Lauren doesnt

[j2d2]

swing at the first pitch. Maybe twice in the last 15+games. Usually it's a strike and sometimes right down the middle. I thought Gasso had instructed her to take the first pitch but that doesnt make any sense. What's going on? After that first pitch(a strike) then she walks. Anybody notice this but me?

 

[sybarite]

I think they are also throwing a first pitch change up to her. It seems to float over the middle. I don't know if she is studying the pitcher or doesn't want a change-up.

 

[womenssports]

Don't many players let the first pitch go by even if it is a strike? I have never gotten that, but think have read one thing is to cause the pitcher to have to throw more pitches and secondly....wasn't something written about Lauren being good at reading pitches and that by her taking more pitches it gives the team and staff more knowledge about the pitcher?

Though you would think with a batter like Lauren that she would take the first pitch if it looked good, in most situations anyway.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Don't many players let the first pitch go by even if it is a strike? I have never gotten that, but think have read one thing is to cause the pitcher to have to throw more pitches and secondly....wasn't something written about Lauren being good at reading pitches and that by her taking more pitches it gives the team and staff more knowledge about the pitcher?

Though you would think with a batter like Lauren that she would take the first pitch if it looked good, in most situations anyway.

Several of our players take the first pitch even though a good percentage are fast balls right down the middle of the plate. Often, they are the best pitches a batter sees. I have never agreed with watching perfect strikes across the plate with the bat on the shoulder.

 

[j2d2]

Several of our players take the first pitch even though a good percentage are fast balls right down the middle of the plate. Often, they are the best pitches a batter sees. I have never agreed with watching perfect strikes across the plate with the bat on the shoulder.

Both of us. When you see it as often as we do, it looks like we would be waiting for it and kill it.

 

[Salt City Sooner]

She swung at the first one at least once today. I'm kinda glad she did too. :ez-laugh:

 

[AustinTXSooner]

First, it's rare that a pitch is right down the middle of the plate at this level. It may look that way from the center field camera since it's at an angle. If it is down the middle of the plate, then it's probably a change-up.

Second, the first time you face a pitcher, it's not a bad idea to take the first pitch. That way you can gauge the timing better.

Third, when you have less than two strikes on you, you're not up there to swing at any strike. You're looking for the ball in a specific area that you can drive. That specific area can change with each pitcher based on your strengths and their strengths. That's what scouting reports are for.

We have the best offense in the country and people are complaining about taking pitches.

 

[SoonerNorm]

First, it's rare that a pitch is right down the middle of the plate at this level. It may look that way from the center field camera since it's at an angle. If it is down the middle of the plate, then it's probably a change-up.

Second, the first time you face a pitcher, it's not a bad idea to take the first pitch. That way you can gauge the timing better.

Third, when you have less than two strikes on you, you're not up there to swing at any strike. You're looking for the ball in a specific area that you can drive. That specific area can change with each pitcher based on your strengths and their strengths. That's what scouting reports are for.

We have the best offense in the country and people are complaining about taking pitches.

It is unusual when a pitcher throws a change up on the lead off pitch because that pitch normally follows a fastball to sucker the batter into swinging early. I can understand taking a first pitch on a new pitcher but why would you do that in subsequent at bats when the pitch is a strike. Getting behind in the count puts the hitter at a disadvantage and as my coach always said, why give the pitcher an advantage by standing there with your bat on your shoulder? When you see a batter take 2 strikes then goes down swinging on the 3rd strike, it makes you wonder if they would have struck out if they would have swung at either of the first two strikes.

Edit to add: it would be even more unusual if the pitcher threw a change right down the middle of the plate on the first pitch.

 

[BanjoCharley]

I'll take Patti's approach (oh no, a pumper!)

 

[AustinTXSooner]

I can understand taking a first pitch on a new pitcher but why would you do that in subsequent at bats when the pitch is a strike. Getting behind in the count puts the hitter at a disadvantage and as my coach always said, why give the pitcher an advantage by standing there with your bat on your shoulder? When you see a batter take 2 strikes then goes down swinging on the 3rd strike, it makes you wonder if they would have struck out if they would have swung at either of the first two strikes.

I'll expand on my third point. With less than two strikes, you're not up there to swing at any strike. You're looking for a pitch that you can drive.

I'll use myself as an example. Back when I played in MSBL (it was 30 & over back then), I couldn't do anything productive with an inside pitch that wasn't low. So with less than two strikes, I didn't swing at them. I figured I had a better chance of the umpire calling it a ball than doing anything productive with it. With two strikes, my best likely outcome was a foul ball. I had to swing at them. I was looking for an outside pitch, which I could drive.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses as far as location is concerned. Admittedly, the best hitters have more strengths than weaknesses.

