Hey Governmentmule - softball thread needed

#351
#351
I think we're a pretty disciplined team, overall, at the plate. It is a big reason why we draw so many walks. That's not to say we don't swing at bad pitches--of course we do. We don't have enough players who can drive the ball--and those who can haven't been lately. We are good at getting on base--that is a strength of this lineup, as shown by the fact that we scored 7 runs on a meager four hits. But I'm not really seeing ANY /good/ hitters other than Gregg and Geer. That is a worry. Leach and Vines are pretty talented--can handle the bat, get on base, run well, and Vines can hit the ball in gaps. But after our top four hitters we are very spotty--the bottom half of the lineup is meh.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#352
#352
armchair said:
I think we're a pretty disciplined team, overall, at the plate. It is a big reason why we draw so many walks. That's not to say we don't swing at bad pitches--of course we do. We don't have enough players who can drive the ball--and those who can haven't been lately. We are good at getting on base--that is a strength of this lineup, as shown by the fact that we scored 7 runs on a meager four hits. But I'm not really seeing ANY /good/ hitters other than Gregg and Geer. That is a worry. Leach and Vines are pretty talented--can handle the bat, get on base, run well, and Vines can hit the ball in gaps. But after our top four hitters we are very spotty--the bottom half of the lineup is meh.
Click to expand...

A big reason we scored those runs (on a meager four hits) is because their pitcher was walking a lot of batters. But that doesn't necessarily mean our batters were disciplined, as she was throwing a lot of bad pitches that weren't even close to the strike zone.

And as far as batting discipline goes, there is NO reason to swing at a bad pitch when you have 0 or 1 strike. And that includes swinging at a good pitch (i.e. a strike) if it's a pitch you were fooled by or not prepared to hit. Even if you make contact on such a pitch it often results in an easy grounder or pop up.

The other issue I've seen is batters not putting the ball in play with runners on base, and in some cases... either not even making contact or not swinging the bat at all. That is unacceptable imo, and I think comes down to them not fully recognizing the situation before they step in the batters box. Discipline (to me) means that before every pitch you reassess the situation and know what you have to do... because the situation changes after every pitch. Some batters have a tendency to just go up to the plate and "try to get a hit", and never recognize what they need to do (at minimum) as a batter in that particular situation.
 
#353
#353
IBlvNTmWrk said:
A big reason we scored those runs (on a meager four hits) is because their pitcher was walking a lot of batters. But that doesn't necessarily mean our batters were disciplined, as she was throwing a lot of bad pitches that weren't even close to the strike zone.

And as far as batting discipline goes, there is NO reason to swing at a bad pitch when you have 0 or 1 strike. And that includes swinging at a good pitch (i.e. a strike) if it's a pitch you were fooled by or not prepared to hit. Even if you make contact on such a pitch it often results in an easy grounder or pop up.

The other issue I've seen is batters not putting the ball in play with runners on base, and in some cases... either not even making contact or not swinging the bat at all. That is unacceptable imo, and I think comes down to them not fully recognizing the situation before they step in the batters box. Discipline (to me) means that before every pitch you reassess the situation and know what you have to do... because the situation changes after every pitch. Some batters have a tendency to just go up to the plate and "try to get a hit", and never recognize what they need to do (at minimum) as a batter in that particular situation.
Click to expand...

with your last point. The Vols strike out entirely too much with runners in scoring position. You can't do it. At the least, get the freakin' bat on the ball.
 
#354
#354
armchair said:
with your last point. The Vols strike out entirely too much with runners in scoring position. You can't do it. At the least, get the freakin' bat on the ball.
Click to expand...

It is true and they cant get out of the box fast enough to get back to the dugout.
 
#355
#355
sccshortstop said:
It is true and they cant get out of the box fast enough to get back to the dugout.
Click to expand...

I do agree with most of the points you guys have made. However, we really do have a pretty solid lineup 1-9 each game. Changes are only made by the Weekly's ever now & then.

