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AllStar
762 Posts |
 Posted - 09/09/2009 : 22:46:01
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One thing that I have noticed is that the infielders better know how to back hand the ball. On the smaller fields the good ones could often run around their back hand. Not going to be able to do that anymore.
Better teach your pitchers to throw strikes. I know it seems obvious, but from what I've seen even the 15's and 16's are struggling. The 14U manager that solves that will be way ahead of the game. Not many hitters are going to take even the mistakes out of the park. Throw strikes!
It will be interesting to see how everyone adjusts. It's a big change. |
Edited by - AllStar on 09/09/2009 22:46:37 |
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lovebball
7 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 07:57:08
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| At 60/90 speed can no longer be ignored, just making contact with ball is a routine out. Players who hit the ball hard with air under it and not line drives with see less results. Coaches who play outfielders who have no speed will loss games even if they have their best pitchers on the mound. Speed on offense and defense will be a big factor with 60/90. |
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Alter-Ego
802 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 09:33:30
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Ah, a new topic. 
Speed in the outfield, or at least the ability to cover some ground, will be necessary on the bigger fields. Balls in the gap that could be cut off, before, will now roll a long way.
Speed on the basepaths will show up as a big benefit as well. Slow footspeed can clog the bases up.
As you said, Allstar, not as many balls are going to go out, so hitting line drives and the balls in the gaps are going to be super important as well. No more pop-up homeruns. (There still may be a few when playing on fields like #5 at EC, but not on the top 3 fields.)
Pitchers will see that pitches that were borderline at 54' will be well off the plate 60'6". Good mechanics will be very important.
The ability to bunt, hit and run, sacrifice, etc, will be more available to use.
It was interesting sitting at a minor league game the other day with my son and us talking about that field being exactly the same size as they play on now.
Welcome to full blown baseball. |
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goyard
217 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 11:44:41
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| Outfield Ranging of players will be HUGE in my opinion. Also, the infielders will have to rely even more on Range than prior year reflex I believe. Line drives will be crucial for batters - keeping the ball low in the air and in gaps! |
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TS55
9 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 12:39:43
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| You also need outfielders that can run and it's hard to hide the weak arm. |
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goyard
217 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 14:10:21
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The Bleachers are bigger on field #2 giving more silent mumble space to the parents  |
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lovebball
7 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 15:01:16
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| High school coaches seem to have a better grasp on player development while travel teams are pushing boys to play positions who dont have physics to continue in those positions. This will be interesting when we watch 9 shortstops and 5 1st basemen attempt to turn out wins on a 60/90. Wake up time coaches baseball is more than just the shortstop, pitcher and catcher. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 15:04:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Alter-Ego
Ah, a new topic.
It was interesting sitting at a minor league game the other day with my son and us talking about that field being exactly the same size as they play on now.
Ha! And that the fences are farther than the right field porch at Yankee Stadium.
I thought I would miss the smaller fields, but after going to the bigger fields at our park this summer and throwing and hitting grounders and flies, I think I am going to like it a lot. Already see my son's arm getting stronger.
I was hitting him grounders at third and told him he was making the same throw as Chipper Jones. He liked that idea. |
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loveforthegame25
448 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 15:10:28
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| It becomes real baseball now. Weaker arm catchers get phased out, weaker arm SS become 2b, the right fielder is actually one of the more important positions, harder to steal because of the longer distance. You have to teach better bunt coverage, double cuts to balls in the gap where the first baseman has to trail the runner. Its a whole new ballgame for the players and the coaches. If you dont know the little things as a coach its going to be difficult for coaches to be successful. |
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Dr. Old School
314 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2009 : 08:58:28
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lftg25,
You bring up a good point. No longer can coaches teach "what they learned in PE" and be successful. Now they have to coach the full range of baseball and the details that most people miss. Pickoff's, steals, fake catches by the cutoff to freeze a runner on the bases, bunt defense, bunts, hit and run, sacrifices, double cuts, better signals, throws that can be cut vs. airmailing the ball to the bag, etc. Pitchers have to learn how to pitch, not just throw. Batters need to learn to pick the ball up out of the pitchers hand to see the rotation, not just guess at the pitch. etc..... |
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loveforthegame25
448 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2009 : 13:46:08
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| Amen DOS Amen. |
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