Don’t Pitch to Alo

[erniekru]

Ever wonder why there aren't limits in youth fastpitch currently?

because the 8u hitten' kitten's need to win every fall game for Suzie's lifetime ERA to stay below 2.0???

I've heard it all.. You can't damage your arm from throwing underhand.. There's not enough pitchers to play the amount of games we play.. My daughter needs to pitch 24/7/365 because I spend $40/week on lessons, etc.

Obviously, these are a little tongue in cheek. I genuinely believe that if it were required in 8u and 10u to develop more pitchers, we'd actually maybe have more pitchers.

 

[lostcreek1]

Ever wonder why there aren't limits in youth fastpitch currently?

There is no $$$$ waiting on that elite pitcher like there is in baseball. If there was they would be pitch count limits.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

There is no $$$$ waiting on that elite pitcher like there is in baseball. If there was they would be pitch count limits.

The next pitcher that comes to me and tells me they want to pitch less will be the first one.

 

[erniekru]

The next pitcher that comes to me and tells me they want to pitch less will be the first one.

That's exactly the problem! Save them from themselves.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

That's exactly the problem! Save them from themselves.

Save them from the overuse that they don't have? You are a solution looking for a problem.

 

[radness]

Okay could have pitch counts.
Thinking that through a little...
Understandably if the pitchers were restricted there would be more need per team for pitchers
= more pitchers per team= creating more pitching time opportunity.

However to that point of the need for more pitching opportunity
the need for pitchers did grow because the number of teams grew very substantially.

The supply of teams and playing time has already increased regardless of pitch counts.
Perhaps that created less demand for better pitching. And increased demand for anybody who can pitch or throw the ball underhand.

 

[lostcreek1]

The next pitcher that comes to me and tells me they want to pitch less will be the first one.

I coached baseball for several years and I never once had a boy tell me that either, yet they still have pitch count limits.

 

[BillyB]

I was amazed when I started watching college softball how many fields still have 200ft fences. We routinely see 12U players that can hit 200+ feet, I thought that 225ft would be the norm. Granted, it's a costly fix to implement, but I do think it would make the game more exciting. Right now you have girls hit it to the fence and barely make it to 2nd base. Making 225 the standard would really open up the game. I don't think you can go bigger than that though, because the short base distance, any bigger and you will get too many extra base hits and inside the park home runs.

The combination of strength training more than ever, hitting mechanics tightening up, bat tech vs. higher velocity pitching. Simply moving back the fences would make the game leveled out, more action and even more outfield discipline.

 

[BillyB]

Putting the same pitching limits on all pitchers is a horrible idea. We don't have enough pitchers the way it is.

Agreed. Simply put, the anatomy of the arm is nothing but BRUTAL for overhand pitching...Fastpitch is WAY less abusive on the arm, and a more natural motion.

 

[Westwind]

Moving the fences back is impossible.

There isn’t room at too many schools, it ain’t going to happen.

Talking or posting about it is pointless.