We have 2 really good pitchers & a third that can help if needed. However, we do not have a closer like Gaffin from last year & that hurts us a lot. Geer & Gregg are killing the ball right now & have been alll season long really.

Seggern seems to struggle with the high & outside pitch but she's going to be a really good player for us as long as she can make that adjustment. McClain has been good getting on & using her speed to get around the bases.

Lockman & Holcomb are going to have to step up more too. We can't depend on Moss & Arnold to pitch lights out every game so if one of them gives up 5+ runs we need our bats hitting consistently to give those girls a break when they're not always at their best.

I'm very proud of our girls to date. Hopefully we can get a sweep playing @ Arkansas this weekend but it won't be an easy task. If we can sweep then we should crack the top 10. Thanks.
 
#356
#356
IBlvNTmWrk said:
Many batters don't, but that's what coaches are for. I don't know if they film the batters or not (during games or practice) but it should be an easy thing to point out. You can also usually tell by the spin on the ball and the ball flight. Hitting slightly under a pitch with an upward swing will often result in an easy pop up. But doing the same with a level swing creates a driving ball because of the backspin.

The other issue I've seen, as you and I think someone else already pointed out, is bad discipline at the plate. Swinging at a questionable pitch, when you have 0 or 1 strike, is a bad habit and typically leads to easy outs.
Click to expand...

Some of swinging at bad pitches is on the ump for that game.If ump calls pitches strikes that are a foot outside ,you will have the tendacy to swing at them .
 
#357
#357
In women's softball the home plate umpire will almost always give the front of the opposite outside corner of the plate to the pitcher as long as the ball isn't high.

For a left hand pitcher pitching to a left-handed batter, this means the pitch is going at an angle across the outside corner of the front of the plate. By the time the catcher catches the ball four feet later the ball looks like it's 6 or 8 inches outside because it's crossing the plate at an angle. But if it barely touches or is just barely outside that front outside corner of the plate the umpire will give the pitch to the pitcher and call the strike.

This kind of pitch is very difficult to hit for a left-handed batter. They almost always end up slapping the ball right straight to the third baseman. Which is of course the point of pitching that way. The left-handed batter has to adjust by moving up in the batter's box and trying to drive the ball into the outfield rather than slapping at third base. Both Leach and Vines can do this, although Leach can do it better than Vines. She swings a heavier bat.

I wish that Leach would turn into the type of hitter Emily Carosene was for Auburn the past couple of seasons - she batted over .400, almost always made contact, but drove the ball up the middle instead of slapping to third.
 
#358
#358
LVJeff said:
In women's softball the home plate umpire will almost always give the front of the opposite outside corner of the plate to the pitcher as long as the ball isn't high.

For a left hand pitcher pitching to a left-handed batter, this means the pitch is going at an angle across the outside corner of the front of the plate. By the time the catcher catches the ball four feet later the ball looks like it's 6 or 8 inches outside because it's crossing the plate at an angle. But if it barely touches or is just barely outside that front outside corner of the plate the umpire will give the pitch to the pitcher and call the strike.

This kind of pitch is very difficult to hit for a left-handed batter. They almost always end up slapping the ball right straight to the third baseman. Which is of course the point of pitching that way. The left-handed batter has to adjust by moving up in the batter's box and trying to drive the ball into the outfield rather than slapping at third base. Both Leach and Vines can do this, although Leach can do it better than Vines. She swings a heavier bat.

I wish that Leach would turn into the type of hitter Emily Carosene was for Auburn the past couple of seasons - she batted over .400, almost always made contact, but drove the ball up the middle instead of slapping to third.
Click to expand...

The umps are wildly inconsistent in calling the pitches outside to left handed hitters and for that matter to right handed hitters....
 
#359
#359
They're inconsistent inside, high, and from one ump to another. But they're pretty consistent on that outside corner.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top