How many pitchers does a good team need?OPINIONS WANTED

[Sam]

You need a minimum of 3. At the younger ages, they need to play other positions. Don't focus on just pitching...until they are playing 18 Gold....and don't take them to Gold until they are at least sophomores.

It is nice to have a fourth pitcher who is OK with getting relatively few innings. You can work her into friendlies and she can be quite valuable to the team if you have injuries in tournaments.

[steve]

I agree with Tucson and others. I think almost every pitcher should have another position--not every girl will be another Cat. Also, there's the issue of both stamina and injury. DD had the shoulder thing and was out over a year. Today, she doesn't pitch more than 2 games a day, and I would prefer to see only 1.

Part of the stamina thing has to do with size. A big horse can be ridden longer than a small one can, if you run them the same speed. DD is only 5 nothin' but throws in the low 60's (see an early version of skills tape here, if interested)--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwqI1z9G3WQ

Unfortunately, that's a lot of stress on a smaller body, so it pays to be careful. Her team uses 3 good pitchers, all of whom can play other positions well, so a good rotation is no problem. On varsity, pitching 2-3 times a week is a vacation!

[NumeroUno]

Great video

Thanks

[melsdad]

You want 12 on your team......... if there on your team there not on the other teams [size=150]

[Judd]

>> but your dd thru obvious play was the 3 would you stick around?Is <,

Get all the time in the circle you can. The best situation is to play on as good a travel team as you can get on - but also any time that they are not playing, you pitch on any team you can get time on.

Thats what we did. DD is #3 on TB team and probably wont see much mound time. But at the moment coach is rotating her in practice and I am pleased with that. It lets her know she is being considered. On other teams the coaches blew her off.

She is also the #1 pitcher on a rec team for the mound time.

I think 3 pitchers is the ideal #.

[FPdaddy]

3 is a good number. I also agree on playing other positions especially at the younger ages.

Keith

[ice_67]

Melsdad,

You don't really need 12 pitchers. I think YOU only need 6 or 7 pitchers. One for each inning.

Right

[CallingCadence14]

It really depends on the Teams objectives and goals been on a Tm with 6 really good pitchers all good enough to be starters all had something different to offer to the teams arsenal all played different positions as well.It was great as long as everyone bought into the Team concept but we had 1 whos parent's understandable enough thought there DD needed to move along because she wasnt getting enough Mound time . There DD was content but the parents werent.Our present tm with 5 pitchers 3 Catchers is awesome no one really has a permanant spot and there really isnt a weak mix it all seems to work out.Like I said it all depends.All the parents seem to have there favorite mix on the field but no one mix is actually better then the next.It doesnt really matter on this team right now,but I'm sure it'll change.Sadly enough even the Beattles broke up,everyone wants to be a Star eventually.If these girls stick it out they'll be one of the best real teams to contend.

[melsdad]

Melsdad,

You don't really need 12 pitchers. I think YOU only need 6 or 7 pitchers. One for each inning.

Yes .......providing none of them get hurt.