We were pretty clearly a better fielding team than they were. Got to balls in the OF that they just didn't get to sometimes (although we didn't hit that many in the air like them).
Softball general question.
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We were pretty clearly a better fielding team than they were. Got to balls in the OF that they just didn't get to sometimes (although we didn't hit that many in the air like them).
I’ll also add this, if you do NOT have a good pitcher… that really shows and your team has almost no chance at success.
OK almost looked roided up. Those girls had big neck roasts on their shoulders.
I'm telling you, it takes ridiculous dedication to play SEC athletics, but it takes extreme dedication to pitch a softball at this level. Been around it my whole life and you have to really work at it to be able to spin it and locate it perfectly. Baseball is much easier to learn for boys, so they have a head start. You can't just see a girl throwing with a big arm and say you're going to convert her to a pitcher like baseball.
I have been a baseball guy all my life - never really had any experience with softball until I started umpiring. I have come to love softball but try not compare the two games to each other.
My question is why do the women not just play baseball (like basketball)? Why the whole different game?
When I was a first year teacher/coach 35 years ago, a few jr high girls came to our head coach, an experienced black man about my parents’ age (very elder boomers), and asked to play football. He told them they couldn’t play because their ovaries would be in danger of severe damage. (True story, but at least he didn’t teach science) Therefore, I ask is it because of their ovaries?*
When I was a first year teacher/coach 35 years ago, a few jr high girls came to our head coach, an experienced black man about my parents’ age (very elder boomers), and asked to play football. He told them they couldn’t play because their ovaries would be in danger of severe damage. (True story, but at least he didn’t teach science) Therefore, I ask is it because of their ovaries?*
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One thing I noticed yesterday, I didn’t see any Oklahoma players (there may have been one or two that I didn’t see) with an OPS less than 1.000. I’m not exactly sure how it translates to fast-pitch softball, but with baseball, I’m pretty sure anything north of like .800 is pretty doggone good.
It's a game that has a name that's a misnomer. The ball is barely soft at all - soft only relative to a baseball or a rock.
My wife told me that a softball was made yellow because it is the most visible color to the human eye. If you put a bunch of colors together it will stand out the brightest and it will catch your eye first. It is also easiest for your eye to track for whatever reasons.
I know a lot of folks are about tradition and that’s ok and baseball has a much longer history. I’ve heard all the comments. Some that stand out the most to me when I hear really old school baseball guys like my father’s age, the kind who grew up watching baseball since black and white television… they watch softball and are like you know to tell you truth I really enjoy watching this more than I do baseball. I’ve heard this from several of those exact type.
It’s just a new thing and old habits sometimes die very hard. I really don’t understand why some men think the way they do. I mean seriously would you rather watch some gorgeous women in tight pants or some ugly dudes in tights for several hours a day? As a man, it’s really a no brainer.
Women athletes complain a lot less, are less dramatic, try harder, act injured less, are far more coachable, etc… I could talk for hours about this. Softball is far better than baseball and it isn’t even close in my opinion. Many are starting to discover this.
I know a lot of folks are about tradition and that’s ok and baseball has a much longer history. I’ve heard all the comments. Some that stand out the most to me when I hear really old school baseball guys like my father’s age, the kind who grew up watching baseball since black and white television… they watch softball and are like you know to tell you truth I really enjoy watching this more than I do baseball. I’ve heard this from several of those exact type.
It’s just a new thing and old habits sometimes die very hard. I really don’t understand why some men think the way they do. I mean seriously would you rather watch some gorgeous women in tight pants or some ugly dudes in tights for several hours a day? As a man, it’s really a no brainer.
Women athletes complain a lot less, are less dramatic, try harder, act injured less, are far more coachable, etc… I could talk for hours about this. Softball is far better than baseball and it isn’t even close in my opinion. Many are starting to discover this.
Yeah, I get that you love it.
But damn that's a lot of generalizations about much more complex comparisons. Especially between men and women. I know who I find much less annoying to hang around (but also much less attractive).
True. But part of that was we put balls in play & have a lot of speed. That will pressure a defense. Especially with such a short path between bases. We put pressure on them all weekend. They were a great HR hitting team. But they never really pressured our defense. When they ran into a good & hot pitcher they had nothing.
