- Aug 21, 2008
- 2,393
- 113
In my recent down time, I've spent a lot of it binge watching shows on Netflix, etc. Today, as I was taking a break from binge watching Longmire on Netflix, I was surprised to see Auburn-Alabama was on ESPN as I turned on regular cable for a small break in my binge. This was the first college game I have watched this year and every time i watch college softball I am convinced more and more that I know nothing about pitching despite doing it for my entire life.
I will take Amanda all day and twice on Sunday (pardon the pun of today) over Michele Smith in the color commentary. But, I think even she gets the pitches thrown mixed up. She mentioned a few "back door curves" when it appeared to me that Alabama's pitcher (Osario??) was throwing a low rise. Low rises will often have some additional side spin to prevent them from going too high in the zone. But I don't think there's too much mistaking a low rise from a curveball (front door or back door).
Alabama avoided throwing to the girl who apparently got hit in the arm yesterday. I couldn't figure out why. Ok, maybe she's a good hitter but #1 she's injured, #2 she might be gunshy on anything inside, #3 she's probably very uncomfortable swinging and #4 she's not used to all that body armor. I'd have gone right at her instead of 4 walks.
Whomever calls pitches for Alabama lives in dangerous waters. My rule of thumb is, with a 1 run lead there is no such thing in my arsenal as a riseball after the 5th inning. Riseballs, flat ones and good ones that were simply connected, will go out of the park more often that drop balls with good or poor movement. If I'm winning 3-1 and nobody is on base... ok, I'll dangle a few. But once a runner hits base, it's drop city and change up all day long (especially if the change up has downward spin and/or is kept low).
Ok, Alabama is playing their arch rival Auburn on the last weekend of season play. The girl pitching the game is winning 3-2. With 2 outs in the 7th inning (nobody on base) the coach pulled her for a relief pitcher. I fully understand that the girl coming the the plate has hit 2 HR's already but, lets face it... she hit good pitches. They weren't flat, the balls were in her eyes and she got her hands up and hit them. BUT, and this is a huge BUT... if I'm that pitcher (after the game and away from the others) I go into that coach's office and tell him "coach, that should've been MY game all the way". Rival team, I'm winning, nobody on, let me go right at her and not throw riseballs to her!!!!!! Steam would've been coming outta my ears on TV had that been me getting pulled. The girl who came in got her to ground out on a low pitch (go figure) and all's well that ends well. But, the competitor in me would be having a very frank discussion about this after the game. Anyone who's pitched a game in their life will know exactly what I'm saying. Yes, it's selfish. And this is probably why the coach didn't go to the rubber and talk to the pitcher, he made an executive decision and went straight to the umpire.
My friend who was visiting me was probably annoyed at my constant commentary on things. LOL. Poor guy just wanted to watch a game and I'm dissecting every pitch.
Bill
I will take Amanda all day and twice on Sunday (pardon the pun of today) over Michele Smith in the color commentary. But, I think even she gets the pitches thrown mixed up. She mentioned a few "back door curves" when it appeared to me that Alabama's pitcher (Osario??) was throwing a low rise. Low rises will often have some additional side spin to prevent them from going too high in the zone. But I don't think there's too much mistaking a low rise from a curveball (front door or back door).
Alabama avoided throwing to the girl who apparently got hit in the arm yesterday. I couldn't figure out why. Ok, maybe she's a good hitter but #1 she's injured, #2 she might be gunshy on anything inside, #3 she's probably very uncomfortable swinging and #4 she's not used to all that body armor. I'd have gone right at her instead of 4 walks.
Whomever calls pitches for Alabama lives in dangerous waters. My rule of thumb is, with a 1 run lead there is no such thing in my arsenal as a riseball after the 5th inning. Riseballs, flat ones and good ones that were simply connected, will go out of the park more often that drop balls with good or poor movement. If I'm winning 3-1 and nobody is on base... ok, I'll dangle a few. But once a runner hits base, it's drop city and change up all day long (especially if the change up has downward spin and/or is kept low).
Ok, Alabama is playing their arch rival Auburn on the last weekend of season play. The girl pitching the game is winning 3-2. With 2 outs in the 7th inning (nobody on base) the coach pulled her for a relief pitcher. I fully understand that the girl coming the the plate has hit 2 HR's already but, lets face it... she hit good pitches. They weren't flat, the balls were in her eyes and she got her hands up and hit them. BUT, and this is a huge BUT... if I'm that pitcher (after the game and away from the others) I go into that coach's office and tell him "coach, that should've been MY game all the way". Rival team, I'm winning, nobody on, let me go right at her and not throw riseballs to her!!!!!! Steam would've been coming outta my ears on TV had that been me getting pulled. The girl who came in got her to ground out on a low pitch (go figure) and all's well that ends well. But, the competitor in me would be having a very frank discussion about this after the game. Anyone who's pitched a game in their life will know exactly what I'm saying. Yes, it's selfish. And this is probably why the coach didn't go to the rubber and talk to the pitcher, he made an executive decision and went straight to the umpire.
My friend who was visiting me was probably annoyed at my constant commentary on things. LOL. Poor guy just wanted to watch a game and I'm dissecting every pitch.
Bill