NCAA Softball Selection -- Does the committee love the B1G?

[trojansc]

Ugh. That's crappy.

[bbg95]

Pretty unfortunate obstruction call for James Madison, but it sounds like it was the right call based on the rule. 

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 20:20:25 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Pretty unfortunate obstruction call for James Madison, but it sounds like it was the right call based on the rule. 

I'm just stunned it was actually called, even if it was the correct call. I mean, it's not like the runner didn't have a path.

[trojansc]

THIS GAME IS INSANE

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 20:21:24 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 4, 2021 20:20:25 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Pretty unfortunate obstruction call for James Madison, but it sounds like it was the right call based on the rule. 

I'm just stunned it was actually called, even if it was the correct call. I mean, it's not like the runner didn't have a path.

Definitely not the most egregious obstruction I've seen, but it sounds like any contact made by a defender without the ball is obstruction by rule.

[bbg95]

Wow, what a play by Alexander to get the runner on the suicide squeeze. 

[trojansc]

Odicci Alexander girl YOU LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE TOMORROW ON YOUR DAY OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bbg95]

James Madison advances to the semifinals behind another great performance by Alexander. Honestly, I don't know why they can't just win it all at this point. They've already beaten Oklahoma and followed that up with another strong game. I don't think either Alabama or UCLA is unbeatable.

[trojansc]

That Alexander play on the squeeze better be #1 Top play on SportsCenter. Ok, it probably won't be, but it should.

[c4ndlelight]

JMU is a very likeable team.

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 20:26:18 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

James Madison advances to the semifinals behind another great performance by Alexander. Honestly, I don't know why they can't just win it all at this point. They've already beaten Oklahoma and followed that up with another strong game. I don't think either Alabama or UCLA is unbeatable.

I don't want to see them go up against Oklahoma on Sunday even just needing one win. Oklahoma doesn't necessarily have elite pitching -- they don't really have an ace right now, so they have to win twice tomorrow. Include beating the UCLA-Alabama loser, who will only play one game tomorrow while.

Hopefully Georgia knocks out Oklahoma and chaos ensues.

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 20:00:42 GMT -5 trojansc said:

OK St was foolish there to have its hitter swinging at 3-0, with 1 out and runner on 1st. Alexander had bounced two balls in the dirt and wasn't even close to the zone. Hitter fouls off what should have been ball 4, ends up getting out.

I think this is somewhat results-based thinking. Swinging on 3-0 counts can often be a good idea. Now, just because you may have a green light on 3-0, that doesn't mean you should swing at any 3-0 pitch. But I think just always taking on 3-0 is too inflexible to maximize success.

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 20:32:41 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

I think this is somewhat results-based thinking. Swinging on 3-0 counts can often be a good idea. Now, just because you may have a green light on 3-0, that doesn't mean you should swing at any 3-0 pitch. But I think just always taking on 3-0 is too inflexible to maximize success.

Like I followed up with on the post, it's not "never swing 3-0". But, in that scenario, you should probably pick out a pitch or hope for something down main street at best. For a player to swing at a pitch just about in the dirt (after the past few pitches were completely wild, including 2 in the dirt) it seems pretty foolish to me.

If they weren't as wild, I probably wouldn't have made that post, as you say, plenty 3-0 counts have worked out. JMU hit a home-run the same way when Kate Gordon fouled off ball 4 against Oklahoma.     

But like c4 mentioned, you do have to concern yourself with who is behind you. OK St had another one of its better power-hitters up behind her, so a take isn't a bad option either. (Also, who is at the plate. Giving certain hitters green-lights/take signs depending on their abilities makes sense).

Earlier, OK St bunted with a 3-1 count in kind of a similar scenario where Alexander had been a little wild. That worked out and they scored a run, but some disagree with that decision. 

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 20:39:19 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 4, 2021 20:32:41 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

I think this is somewhat results-based thinking. Swinging on 3-0 counts can often be a good idea. Now, just because you may have a green light on 3-0, that doesn't mean you should swing at any 3-0 pitch. But I think just always taking on 3-0 is too inflexible to maximize success.

Like I followed up with on the post, it's not "never swing 3-0". But, in that scenario, you should probably pick out a pitch or hope for something down main street at best. For a player to swing at a pitch just about in the dirt (after the past few pitches were completely wild, including 2 in the dirt) it seems pretty foolish to me.

If they weren't as wild, I probably wouldn't have made that post, as you say, plenty 3-0 counts have worked out. JMU hit a home-run the same way when Kate Gordon fouled off ball 4 against Oklahoma.     

But like c4 mentioned, you do have to concern yourself with who is behind you. OK St had another one of its better power-hitters up behind her, so a take isn't a bad option either.

Earlier, OK St bunted with a 3-1 count in kind of a similar scenario where Alexander had been a little wild. That worked out and they scored a run, but some disagree with that decision. 

Sure, I'm not saying she made the right decision to swing. I just don't believe in always taking on 3-0. But to be fair, it doesn't sound like you do either. I'm not entirely sure about softball pitchers, but in baseball, a lot of times a pitcher will throw a fastball right down the middle on a 3-0 count because that's the only pitch that he can confidently throw for a strike when he's having control issues. And those tend to be good pitches to hit.

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 20:46:58 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Sure, I'm not saying she made the right decision to swing. I just don't believe in always taking on 3-0. But to be fair, it doesn't sound like you do either. I'm not entirely sure about softball pitchers, but in baseball, a lot of times a pitcher will throw a fastball right down the middle on a 3-0 count because that's the only pitch that he can confidently throw for a strike when he's having control issues. And those tend to be good pitches to hit.

Yeah, that fastball down the middle isn't really a thing in softball. Screw, drop, rise, curve, and off-speed/change are the most common pitches at this level. A rise-ball usually won't get thrown at 3-0 desperate for a strike, but it happens.

You probably remember seeing Rochard for VA Tech get that low-rise ball called for a strike. That's gold. But, it's also dangerous to get taken yard.