Dude you are trying way too hard here. I’m guessing you at one time loved baseball and then had nothing but girls… and that’s awesome if that is the case. But irregardless of softball vs baseball, women’s sports are just never going to be as popular as men’s for a very fundamental reason as they aren’t as big, strong, fast or as athletic as men. And I don’t mean that to be a slight. I got a daughter that loves playing soccer and she’s pretty good at it and I enjoy watching it….. but it’s not as competitive as men’s/boys soccer.
Times change, embrace it and don’t be bitter. I see MASSIVE changes on the horizon as well and it probably won’t be to your liking. I’ve always been blessed with a good gift on that front.
I’ll concede to you when the major league softball league takes off
It is almost a certainty it will happen in most of our lifetimes. A few decades ago it was extremely taboo for most women to even play sports much less even watch them by the masses. Let’s just say the next few decades will look DRASTICALLY different than the last few. It’s a great thing.
Yeah. I love women’s tennis & soccer. But watch them vs the men is like night & day. Serena Williams may be the best women’s player of all time. Her practice hitting partner never broke the top 200 on the men’s tour & was retired. He could name the score against her. US women national soccer team was best in the world & lost a practice match vs Dallas MLS youth team. Granted that was a great youth team that included a few future pros. But they were kids at the time. Same with softball vs baseball.
It’s just a different game with different strategies. It looks like baseball from the outside but it’s it’s just different. It’s cool not to like it. No biggie. There is A LOT of history and tradition with baseball. It is America’s pass time. Nothing wrong with that. After being in the softball ecosystem for the better part of 10 years, I just prefer it. It’s a faster and more energetic game. I like that. The skill level involved to pitch the ball is amazing to me.
it’s not for everyone and a lot will never convert over to it. Let’s just all agree that what our girls have achieved and are working towards should be applauded.
If it happens that's great. I just really doubt you're right.
I watched a decent amount of LPGA golf when Ally McDonald/Ewing was doing well on the tour. It's fine, but since she retired I bet I haven't spent an hour total watching that tour.
And I can assure you, most people barely know it exists, and that tour has been around 60+ years.
That all sounds good but the trends will probably blow your mind. Women’s sports revenues are growing at roughly 5x the pace of men’s sports at the present day. You have a tidal wave coming too. Embrace it and be happy.
That's not surprising. Women's sports is way behind men's. It's much easier to grow fast from a low starting point.
What would really be mind blowing is to compare NFL revenue with all women's sports everywhere combined.
I’m not even really saying I don’t like softball. Yesterday was maybe the first time I’ve watched it in years and I enjoyed watching the game. It was fine. I’ll admit the size of the field throws me off but by the end of the game I was used to it.
I certainly appreciate the talent these girls have. I had a great friend in high school that ended up playing softball at Florida and I remember trying to hit off of her was a challenge. I know it probably seems like I’m being a dick about girls sports but that is not my intention. I just can’t imagine softball ever being as popular as baseball, not because I hate softball but because really no women’s sport is as popular as a male equivalent.
I think you are extremely respectful and what you say honestly makes sense to me. We can disagree on some of the points and that’s ok. Softball isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I’m personally thoroughly enjoying the changes I’m seeing and am beyond excited about what’s coming. Im sure you feel the same.
This World Series run is a first and it’s just FANTASTIC that it’s MSU. Most SEC schools didn’t even have softball until the late 1980s. Think about that. Prior to that, I can’t imagine what people were saying about it.
Some folks really enjoy something new and fresh and beautiful instead of the same old tired stuff. Makes life fun.
I've always paid at least some attention to State softball. Seems like we've been a good program for quite awhile. It felt like this was just going to be another good, not great, season, but they've caught fire and it's really exciting.
I won't miss an inning of us in the WS (unless the guys are playing at the same time).
I even did some reading about the Oklahoma coach. Great story. Was making so little money in 1999 that her husband had to go back to Cali to earn a living wage for the family. She gets her first natty in 2000 and now, 7 more championships later, she's making nearly $2 mill a year. Love it.
