WWBA Pitching

Wood Bats!

I agree that wood bats are part of it but I also think that the emphasis put on pitching at a young age and the vision of the huge draft signing dollars that pitchers receive has driven the young players to turn to pitching and stress this and turn away from playing other positions.

Also todays pitchers are bigger and stronger than ever before

And NO--we do not need to change dimensions on the field

quote:

Originally posted by Bum:
On the PG Crosschecker site I saw a statistic that blew me away. In 45 games played, there have been 19 shutouts and four games that ended in 0 - 0 ties.

I fail to understand what turning away from other positions has to do with 19 shut outs in 45 games, as most likely many of those pitchers played and some still do play other positions and play them well.
Wood bats always gives the pitcher an advantage.

It's the change up. IMO.

The change up has even made a huge difference in the ML game, young pitchers are learning early how to incorporate this very important pitch into their arsenal, and use it often.

Keep watching the scores. You will the see the runs start to come along with the base hits. Most teams probably opened up with their top arms. Anytime you have the cream of the crop arms in one place your going to see this happen. Many of the best hs pitchers facing many of the best hs hitters swinging wood bats is going to go to the pitchers.

Hitters adjust the more at bats they get. It all evens out over time.

quote:

It's the change up. IMO.

Good point TPM! Certainly, it's (change-up) been a featured pitch the past decade that today's pitchers grew up watching on TV and have added to their arsenal. Also, the perception that's it's a good alternative to the curveball and easier on the arm has probably aided it's popularity.

Better Coaching, conditioning and year-around competition enhance the advantage that pitchers have always had! Contrast that on the hitting side with elite Amateur competition moving more and more to Wood Bats, pitcher specialization and the result will be more dominant pitching performances.

I have to respectfully disagree regarding the changeup--not that many pitchers have a great change up--I think using offspeed stuff--a curve, taking a little off the fast ball is more prevalent--pitchers today also can locate their pitches better than ever before

Also at the HS level and travel team level the coaching is better today and they are teaching the pitchers how to be better pitchers.

This is simply a case of most of the top arms being in one place at the same time. Add in the fact that WWBA events are wood bat and you get what you are seeing.

This is the same thing you see in the summer college leagues and what you are going to see in college ball and Calif HS next year, pitcher's ERA's are going to fall, as much as, the BA's do.

The pitchers gain confidence pitching against wood bats. There are some truly good hitters that can hit just as well as with wood, but that is the exception.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
This is simply a case of most of the top arms being in one place at the same time. Add in the fact that WWBA events are wood bat and you get what you are seeing.

yes, must agree with you that many elite arms attending AND, as most agree, WOOD BATS!

Hitters are adjusting by beginning to use wood earlier in their learning process but no matter how that evolves, 3-4 hits in ten appearances will probably continue to be the benchmark for a quality hitter.

Bum,

If 14 shutouts in 45 games seems like a lot... Look at what is happening in the MLB Playoffs. Nearly half the games have been shutouts and they are playing 9 inning games.

The Reds had a great hitting year but were shutout in two of the three games.

Not trying to compare high school underclassmen to Major Leaguers, but that (shutouts) can happen when the pitching is outstanding at any level.

Hitting with wood makes it harder (than metal) to score also, but kids are using wood a lot these days and many hit well with wood.

I think it just says that if you have the top pitchers facing the top hitters... Bet on the pitchers and you'll win most of those bets.

Of course, you already know that.

I think if someone were to add up all the scores from that tournament and averaged it out. The average game score would seem somewhat normal. Lower scoring than metal, though.

Actually taking the top 32 teams (pool winners)

The average score of their games was (rounding off the numbers... 6-2.

I'm guessing that if all games were averaged out it would be something like 5-5.

PG,
You know facts have gotten in the way of many good discussions.

Don't worry, T. The 61-ft. mound comment was tongue-in-cheek. I'm just seeing a lot of rising talent at the pitching level.

BTW, PG, watched PG alumni Madison Baumgarner pitch tonight. He's pretty tough.