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

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 20:53:05 GMT -5 trojansc said:

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.

Hmm, so pitchers in softball would rather walk someone than possibly give them something hittable on a 3-0 count?

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 20:55:23 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Jun 4, 2021 20:53:05 GMT -5 trojansc said:

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.

Hmm, so pitchers in softball would rather walk someone than possibly give them something to hit?

Not necessarily, of course that's situational just like baseball. Most are probably going with a pitch they have the most control of and know they can get called for a strike. I think that's most likely a curve/screw or drop for most pitchers. Some can consistently locate off-speed and change though, so that's not unheard of either.

[trojansc]

A lot of time the favorite strikeout pitch is riseball, especially when the pitcher is ahead.

[bbg95]

A standup double for Alabama over the drawn-in outfielders gives them an early 1-0 lead. 

[trojansc]

Lol, announcers called that one.

Why tf is UCLA playing so short on the Alabama-CAREER record holder in Home-runs?!?!?!

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 21:07:30 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Lol, announcers called that one.

Why tf is UCLA playing so short on the Alabama-CAREER record holder in Home-runs?!?!?!

Yeah, I don't really get it either. But at least it stayed in the yard. A couple of the pitches she pulled foul earlier in the at-bat would have been way out.

[trojansc]

Alabama's on Garcia. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[bbg95]

Out of curiosity, what are the players looking at on their wrists? Is that some kind of smart device where the plays are coming in from the dugout?

[jayj79]

Jun 4, 2021 18:25:03 GMT -5 trojansc said:

I've seen it before, but the fact that some D1 softball pitchers, who are quite good, cannot throw a ball overhand to save their life is completely baffling. How did they get so far in their careers without someone making it a point of emphasis to at least become somewhat competent in throwing overhand.

perhaps they should just throw everything underhand as that is what they've honed their muscles for

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 21:18:08 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Out of curiosity, what are the players looking at on their wrists? Is that some kind of smart device where the plays are coming in from the dugout?

Defensive alignments, pitch calls, signs, etc. Not a smart device. When a new pitcher comes in, you'll see teams change them out at times.

They even have them at high-school softball games I've been to.      

[jayj79]

Jun 4, 2021 20:29:46 GMT -5 c4ndlelight said:

JMU is a very likeable team.

I jumped on their bandwagon because I hate the P5 conferences.
But they also share the same colors as my fave school's colors, which is a bonus (despite the fact that they knocked my fave school's football team out of the playoffs a few years ago)

[mikegarrison]

Jun 4, 2021 21:27:37 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 4, 2021 21:18:08 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Out of curiosity, what are the players looking at on their wrists? Is that some kind of smart device where the plays are coming in from the dugout?

Defensive alignments, pitch calls, signs, etc. Not a smart device. When a new pitcher comes in, you'll see teams change them out at times.

They even have them at high-school softball games I've been to.      

Yeah, it's not electronic or anything. It's just a cheat sheet for the signs from the dugout.

[jayj79]

quarterbacks in high school and college football have similar wrist notecards.

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 21:27:37 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 4, 2021 21:18:08 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Out of curiosity, what are the players looking at on their wrists? Is that some kind of smart device where the plays are coming in from the dugout?

Defensive alignments, pitch calls, signs, etc. Not a smart device. When a new pitcher comes in, you'll see teams change them out at times.

They even have them at high-school softball games I've been to.      

Thanks. I don't remember them when I was covering high school softball in my hometown in New Mexico, but that was also over 10 years ago. Then again, it's possible that they were using them, and I just don't remember or never noticed. It makes sense that it's not a smart device because if it was, it seems like it would be way easier for there to be a Houston Astros situation where it's being used to gain an unfair advantage instead of being used fairly.

[trojansc]

BTW - if anyone wants to watch condensed replays, this is an awesome channel on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/channel/UC4GNCKohtEHRccrxKQiDJNg

Most of the good postseason games are there, you get to watch the whole game in under 20 minutes.

Here is JMU / Oklahoma State , already up.