Changes

LOL Central D. You know how things go out here...mention a change...then everything diverges off to a sub-topic

 

I really don't like changing the dimensions of the game other than the extra three feet to protect the pitcher. I have heard baseball people fuss about these things. Folks this is softball. It is a speed game.

 

...or

...change the bats. make them less "hot". article in newspaper yesterday talked about the transition for college bats. cant remember what exact change is but in 2012, the college bats will have changed to reduce the exit speed of the ball off the bat. the article also stated then true power hitters would be the true power hitters then. now i remember! the sweet spot will be reduced from 22 or 12 inches down to 5 inches.

 

Softball

As we change the game, the rules, the distance of bases, etc. we reduce the opportunity for an exciting game. Softball is meant to be played on a smaller field than baseball, has rules that allow all types of players to play the game, (speedy, powerful, crafty, skilled, and all sizes and levels of ability.
Change the bats again, I am fine with that but leave the distances alone! Baseball has worked for many years even with all the improvement in athletes, equipment, and power!
Leave the game alone! It is exciting to watch and it is the kids that play the game to express their wants and needs not the people that never played the game.
Last comment, teams with speed want power teams handicapped and teams without superior pitching want the mounds moved or more rules about the pitching motion or circle, etc. My point, build your team with balance and you will be competitive.

 

Ditto. I applaud this post by LBlues. Every sentence has the purity of the game at heart. My question do you want the game to be special or just like everything else.Myself I like a good Chess game not Checkers.

 

I agree with your point but you ignore that the game IS changing. Softball has allowed the bats to change. The bat has done a great deal to change the dynamics of the game. You use baseball as an example of not tampering with the sport and it has survived but they have locked down the bats to be only wooden. To follow your advice(which I dont disagree with) then should we also go back to the way bats were when fastpitch started? Should we only allow wooden bats? I dont think we should make any rule changes that nullify athletic skill - which is what I think you point was and a good one. But I do think that there should be a rule change that nullifies the increase in bat performance.