I won't miss an inning of us in the WS (unless the guys are playing at the same time).
I even did some reading about the Oklahoma coach. Great story. Was making so little money in 1999 that her husband had to go back to Cali to earn a living wage for the family. She gets her first natty in 2000 and now, 7 more championships later, she's making nearly $2 mill a year. Love it.
This seems like a good time to mention that Coach Ricketts' sister plays for my local pro softball team (Carolina Blaze of AUSL plays out of Durham, NC).
Where is the money in it past college? That’s the question.
I enjoyed watching the games this weekend but to say it’s the future over baseball? I mean we have a pretty big pro baseball league….
We don't have any speed, and I left off TT who has a stud and a good second pitcher. We just base hit them to death and they made some bad errors game one. OK had two girls faster than anyone on our roster.
The whole field needs to be expanded a little, pitching distance included.
I can’t stress this enough. If the strike zone is expanded to the edges of the plate and from knees to numbers (like it is suppose to be), you’d get the effect you’re looking for without having to move anything.
also… keep in mind, moving the pitching rubber back isn’t as easy as it sounds. These girls train a decade to throw it 43’. There’s a good chance that 90% wouldn’t be able to find the current artificial zone at 46’. To equate it to baseball, ask the guys to pitch from 70’. It’s nonsense.
Agreed. It’s not going to overtake baseball. There’s just way too much history, tradition, and money in it. And MLB and SEC puts a pretty good product on the field. Baseball and softball don’t need to compete. Softball just needs to keep growing. It’s a fantastic product in a similar category. I just want people to see and appreciate it. It’s not watered down baseball. It is high level softball.
I tell my girl all the time… I don’t want you to be the next (insert hot shot player), I want you to be the first LittleMotherTucker.
the field though… 225 minimum distance vice the current 200/210 wouldn’t be the worst change. That would knock the scoring down and there would still be plenty of home runs going out to please the fans.
Baseball wants scoring up because fans like to see runs and HRs. Why should softball want lower scoring and fewer HRs? Did State not just shut down the top scoring team in America for two games out of three? Did we not base hit their eyes out in each game? There's nothing wrong with the game now. You've got 5 of the top pitching staffs Looking at the WCWS you've got TN with a 1.35 era, AL 1.48, Nebraska with 1.81, TT 2.12, State 2.29, UCLA 2.55, TX 2.80, & AR 2.84. I'll predict the CWS teams all have higher ERAs than that as a team, but softball is scoring too much? LOL
I agree about calling the strike zone like it should be. I've said that for years about MLB and College baseball and we are seeing it change with ABS. I have no doubt that the pitchers would adapt. I'm not talking about moving it 10 feet. Also the basepaths need to be lengthened and the fence moved back. The dimensions were set when the girls were nowhere nearly as athletic or as strong.
I didn’t say that… the previous poster said make the distances longer and love the pitchers back. I just said moving the fence back 25 ft isn’t the worst idea. Oklahoma having like 165hrs as a team was insanity. You’re right… we did neutralize them on the last day and thank God! Before that, they didn’t hit any fly balls. Just like drives and homers.
Boys as they grow the field grows. I have seen the mound go from 45 to 55 to the 60' 6" depending on the age. No reason girls can't do something similar as they get bigger and faster. I know 12 to 20 is way different for boys and girls but there is growth and speed that does change. I think the mound is a fair distance now. I think you need the bases to grow 3 to 5 feet. Not every play at first needs to be bang/bang. It is not that way for 12 year olds or even 15 year olds.
10u is 35’
12u is 40’
14u and up is 43’
43’ is a good safe distance.
as far as the bases go, it’s similar to baseball. Similar. In softball you have to field cleanly and make a good throw and it’s a close play. Baseball, the ball takes a bit longer to get there, field clean, pat the ball (that’s a difference), good throw and you get an out. It’s not that different.
That reminds me, I saw a TikTok just the other day talking about how 90’ is a coincidentally perfect distance in baseball. It gave the above reason, and how a fly ball to right can move a batter from second to third but it’s got to be executed perfectly or it’s a bang bang play. Same for center to home.
softball is similar with the current dimensions.
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