New ISF Pitching Rule

sledgehammer22 · Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 179 Location: California

What are the thoughts on the new pitching rule?

In my opinion it seems foolish to limit the pitchers' ability to throw at the highest level. When it comes down to it, the major selling point to men's fastpitch softball is the pitchers. Having played at the ISC level, and been dominated by the best, I still think the pitchers are the show. Would I rather have Folkard thow a little easier so I could actually put a ball in play? Absolutely. But the fans come to see the heat and the domination on the mound. When those guys pitch, people stop to watch...it is an amazing show. The new rule is an organization shooting itself in the foot. If the ISF was to loose such guys as Folkard, Whitten, Mata etc because of a rule that doesn't let them apply all of their practice, it will be a quicker death than is already occurring.

What's next...the hitter has to chock up a minimum of 2.5 inches because they hit the ball too hard? Or the gloves in the outfield must be 11 inches because a 12.5 gives them an advantage of making great plays. Just my opinion

med42 · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 23 Location: nor-cal

Sledge, its good to see you back at commenting about fastball. However I must disagree with you regarding the pitchers. I beleive its the pitching rule changes or lack thereof that have hurt the game. This game was designed at it's core to be like but "not as like" the game of baseball. The game is meant to be fast and with lots of action in the feild. Today's game is anything of the sort. Having played at that level and been dominated by the same pitching I find the game boring. I've been involved in games in which I've played in the outfeild and not have a single solitary play. The game is now about the guy in the circle who doesn'nt even play by the rules. Sure they are quite amazing atheletes. No doubt, but they assualt the batters with an unfair advantage. Hell even the top womens game play by the rules. Not only do the girls stay in contact with the rubber they now have to stay within the forward lines. The men bastradize the art of pitching. Take a look at photos of these top pitchers and all are muliple feet off the rubber flying, skipping and jumping at times completely out of the circle. Take a look at the example on you tube concerning the newest change. All are worried about hidding the ball but forget about the 3 feet off the mound. What a shame that men can't play by the original rule. The pitching has hurt the game at it's grass roots. Teams would rather play down than move up only to see someone prance all over the mound. I beleive more players would stay in the game if the original rules were inforced. Keep these whirling dervishes on the rubber and lets see how dominating they can be.

sledgehammer22 · Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 179 Location: California

Good points. I agree with you on keeping guys on the rubber. There is no doubt that rule has been totally overlooked by umpires when the rule is effect. However, I think the new rule is a mistake. From what I have read, it seems as though the rule tries to keep pitchers from hiding the ball. Am I correct in this assumption?

Using your explanation of softball......

"This game was designed at it's core to be like but "not as like" the game of baseball. The game is meant to be fast and with lots of action in the feild."...

Do baseball pitchers try to hide the ball? Why wouldn't they? The pitching strategy of baseball and softball is about "fooling" the opposing hitter. Hiding the ball is and has been used as a tactic to make that happen for as long as the games have been in existence. Think old school baseball pitcher swinging his arm around in a circle before delivery. Think USSSA slowpitch doing the damn fake pitch. Hiding the ball from the hitter is the game! Keep them on the rubber yes, but if they have to stay on the rubber and can't hide the ball??????I will definitely be out of retirement.
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Slowpitch is why fastpitch is dying. Society wants everything given to them...just like ssssllllloooooowwww pitch.

socal pitcher3 · Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 63

Good points, but I have to agree with Devo....With the new technology of bats, and rock hard balls that fly, we pitchers need as much advantage as we can get...But if we wanna put so many restrictions on pitchers, why dont we go back to Debeer 212 balls and i would be fine with pitching rules...But when you play ISC and you can use any bat you want, who has the real advantage, hitters or pitchers?

llabtfossmrafrolyat · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 25

can we expect to see you on the fields in 2011? and if so with who in 2001?