Log in or Sign up

This Board Rocks has been split into two separate forums.

The Preps Forum section was moved here to stand on its own. All member accounts are the same here as they were at ThisBoardRocks.

The rest of ThisBoardRocks is located at: CarolinaPanthersForum.com

Welcome to the new Preps Forum!
Dismiss Notice

55 feet?

Discussion in 'Softball Forum' started by MadisonDadofTayTot28, Aug 7, 2006.

Page 3 of 4

Aug 23, 2006 at 2:54 PM #21

cheeze105 Moderator Staff Member

Age:

70

Posts:

3,960

Likes Received:

3

Joined:

Oct 12, 2003

Location:

gastonia, nc

another good point

I appreciate the math and time frames, and i also see your point. but i personally can recall five incidents where a pitcher had her glove on the way up to her face, and had been given another fraction of a second, would have most likely gloved the ball instead of being hit by the ball. reaction times are also given in fractions of seconds, and adding a half a second or even a quarter second, is in some cases, a 100% increase of reaction times, and would most likely reduce some injurys. i have noticed that the 43' games do become a batters game, but it also benefits the junk ball throwers once they adjust to the additional 3 feet. i talked to three of the college coaches that i'm in constant communication with and they state that they have very few injuries to pitchers from the 43' mark. the opinions were all the same - more reaction time. as much as the girls hate it, i would like to see full face shields for pitchers and third base. small price to pay for possible injuries.
Aug 23, 2006 at 3:25 PM #22

EastOfRaleigh Full Access Member

Posts:

2,462

Likes Received:

0

Joined:

Jun 15, 2005

more runs = more fan interest & popularity?

JefferMC said:

When colleges and international play went to 43' it was to increase offense (i.e. more hits) and it worked. In Florida High School games this year, the runs scored went from 9.73 runs per game in 2005 (at 40') to 14.58 runs per game in 2006 (at 43').
Click to expand...

sounds great; I think that in all sports, the fans enjoy more offense / more scoring.
Aug 23, 2006 at 4:08 PM #23

change-up2 Full Access Member

Posts:

257

Likes Received:

0

Joined:

Apr 2, 2005

Location:

WNC

Blink of an eye .100-.150 sec.

This is my dd hitting a high 40's mph pitch , she is 13 120lbs. swinging a 31" RT, the video shows the pitcher seeing the ball has gone past her as her forward pitching motion stops at the circle at 35-36 ft. If that ball was a liner back at her,she would have a very short amount of time to glove or stop this ball. Click on picture.
Aug 23, 2006 at 4:26 PM #24

cheeze105 Moderator Staff Member

Age:

70

Posts:

3,960

Likes Received:

3

Joined:

Oct 12, 2003

Location:

gastonia, nc

nice video

hey, agree, reaction time is very short for a pitcher, especially against rocket tech's and the like. have you ever noticed that most pitchers in 16u/18u finish with their glove somewhere near their face/upper body??? could that be past experience or close calls??? one of the girls i've know since she was 11, Rachael Stowe, has a hugh stride off the mound. couple of years ago, dirty di lined one off of her head and it went to the left field fence, poor kid didnt stand a chance. since that occurance, Rach has finished with glove real close to face/head to cut down on reaction time. Think maybe it's time to better protect the pitcher??? what does everyone think about full face shields/shin/knee guards?????
Aug 23, 2006 at 5:25 PM #25

EastOfRaleigh Full Access Member

Posts:

2,462

Likes Received:

0

Joined:

Jun 15, 2005

agree

cheeze105 said:

...........as much as the girls hate it, i would like to see full face shields for pitchers and third base. small price to pay for possible injuries.
Click to expand...

they did it with the batters; agree that these safety shields should be mandatory for pitchers.
on the subject of 3rd basemen, I think that many coaches unnecessarily have these players too close to the batter, especially when power hitters are up &/or the game situation does not call for a bunt.
Aug 23, 2006 at 5:34 PM #26

EastOfRaleigh Full Access Member

Posts:

2,462

Likes Received:

0

Joined:

Jun 15, 2005

great points

MadisonDadofTayTot28 said:

........
The lions share of scholarships, particularly "full rides" goes to pitchers and catchers. That, in itself says that there is an imbalance. The college game is set up for the pitcher and catcher to play "catch". The defense is setup (infield) with players that can field the snot out of the ball but cannot hit from the rubber distance set. Therefore, teams have to "small ball" each other to death to try for the win.
/quote]

great points and I agree. sometimes you even see small ball being inplemented when situation does not dictate it. like when a team is behind by 4-5 runs or more.
Click to expand...
Aug 24, 2006 at 12:44 AM #27

betterbatter Full Access Member

Posts:

407

Likes Received:

0

Joined:

Jul 1, 2005

43' actually gives the pitcher a 6' cushion compared to 40'.

