re: WCWS preview and predictions LSU softball

well that was a disaster of a game

Definitely didn't go well. Although i thought it shows where this program needs to take its next steps.

Nothing to be ashamed of at all. Florida when they play to their potential are practically unbeatable


We just need to be way better offensively. It's not a knock on the players but it's true

quote:

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This team needs an occasional butt kicking to get them going again.

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i'd have preferred that if needed after going 2-0!

I dont have access to the internet, I am in the boonies now. I did see the game though.

In response to Mulerider....

Like I said, if OBP was the most important thing, then there would be an award for it. The reason it is not is because it has more to do with the pitcher than the batter, even though the batter gets the statistical bump, its the pitcher who must throw four balls, and he doesnt have to. That doesnt mean the batter has nothing to do with it, but he is secondary when it comes to walks, the pitcher walks the batter, the batter doesnt walk the pitcher. Sure, the batter can work the pitcher, but the walk results from four balls or a hit by pitch.

The purpose of a hypothetical is to force the logical outplay of a theory. The hypothetical I gave you was a game situation where the pitcher has not walked anyone. Those who think the OBP is most important try to push the OBP into the picture because you think the batter is more the reason for a walk than a pitcher, or just as much.

I say this with charity....if you'd pick the .330 hitter with a .430 OBP over a .425 hitter with a .425 OBP in a game when the pitcher has walked nobody, I think you crazy …. again, I say that with charity..

Pitchers walk two or three people per game/

That means of the (at least) 21 batters (usually 30 or so), two will walk. This is why it is silly to think that the OBP expands across the whole spectrum of the game and is dependent more on the hitter than the pitcher.

Some who push the OBP over the BA make it sound like a pitcher who hasnt walked anyone will walk someone with a .450 OBP because of something the batter does.

You said, “It is not solely dependent on the pitcher”. What I meant was that unless the pitcher throws four balls, there is no walk. Regardless of what the batter's savvy may do to a pitcher, the pitcher has to throw four balls for a walk, unless he hits the batter. That was my point.


In response to Sasquatch Smash, you say it looks like the batter has plenty to do with the OBP,,, yes but not as much as the pitcher. If you want to know what the batter has most to do with, look at the batting average, and that is the reason why OBP is not an awarded statistic. OBP is dependent on walks, mostly, in terms of being higher than the batting average. Sacrifice flies are very rare. Jaquish has 62 walks and 1 sacrifice fly. See?

While the OBP is not ignored by MLB, it is probably the fifth most important statistic, not to the point where the OBP leader is recognized, and that should be the TELL-ALL right there. The batting champion has the highest batting average, not the highest OBP. Arguing that the OBP is more important puts one in a small group of people, definitely outside the realm of baseball gods.

((I know this is running long for a response, but I wanted to touch on a few other things))....

About walks.... if I had someone that was working the pitcher, like Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn used to do, I am ok with it. But if I felt that my batter was getting in the batters box aiming at drawing a walk, among all other things, I'd probably bench that player. Those are the kind that let marginal pitches go, hoping they will be called balls, and usually end up striking out.

Look at ULL, how many of those girls get up there for a walk? They are confident enough that they can get on base by hitting the ball hard. They turn their hips into the ball, throw the back elbow downward and the front elbow upward..... power generation right there. Just like a flathander gets his power from pulling the back elbow downward. Thats why a team with middle of the road pitching can beat any team in the country on a good day.

As for slappers, as the season toils on and you move into elite opponent territory, slappers become less proficient. Tennessee's all time career BA leader, Chevanne, was like 2 for 13 in the championship series. Slapping is like running the option in football. The better a team is, the less likely an option will work, and that is why you dont see offenses in the NFL running the traditional option that you see in college football.

We got one coach on here who says we should bunt on Paige Parker. .. Agreed. Wear her out. Bunt, force her to run up and get the ball. Slapping has its place and time, and that window, where slapping works, most certainly shrinks as defenses get better and better. I am with the folks who would use a sometimes slapper for 1, 2 and 9th hole batters... maybe not second ,, maybe 1 and 9, but only if they could swing away if the situation requires it. I would be scared to have a slap-only batter in my starting line up.

Someone said that Oklahoma won a natty with a bunch of slappers...no .. from 1-9, every single one of those girls had 6 or 7 home runs, and none of them were merely tap and go slappers.

Slapping has its place, like bunting does. Dont throw it out altogether, but dont make the mistake of spending all your roster spots on slappers. Next year, if we dont have power hitters coming in, our lineup is going to look really skimpy.. they will call us the Small Ball Tigers.

Yep

I think Oregon is very beatable.

Not the best offense either but we need to be on our game to take care of business

5-4 now

Damn. Two low strikes called in that at-bat.

YMCA down the road

single to right 1st and 2nd for Baylor 0 outs