Tiny Pitchers Get No Love

[BucketDud]

There's more than zero data and coaches are able to see pitches during tryouts or other evaluations. However the eye test still exists, coaches are biased and imperfect, kept game changer stats are biased and imperfect.

Small players just need to be way better, like so much better that it's indisputable, that no matter how much potential a bigger girl has, she cannot surpass her, because like it or not smaller players have a lower ceiling. Coaches always look at potential, and think that the taller girl will give their team a higher ceiling by the end of the season, even though that may not be true.

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I think this is especially true with tryouts and practice. Watching some kids throw to a catcher without a batter or umpire they just look so fluid and natural can't help but think they are better.

When you interject a hitter all of a sudden the kid with little funky motion or change of speed or more spin does great. That same kid who looked so natural in tryouts gets hit because the ball is easier to time or maybe flatter.

The good news is often some of the smallest players end up being truly great because they always had to outwork bigger kids that were more natural. Have to believe Altuve was passed over more than a few times growing up because of his size, but that likely made him reach his true potential.

 

[LEsoftballdad]

Have to believe Altuve was passed over more than a few times growing up because of his size, but that likely made him reach his true potential.

Well, that and the cheating...

 

[canyonjoe]

not selling jeans here.

What is that supposed to mean.

 

[CoachCeetar]

What is that supposed to mean.

it's a quote from moneyball. "Not selling jeans here" was something Billy Beane/Brad Pitt said to challenge and old scout adage of "He looks like a ballplayer"

 

[DropcityUSA]

There's a great scene in Moneyball (RIP Billy Beane) where Pete explains how certain players get overlooked because they look different.

Billy Beane is alive. It was Billy Bean that died.

 

[Tide_will_Roll]

I think this is especially true with tryouts and practice. Watching some kids throw to a catcher without a batter or umpire they just look so fluid and natural can't help but think they are better.

When you interject a hitter all of a sudden the kid with little funky motion or change of speed or more spin does great. That same kid who looked so natural in tryouts gets hit because the ball is easier to time or maybe flatter.

The good news is often some of the smallest players end up being truly great because they always had to outwork bigger kids that were more natural. Have to believe Altuve was passed over more than a few times growing up because of his size, but that likely made him reach his true potential.

José must have been really young when/if he was overlooked. He played 2B for the Venezuelan 16U National Team.

The Astros had a scout there to watch another player when the team was playing. They ended up signing Altuve from the games the scout watched.

 

[lostcreek1]

The average for the general population, yes. I'm 6'3", which is taller than the average American male, but put me in the NBA, and I'm quite short. Bahl is not on the taller side for elite pitchers.

You are correct, just not sure when people on here talk about pitchers being short they are not talking about as compared to elite pitchers, as much as to people in general.