THREAD: 🥎 Outfield Defense 🥎
I’m going to challenge some of our thoughts about how we think about OF defense in softball.
Below is a field (fair territory is 90°) divided into 3 equal segments of 30°. Theoretically each OF gets as many outs in their segment as possible. 1/
During the 2021 WCWS every team’s top pitcher threw 67+mph with 5 of the 8 able to throw 70+mph.
Developing velocity is the most important skill to develop for softball pitchers with championship aspirations.
If you believe anything else you are wrong… a thread ⬇️
1/10
Routine Ground ball to SS
Hitter goes H->1B: 3.29 sec
SS fields the ball at 1.65 sec after BIP
only 1.64 sec remain before safe
🥎 SS Pop-Time 🥎
glove -> hand: 0.33 sec
hand -> release: 0.35 sec
Ball flight (63ft at 62mph): 0.73 sec
Total pop: 1.41 sec
Hitter out by 0.23 sec
Hitting the ball hard is a good thing. But how hard is hard enough?
Thanks to @tking0426 & @Yakkertech we have an idea. There appears to be an inflection point at 68mph EV.
Why?
What actually happens during the game for 🥎 catchers?
They receive 75+ pitchers per game (7 inning games).
Receiving is ~71% of a catchers job.
Throwing out runners stealing second base is 0.66% of a catchers job.
Think about what people prioritize for catchers 🤯
🐺🔴 Player Development 🔴🐺
@PackSoftball will have an entire team with HEALTHY, CONFIDENT, & EXPLOSIVE arms 🔥🔥 These athletes deserve the best tools & systems!!