Slowpitch -vs- Baseball

[Justme]

I worked a Men’s slow pitch softball tourney on Saturday. One of the teams that played was a team made up of college baseball players (from various colleges). Many I had umpired in the Adult Baseball League over the past few seasons. They had been teammates or played against each other in HS & in college. They were all going their separate ways, some to continue playing baseball others on to other careers.

Considering their baseball experience and ability (no softball experience between them) they had little doubt what the tournament outcome would be.

But….they got their butts kicked in the first two games of their pool play and finished 1-2, missing the play offs. After their last game we got together to share a drink (cola for me of course) and a couple of them commented to me that they felt that slow pitch softball was more difficult to play than baseball. They could handle the 90+mph pitches but those @#$!%^ slow, arching, 6’-12’ pitches were murder to hit. Admittedly they made some adjustments and won their last game but that couldn’t erase their surprise that they didn’t dominate the other teams. To their credit, they took defeat well, along with the friendly teasing from the other teams.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Been saying this for years. Give them a little time and practice, and they will probably become very good softball players, if their minds allow that to happen

[mcrowder]

Not surprised at all. The timing is completely different, and in fastpitch, where the bat is being swung closer to the same plane as the pitch, timing isn't as critical (slightly late or slightly early in fastpitch merely changes the direction of the hit ... slightly late or early in slowpitch is likely a complete miss).

Also - the difference in base distance is HUGE, both in the aspect of fielding and baserunning between baseball and softball. It's TRULY a different sport.

[BretMan]

With all of the slow pitch teams I've coached and played for the past 25 years, I've had the chance to see some high school and travel baseball players make the transition to softball. Most had hard a time of it at first, then gradually became used to the slow, arcing pitches.

Besides the timing differences, one big problem they had was generating power. An 80 mph baseball struck with a bat creates an explosive collision. The distance the ball ball travels is as much a result of the pitched ball's speed as the force provided by the batter.

Slow pitch requires the batter to provide the collision forces and accomplishing this takes a different mechanic than hitting a baseball.

I've also seen some baseball players struggle defensively with the larger ball. I think that one reason is some of them are still using their 11" infielders gloves from their baseball days. Get that man a softball glove!

I, too, have no doubt that with enough work we can turn those baseball players into fine softball players yet!

In the last decade, I had the unique experience of playing both adult baseball and slow pitch softball at the same time for several seasons. It was tough developing two distinct swings and there were points where both swings were thoroughly messed up!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by BretMan

I've also seen some baseball players struggle defensively with the larger ball. I think that one reason is some of them are still using their 11" infielders gloves from their baseball days. Get that man a softball glove!

Don't necessarily buy the "glove" theory. The glove is just there to stop the ball.

I believe the biggest difference is in the mechanics. Softball players go down for a ground ball and throw from whatever position is necessary to get the ball where it needs to be. Many baseball-oriented infielders will reach down, bring the ball up and throw from an upright position.

Also, baseball players will often just place the gloved ball in front of the base on a tag play. Softball players have a tendency to reach or move toward the runner to make the tag before s/he even gets near the base. I often get the:

Umpire: OUT!
Runner: High tag, Blue
Umpire: Yep.
Runner: You can't call me out on a high tag!
Umpire: The tag was before you got to the base.
Runner: Yeah, but it was a high tag!
Umpire: Here's your sign!!!

Okay, so I added the last line for effect

[CecilOne]

"Runner: You can't call me out on a high tag!"

Is that on the myths list, or just the too-many-times list?

[greymule]

Yes, you have to make some fielding adjustments, but I have never seen a great fielder in baseball who was not also a great fielder in softball. However, I have seen many fine baseball hitters who simply did not have the strength to be effective SP hitters (especially in the days of Bombats and Dudley Day-Nites).

Back in the 1970s, Trenton NJ had a professional softball team that included Joe Pepitone. Joe was a great softball fielder (not hard to figure, since he was a fine fielder in baseball), but though he was a good SP hitter, he was not the top bat on the team. Many of the other teams also showcased former MLB players (Norm Cash, Jim Northrup, Curt Blefary, Zoilo Versalles, to name a few), but those guys often weren't even starters.

I know dozens of SP crushers who as baseball players were strictly JV level (if that).

Years ago, a former player for the Phillies and Cubs (who naturally was a standout in our semipro baseball league) turned to SP. It was kind of entertaining to watch his initial difficulty with the high arc, but he was soon slamming the ball all over the place.

Another local former MLB player (15 years) turned to SP at the urging of his brothers, longtime SP players. This guy was certainly an asset to his team, but he was about at the level of the other good hitters in the league. He retired after one season. Maybe after you've played in a World Series, playing for Joe's Bar and Grill . . .

[IRISHMAFIA]

Could have sworn Pepitone played with the Philadelphia Athletics in the pro softball league.

[greymule]

Could have sworn Pepitone played with the Philadelphia Athletics in the pro softball league.

He may well have played for Philly at some point. I met Pepitone around 1990 and mentioned that I had last seen him playing for the Trenton Statesmen. He proudly claimed to have been a good softball player, and I certainly agreed with him. But when I got home and relayed the story, of lot of the guys laughed and asked whether Pepitone had turned pale when I mentioned the Statesmen. I don't know the details, but apparently Joe's sojourn in Trenton was fraught with controversy of various kinds.

I remember a lot of those pro teams: Cincinnati Suds, Detroit Caesars, Minnesota Goofys. New York and Baltimore also had teams. I heard of scores getting into the 70s. Imagine averaging 10 runs an inning and losing the game. The ball had to be juiced though, even in 1977. Several guys from our league played for Trenton and hit a lot of homers. With our Dudley Day-Nites, they rarely reached the fence.