3' worth of additional time while the pitch is travelling toward the plate gives the pitcher more time to finish her delivery and become set in fielding position (with glove in protective position).

Then, three feet worth of additional reaction time from the batted ball.
Aug 24, 2006 at 7:45 AM #28

LBlues 1 Full Access Member

Posts:

1,095

Likes Received:

1

Joined:

Jul 31, 2003

Honestly

EastOfRaleigh said:

MadisonDadofTayTot28 said:

........
The lions share of scholarships, particularly "full rides" goes to pitchers and catchers. That, in itself says that there is an imbalance. The college game is set up for the pitcher and catcher to play "catch". The defense is setup (infield) with players that can field the snot out of the ball but cannot hit from the rubber distance set. Therefore, teams have to "small ball" each other to death to try for the win.
/quote]

great points and I agree. sometimes you even see small ball being inplemented when situation does not dictate it. like when a team is behind by 4-5 runs or more.
Click to expand...

Isn't all sports set up to stop the other team and score more points? I think if we left most games the way they were set up, we would have less issues, we want to change the games to make them more exciting for the fan and not really to help the players. The fastpitch game is exciting now and allows for coaches and players to figure out how to beat that great pitcher, bunting, hit and run, steals, all kinds of ways. Even, the great pitchers lose. I agree with 43 feet at all levels except middle school and below. Won't hurt pitchers arms, it is the curves, drops etc that can do that and the improper motion, lack of proper mechanics, etc. Not sure we can ever protect kids from the dangers of the sport, face guards might work for pitchers and infielders but they also may hinder them from seeing the ball as well. U know baseball pitches from 60 field and pitcher still get hit by batted balls. I know I am a purist, but just believe we have a great game why try to change everything.
Click to expand...
Aug 24, 2006 at 11:33 AM #29

Double Dog Dare Full Access Member

Posts:

326

Likes Received:

0

Joined:

Jun 14, 2006

Location:

USA

Truly a Purist! (wooden bats)

Agree with LBlues1 on all points regarding the dimensions of the ballfield and how it makes softball more fun to watch and coach. Leave the field the way that it is!

However, if you REALLY want to make the game safer, just mandate wooden bats. That's the way the game is supposed to be played, anyway. With wooden bats, singles hitters are singles hitters and power hitters are truly power hitters. It'll never happen, but would make the game more precise and cure most safety concerns. (would also force the girls to become better technical hitters and bunters!)

However, there's too much money in composite bat sales....dare to dream!
Aug 25, 2006 at 1:47 AM #30

MadisonDadofTayTot28 Full Access Member

Posts:

126

Likes Received:

0

Joined:

Mar 3, 2006

Location:

Marshall, North Carolina

LBlues 1 said:

EastOfRaleigh said:

Isn't all sports set up to stop the other team and score more points? I think if we left most games the way they were set up, we would have less issues, we want to change the games to make them more exciting for the fan and not really to help the players. The fastpitch game is exciting now and allows for coaches and players to figure out how to beat that great pitcher, bunting, hit and run, steals, all kinds of ways. Even, the great pitchers lose. I agree with 43 feet at all levels except middle school and below. Won't hurt pitchers arms, it is the curves, drops etc that can do that and the improper motion, lack of proper mechanics, etc. Not sure we can ever protect kids from the dangers of the sport, face guards might work for pitchers and infielders but they also may hinder them from seeing the ball as well. U know baseball pitches from 60 field and pitcher still get hit by batted balls. I know I am a purist, but just believe we have a great game why try to change everything.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post LBlues. I didn't mean to cause such a commotion. I just heard a rumor ridiculous as it may be. I can see maybe up to 45' but not 50'. I love the game also. My thinking is that a girl who can throw a fastball 60 MPH from 40' has an advantadge like the turn of the century "spitballing" pitchers. It is the rules, but is it right? Not to take anything away from the little pitchers or their investment to the game. Then there is the safety factor. I am not looking for "politically correct" ball, where everyone wins and there are no losers. I am just saying that I would rather see, if you will, Sandy Koufax throw against Mickey Mantle, instead of Gaylord Perry against Bob Uecker. Making sense? Thanks
Click to expand...

Last edited: Aug 25, 2006

(You must log in or sign up to reply here.)

Page 3 of 4

Share This Page