QOD; Hitting or Pitching? Grooming a player

[eddiez577]

Question of the day:

Let's suppose, knowing what you know now, that you were grooming your player to be a top prospect from 8u to College level. Would you concentrate more on Pitching or Hitting? All eggs in one basket question..

If you look at Pitching and Hitting contracts in MLB, the highest yearly salaries go to Pitchers, who don't play everyday (Strasburg, Scherzer, Greinke, Price, Kershaw), but highest long-term contracts go to Hitters (Machado, Cabrera, Pujols, Stanton).

How does that translate to Fastpitch? Consider: Private lessons, equipment, team needs, injuries, burnout, competition, recruiting, etc.

Assume player will have an athletic build, 5'7-5'10 & 120lbs-150lbs.

[jonriv]

Depends if she can pitch or not?

[Sue Trubovitz, Turbo]

CATCHERS
The need is only matched
by the quest for a good pitcher!

Enjoy

[Chin Music]

Always stressed hitting. Unfortunately a lot of coaches look at pure athletic ability (speed, defense .....) then they get to College struggle hitting and become runners.

[eddiez577]

Depends if she can pitch or not?

You'll be grooming a player from 8u (7-8 years old), so wouldn't know until you roll up your sleeves and start training to pitch,

[eclipse09]

Always stress hitting. I have seen a number of young players focus on pitching and not hitting and were left with the bench when pitching went south.

Also drive and determination are a big thing for both hitting and pitching I am assuming that is given in your scenario....

[Sue Trubovitz, Turbo]

8 yr old Hypnosis
" you will pitch"
" your curve will break"
" you will throw heat "

Big NO on the
"you must be "
mind meld.
Start with, try this,
if you like it,
keep doing it.
If you're great at it,
That's great too!

[GIMNEPIWO]

Question of the day:

Let's suppose, knowing what you know now, that you were grooming your player to be a top prospect from 8u to College level. Would you concentrate more on Pitching or Hitting? All eggs in one basket question..

If you look at Pitching and Hitting contracts in MLB, the highest yearly salaries go to Pitchers, who don't play everyday (Strasburg, Scherzer, Greinke, Price, Kershaw), but highest long-term contracts go to Hitters (Machado, Cabrera, Pujols, Stanton).

How does that translate to Fastpitch? Consider: Private lessons, equipment, team needs, injuries, burnout, competition, recruiting, etc.

Assume player will have an athletic build, 5'7-5'10 & 120lbs-150lbs.

Since you say "all eggs in one basket", I would concentrate more on hitting ... There is a better chance of being successful and getting on the field ... The athlete could work as hard as possible only to get to a HS or college where there is better pitcher (maybe/maybe not) who the coach is going to ride like a pony ... A hitter has only to fill one of 9 spots. In addition; it is much less likely that the athlete will suffer a career ending injury from overuse or a line drive to the beanie.

[ontheblack]

As the father of a pitcher who got hurt, hitting. Her injury ended her pitching career, but if she had been as good a hitter as she was a pitcher, she would've been able to stay in the game through college. That said, she did what she was passionate about and given the chance to switch positions and still play, she declined. For her, pitching was the game.

Most MLB contracts are guaranteed, whereas nothing is guaranteed for the amateur. Teams cater to an oft injured Strasburg, but for a college team, unless you are a Rachel Garcia, your next injury can result in you being the next Wally Pip.

And BTW, if Garcia couldn't pitch another game, her bat would keep her in the UCLA lineup.

[Sue Trubovitz, Turbo]

As the father of a pitcher who got hurt, hitting. Her injury ended her pitching career, but if she had been as good a hitter as she was a pitcher, she would've been able to stay in the game through college. That said, she did what she was passionate about and given the chance to switch positions and still play, she declined. For her, pitching was the game.

Most MLB contracts are guaranteed, whereas nothing is guaranteed for the amateur. Teams cater to an oft injured Strasburg, but for a college team, unless you are a Rachel Garcia, your next injury can result in you being the next Wally Pip.

And BTW, if Garcia couldn't pitch another game, her bat would keep her in the UCLA lineup.

Thanks for sharing that reminder to appreciate what we have in the momment!