Why not 43 ?

Most One Player Dominated Sport

There is no other sport that is dominated by one player like softball. For a pitcher to have numerous no hitters, perfect games and a 0.00 era is ridiculous. In addition, there are no pitching limitations so one dominant pitcher can pitch every inning of every season.

As it stands now, this is a one player game for the best High School teams, whether people like to admit it or not. If you have a great pitcher (like Butler, Central Cabarrus, etc...) you play for one run (small ball) and usually win the game in a shutout.

This is not baseball and should not be turned into baseball. However, it is crazy for one player to totally dominate a game over and over again.

Look at the stats of the very best baseball pitchers in High School. Compare the stats of an Ashton Ward from 2007 to Bumgardner who was a high round draft pick and is a minor league baseball player. Compare the innings pitched, strikeouts, wins, era etc... and the records are ridiculous. Also, compare the stats of the #2 pitchers from both teams (Butler was an exception, as they were one of the few teams with an actual pitching rotation).

How long will our girls want to play a game that is so pitcher dominant? Who wants to play shortstop and have one opportunity to field one ball per game? The most action for a fielder is the pre - game infield practice.

Move the high school mound back to 43 feet and move the college and international mound back to 45 feet. And, move the bases back 5 feet.

 

Wow, I'm not used to having someone on the softball forum actually agree with me. Your statistical analysis is a good one, especially comparing Bumgardner, who was arguably one of the best HS pitchers we've seen in awhile, to Ashton Ward. While I'm sure SC felt confident putting him on the mound, they sure didn't expect to score one run and tell Maddy that's it, you take it from here.

You're right, it is pitcher-dominant right now. But the purists say it's never been more popular, and I guess they are right. I'd just like to show off the athletic ability of these girls a little more, and perhaps eliminate "some" of the small ball. They say they'd bunt more with longer bases since the 3B is back farther, but if that's the case, why is there not more bunting in baseball? It's because the speed of the throw beats the runner who now has to travel farther...I say the game can be even more popular with a couple tweaks.

 

100% agreed

I absolutely agree. As a pitcher one of the scariest, and most annoying, thing is having an umpire who won't call corners which forces you to go right down the middle and on a good hitting team thats just asking to have it hit back up the middle.

 

Ask

Wonder what actual players want. Why not do a survey of players with you ideas, they may agree or may say we enjoy the game the way it is because, it takes more talent to play the game as is than to turn it into baseball. Not sure what the actual players would say but they are the ones that count.

 

Agreed. Don't know how it would turn out but I'd love to see a tourney played at 43-45' pitching and 65-70' bases, and then ask them. I'm willing to be wrong on this one. As a side note, did anybody ask them if they wanted to move the pitching distance from 40 to 43' at the college level?

 

Probably not

Probably didn't ask! Hey the game is for them isn't it? I agree to try things before making radical decisions.

 

Wood bats....problems solved.....keep the field dimensions the way they are and the game the way it is.

With wood bats, singles hitters hit singles.....not homeruns.

 

Not bad

Good idea, maybe with the new rules on bats, they will not be as hot and problem solved. All sports equipment companies work to improve the personal performance of the average player:

Baseball: More HR's now than ever, HOT BALL
Softball: More HR's now than ever, HOT BAT
Football: Much lighter pads, more speed and agility
Hockey: Sharper and lighter skates, as well as lighter padding, more speed
Basketball: Different floors with more spring, lighter shoes, sweat proof basketball
Nascar, drag racing, all looking for that advantage to put them at the top!

I need something to make me smarter, faster, stronger, wiser, handsome, oh well miracles like that are not likely! I just get older and dumber!

 

Bases moved to 65

ft would be ok. 70 might be stretching it.

I'm not sure because I have never really thought hard about extending the base path. Would you extend the fences as well? Some fields are minimum distance and unless your playing at Chase which has a 375 ft wall (just kidding), it could be a major disadvantage to the game.

JMHO because I haven't put a lot of stock into thinking of change of distance. I'm interested in hearing more though!

 

Scary for parents too.....remember the kids are invincible, just ask them.LOL
Matchbox strike zones are dangerous!!!
JMHO
ERMS