that first one over is usually key and then you can change up depending on where they are standing, in or out, short or deep. Now if they start teeing off on the first one, change that up, that's the difference between a pitcher and a guy who can throw strikes! :-) And I LOVE plate and mat, even as an umpire, usually takes a lot of the BS out of the game at the plate, I only need to worry about height so I can then stand off the plate up with a better view of the lines. My 2 cents. |
| Feb. 15, 2016 bond_171513 Men's 55 79 posts | Personally, I love to pitch. I hope they never go to the screen for tourneys. I am involved in every play and have an influence on the pace of the game and on a good day, have some influence on the batters. I agree with Omar - I HATE walking a batter as it makes me feel as though I let the team down. Since so many of us in senior ball take the first pitch, that's the only time I try to groove one in. But, mck makes some good points too - walking someone isn't always a bad thing - especially when first base is open - it's very dependent on the situation - score/inning/hr hitter?, etc. |
| Feb. 15, 2016 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | mck71, good points. I agree that when the ump stands off the plate (not having to watch for the edges) he is more accurate in judging the height of the pitch. bond_171513, good points also. Like you, most of the tournament players I pitch against take the first pitch, especially in their first at bat against me. I do the same thing as a leadoff hitter. That's when I throw a strike (or unfortunately take one if I'm leading off). As you both acknowledge, some fielders hate the nibbler pitcher because they sit back and lose focus. I often get praised by my teammates for keeping the game going and keeping them alert. And yes, they do groan (but not too loudly) when I walk a batter. |