 

[womenssports]

Some interesting discussions even with enduring the testiness of some who can't stand someone thinking differently than the coaches, EVEN THOUGH experts disagree. Anyway, has given me some insight so thanks.

 

[j2d2]

What I call the "middle" of the plate is the middle third. I notice that when she chose to swing on the first pitch, she homered.

 

[AustinTXSooner]

I notice that when she chose to swing on the first pitch, she homered.

She got the pitch she was looking for.

 

[sybarite]

I'll expand on my third point. With less than two strikes, you're not up there to swing at any strike. You're looking for a pitch that you can drive.

I'll use myself as an example. Back when I played in MSBL (it was 30 & over back then), I couldn't do anything productive with an inside pitch that wasn't low. So with less than two strikes, I didn't swing at them. I figured I had a better chance of the umpire calling it a ball than doing anything productive with it. With two strikes, my best likely outcome was a foul ball. I had to swing at them. I was looking for an outside pitch, which I could drive.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses as far as location is concerned. Admittedly, the best hitters have more strengths than weaknesses.

In softball, I tended to let the inside pitch go. Most pitchers didn't throw inside that much. If I swung at all, I tended to use an "inside-out" swing that resulted in a soft line drive over the second baseman's head (hopefully). If you swing at it hard, there is a tendency to pull it way foul. I was stunned by Lauren's HR against Tennessee because it was a rather low inside pitch. But, she kept her hands out front.

 

[scrybe]

It is unusual when a pitcher throws a change up on the lead off pitch because that pitch normally follows a fastball to sucker the batter into swinging early.

That's simply not true, especially if a batter has already had at least one at-bat against that pitcher. Paige often starts a batter off with a change-up, and usually with good results.

I understand that it can be frustrating to watch a good hitter take a first pitch that appears to catch the fat part of the plate. But you gotta remember, a hitter will never get a chance to do something with a second or third strike if they pop up or hit a weak grounder to the shortstop by going after the first pitch.

 

[SoonerNorm]

That's simply not true, especially if a batter has already had at least one at-bat against that pitcher. Paige often starts a batter off with a change-up, and usually with good results.

I understand that it can be frustrating to watch a good hitter take a first pitch that appears to catch the fat part of the plate. But you gotta remember, a hitter will never get a chance to do something with a second or third strike if they pop up or hit a weak grounder to the shortstop by going after the first pitch.

In the next game, count the number of first pitch change ups and let us know how many you came up with.

 

[scrybe]

In the next game, count the number of first pitch change ups and let us know how many you came up with.

Are you sure you want to make this a challenge, Norm? Paige is just as likely to throw a change-up on the first pitch as on any other count.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Are you sure you want to make this a challenge, Norm? Paige is just as likely to throw a change-up on the first pitch as on any other count.

Do you know what a change up is? :ez-laugh:

 

[sybarite]

Do you know what a change up is? :ez-laugh:

That was unnecessarily insulting. But, do you know what different people mean by a change-up? On this softball team, it tends to be either a slower fast ball or even a drop, depending on the pitcher. Some regard a slow curve as a change-up. If you were throwing all curves, a fastball might actually be a change-up, although it isn't what is usually meant as a change-up. In reality, it is anything that changes speeds, preferably that can be disguised as another pitch that is thrown harder.

I have seen several teams start the game with a very slow fastball right down the middle to Lauren. Ordinarily, that would be called a change-up, despite the fact that no faster pitch has been thrown yet. After all, Lauren doesn't swing because she was expecting something faster. She can throw her back out again swinging hard at a change-up. Does it have to follow a faster pitch, or can it be a change-up off of your expectations.

 

[scrybe]

Do you know what a change up is? :ez-laugh:

It's something akin to menopause, isn't it?

Look, Norm, if, in your estimation, throwing a change-up means lobbing a floater over the plate, then Paige never throws one. There's a world of difference between changing speeds and throwing an eephus pitch.

A change is usually best when the pitcher takes around 6-8 mph off her fastball, which is usually sufficient to throw the hitter's timing off. Paige's fastball clocks (normally) at around 63-65 mph; when she changes speed, her pitch usually comes in around 55-57 mph. If you're watching on TV, you may not even be able to tell when she is changing speeds (unless the TV people show the pitch speed on the screen).