Pitcher regarding Cut-off plays and backing up bases

Noticed many times in youth fastpitch softball this is either handled way wrong or it's not as baseball teaches.

In baseball you don't teach the pitcher to be a cut-off. The pitcher's job on throws in from the OF is to back up bases especially 3rd and home. Saw a play on TV if the pitcher had left the throw from the OF alone, it would have nailed the runner at home.

But I remember trying to teach this to 10U and 12U in the day and it was not easy for them to comprehend this, especially during the games.

 

It would have at least been a close play at the plate. But we got 5 more innings of exciting Softball (and one less hour of sleep) because of it!

Anyway, the HS coach last year wanted the pitcher in the infield as a cutoff, said it was the strategy most favored by college coaches. Every other coach (rec and travel) has had the pitcher backing up the likely play base and the opposite side (1B/3B) player cutting off in the infield as necessary.

 

I personaly like my pticher as a backup and I know some colleges do have her as a cutoff but the top programs in the country I have seen use the pitcher as a back up. One agruement for having her back up is that pitchers tend to be flakey because they have other stuff on the mind. Also they have been throwing under hand all game and now you are going to put her in a relay situation were she is going to have to throw overhand.
Scott Miller
www.gaptogapsoftball.com

 

thats a really good point. and I dont know how many times I have seen, the pitcher make a poor throw on a fielded bunt in the same frame of mind. Seen top school pitchers do it, more times than I would expect.

 

the one they called "jelly"

yes, that UCLA pitcher Angelica seemed to have a phobia almost about this and bad throws to 1st base were commonplace for her and cost UCLA in close games a few times.

but she was an outstanding pitcher.

 

Do the field dimensions come into play in the decision to have them as relay?

 

2 reason for pitcher to back up plays

I was a catcher in HS and Women's Class A travel, but in college I had to pitch...long story. Although I had a great arm as a catcher, I never took cutoffs as a pitcher. I had an excellent college coach and was told that my job was to back up 3rd and Home for 2 reasons:
1) Throwing underhand definitely can effect the way you throw overhand...Trust me on this one. I threw a few balls in the dirt because I wasn't ready to throw overhand. Why take the chance of your pitcher throwing the ball away on a crucial play at home or 3rd when all the other players on the field are warm and ready to gun that ball home overhand.
2) Pitcher is closest to the sideline to backup those throws to 3rd and home. The pitcher should be taught to run off the field, as soon as the ball is hit to the outfield, in foul territory between 3rd and home to see where the play will be made, then back up the play from there.

 

easier

Braves, I think that the smaller field dimensions actually makes it easier for the pitcher to get in a back up position as well as the infielders to get to a cut-off position.................however on the flip side, the ball hit to the OF'er is ready to be thrown in to the plate quicker as well. so.......

 

Yeah, obviously I know what is taught in baseball, but I'm trying to learn the differences between the sports and why.

 

CUTOFF USE TO BE -----

LEFT SIDE-- SS RIGHT SIDE---- 1ST