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IMO, in the upper levels of female fast pitch (HS and above, 16U and above),at the elite level, the pitcher's dominance is so complete the game needs some adjustment.
However, I do not favor any articicial "balancing" rules, such as inning limits on pitchers. That is for the rec leagues.
I also do not think the upper levels should have the rules changed in multiple areas at a time to try to deal with this.
Some things that could help:
1) How about actually enforcing the leap and crow hop rule for once? I heard there were a few crow hop IPs called in the recent WCWS, but I don't recall hearing about any leaps being called, and that is the predominate pitching violation the top picthers engage in. ("heard about" because I do not have access to the broadcasts.)
2) An experiment with moving the plate back would be worthwhile to try. I think 6' would be enough to give the batters just a bit more of a timing edge, and would be far enough to require the pitchers some significant readjustment in their pitches.
3) If the experiment works, then (a year or two later) drop the leap rule. Simplify the wording of the crow hop rule to merely outlaw pushing off from anywhere other than the plate or pushing a second time and change the name - no more "crow hop" - just call it an illegal push.
4) Widen the plate to 30" and then get serious about calling being out of the width of the plate.
JMO.
[Edited by Dakota on Jun 9th, 2005 at 10:22 AM]
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Tom
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