Tips for finding a team that wants a slapper

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Aug 21, 2020
115
28
Fine point. I've had a few "slappers" on our 10U and 12U teams. And honestly, it's an automatic out as they learn the skill. A tad frustrating but I do understand they need game reps to learn the skill.

For better or worse, having her slap in school ball and hit away in travel is getting her the game reps she needs.

As for her current travel team, because it was cobbled together at the last minute, about a third of the team is aging up with DD anyway, so it can’t be a team that stays together in the long run.


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Last edited:
Jun 11, 2012
741
63
Make sure she can drop a bunt, hit away and slap. I’d be surprised if you couldn’t find a team if she did that.
DD does all 3 and loves to hit one derp when they defense is expecting a bunt or slap
 
Apr 20, 2015
961
93
Make sure she can drop a bunt, hit away and slap. I’d be surprised if you couldn’t find a team if she did that.
DD does all 3 and loves to hit one derp when they defense is expecting a bunt or slap
This! I'm shocked at how many collegiate level slappers can't bunt.....

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Feb 20, 2019
109
28
Had this exact same problem with my DD this season. She's spent 2 years developing her slapping game and then joined a new team because she had friends on it.

The coaches were clueless about the short game and discouraged her from slapping. They didn't know how to defend it either (shifting the OF right for the hitter to pull). It was frustrating to say the least. But, yes, there are more coaches (usually baseball guys) that don't understand the value of slapping than those that do.

We're looking for a new team that has 1-2 slappers and I hope you do the same. Playing on a team that doesn't allow her to slap is just wasting her time.
 
Jun 11, 2012
741
63
This! I'm shocked at how many collegiate level slappers can't bunt.....

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I’m always shocked when there’s any player on any team who hasn’t been taught to bunt.
DD’s team has a power hitter, not very fast girl that you would never ever expect to bunt so when she does it usually ends up with her reaching on an error and a run scoring.
 
Mar 4, 2015
526
93
New England
I don't think a team should want a slapper, per se. I think a team should want production, and if that comes in the form of a slapper, bring her aboard. I don't think lineups need a slapper, though. So I'd market her as a producer first, slapper second.

I think it's hard to evaluate a slapper in tryouts, at least for me it would be. It takes someone who knows what they're watching, which I don't, and one who believes in slappers, which I do (if they're productive). My DD played a travel ball season w/ a slapper who just hit .375 this season in the ACC. I'm not sure she would've stood out in a tryout. You had to see it against live pitching to believe it. Uncanny ability to hit a good pitch squarely.
 
Feb 20, 2019
109
28
I don't think a team should want a slapper, per se. I think a team should want production, and if that comes in the form of a slapper, bring her aboard. I don't think lineups need a slapper, though. So I'd market her as a producer first, slapper second.

I think it's hard to evaluate a slapper in tryouts, at least for me it would be. It takes someone who knows what they're watching, which I don't, and one who believes in slappers, which I do (if they're productive). My DD played a travel ball season w/ a slapper who just hit .375 this season in the ACC. I'm not sure she would've stood out in a tryout. You had to see it against live pitching to believe it. Uncanny ability to hit a good pitch squarely.

Should a team want speed? Does a lineup need a hitter that can put the ball in play and pressure a defense into making bad throws? How do you define production?

A lot of what a slapper does isn't reflected in the box score.
 
Mar 4, 2015
526
93
New England
Should a team want speed? Does a lineup need a hitter that can put the ball in play and pressure a defense into making bad throws? How do you define production?

A lot of what a slapper does isn't reflected in the box score.

Should a team want speed? Does a lineup need a hitter that can put the ball in play and pressure a defense into making bad throws?

Those are good qualities to have, but it's the total value that counts. You don't need slappers to have a fast team, and you don't need fast players to be a good-scoring team.

How do you define production?

Get on base and/or hit with power.

A lot of what a slapper does isn't reflected in the box score.

Perhaps, although I'd like to see someone study that theory. It's presumed they draw more errors. I don't know if anyone has proven that.

I'm not against slappers. I'm against the idea that you're missing something if you don't have one. Doesn't make sense to me to say ''we don't have a slapper, so we need to find one,'' or conversely, ''We've already got two slappers, we don't want another one.'' I'd prefer to have the most productive player, period. This isn't basketball where you need chemistry and complementary players, IMO.
 
Oct 26, 2019
1,375
113
Should a team want speed? Does a lineup need a hitter that can put the ball in play and pressure a defense into making bad throws?

Those are good qualities to have, but it's the total value that counts. You don't need slappers to have a fast team, and you don't need fast players to be a good-scoring team.

How do you define production?

Get on base and/or hit with power.

A lot of what a slapper does isn't reflected in the box score.

Perhaps, although I'd like to see someone study that theory. It's presumed they draw more errors. I don't know if anyone has proven that.

I'm not against slappers. I'm against the idea that you're missing something if you don't have one. Doesn't make sense to me to say ''we don't have a slapper, so we need to find one,'' or conversely, ''We've already got two slappers, we don't want another one.'' I'd prefer to have the most productive player, period. This isn't basketball where you need chemistry and complementary players, IMO.
Totally agree. If every batter in your lineup never got out you would win a lot of games! However they decide to “not get out” shouldn’t matter.
 

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