International Softball is a fan-led softball blog and forum, sharing the latest tips, tricks and info to improve your game. So theres the numerator. The basic infield positions are shown below in diagram above, which illustrates where each player will stand in the most fundamental situations. a third baseman? Softball message board with discussions on softball hitting, softball pitching, coaching youth softball and where you can get softball drills and softball tips. Recruiting Questionnaire. However, when interpreting the linear regression line for some context, we can still see the effect of a dramatic change in fielding percentage. Lou Gherig - .447. It can certainly contribute to the discussion, but until a few more years go by and we can combine the data with professional records for these college players, we dont know just how worthwhile it is. I didn't realize just how interesting though. And here are your 5 worst players in terms of on base percentage since last year: 135. The left fielder does not need to have an amazing arm because throws arent terribly long. What is a good on base percentage for high school softball? Tia Warsop, sr., Lake Ridge (Texas) Warsop earned honors as SBLive All-North Texas MVP as a junior, hitting .583 with 81 hits, 66 runs, 23 RBIs, 11 extra-base hits and a .985 fielding percentage . Christian Yelich - .412 Well break each position down, but its important to understand throwing speed as it pertains to which positions a softball player can play. We may occasionally review products that could generate commissions that enable the site to continue running. what is a good fielding percentage in softball signs of autistic meltdown in adults. Center field requires lots of speed and great fly ball reading ability. Feel like your squad's glovework on ground balls could improve? Most 17-year-old softball players are worried about their final high school softball season, prom and then graduation not about hitting leadoff for a . The best way to correct catching form is to practice game-like situations without actual runners. If you can play more than one position, they will look at you favorably when they make final evaluations of who should be on the team. Kids batting . Pingback: How Do You Size A Fastpitch Softball Glove: Beginner's Guide. Between that limitation and small sample sizes, we cant expect too much out of any such college fielding stat. Double-play turns for lefty middle infielders are nearly impossible. insights, ACTIVE Works is the race management Later, the shortstop was moved permanently to the infield but his number stuck at #6. Example If a fielder has completed 317 put outs, 541 assists, and 27 errors, then: 317 + 541 = 858 317 + 541 + 27 = 885 858 885 is 0.969 Therefore, the fielder's fielding percentage is 0.969. That will payoff much more than homegrown stats. Before we get going, check out this video about throwing speed by age for fastpitch players. Your email address will not be published. And losing is bad. While only about 1.6% of high school softball players go on to play at the Division 1 level, the other division levels, NAIA schools, and junior colleges offer many opportunities for promising prospects. The corner outfielders, shortstop and second baseman are typically the fastest players on a competitive fastpitch softball team. But what about sacrifice flies? That year he recorded the highest single-season fielding percentage of any shortstop in the history of baseball (.998). Left fielders typically have good speed and fielding skills and are expected to be good contributors at the plate. The distinction between the two is clear (now). Furthermore, What is the highest batting average in softball?, The best batting average in the history of NCAA softball is . But remember, these are in effect just outs. Use your browser's incognito or private browsing mode to avoid participating. Im a keen athlete myself; I like to train regularly and spend time socialising outside of softball too. Don't let RB scare you off, Chaz. Even worse. The line statistically says, On average, if a team raises its fielding percentage by 1%, its winning percentage will go up by 6.29%.. What are good stats for softball? This means that there is a moderate negative correlation between a teams ERA and its winning percentage. He exceeded his expected errors by 10.98, resulting in a Universal Fielding Percentage Score of .304 for the seasonwell below average: (56.04 - 39) / 56.04 = .304 Single-Season Leaders & Records for On-Base Plus Slugging. 136. Second baseman have to be very quick and agile defenders and have value on the bases. Catchers need a strong arm, so if you need to work on your throwing (for any position, really) check out my free throwing webinar below. Chris Davis. If you need to improve your batting power, size and strength, definitely check out my online strength program below. 60 Yard Dash: 6.9 or below. Adjust your batting stance. In other words, its to reach base. I thought it might be interesting to discuss something a bit different than gloves and gear. Playing the Percentages in Baseball. When weve got multiple full years of data for a shortstop, it would appear that we have something worth looking at. Here is a link to his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-wolf-bb3775186/. Swings and misses and poor contact are common for this pitcher, so keep the pitches in the zone. Batting Average is a teams total amount of hits divided by the total number of at-bats for the season. What is a good exit velocity for softball? Thank you for writing this article. Differing from batting average and ERA, fielding percentage does not appear to be as crucial to winning in baseball and has no clear effect on a team's winning percentage. 138. He thus had 28.02 expected errors. Left-handed catchers are seen occasionally in college softball but its rare. Terms of Use All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, Its not to get a hit. Find Camps & Activities for your Active Kids, How to Improve Your Catcher's Reaction Time, 4 Steps to Defending the Second Base Steal, 4 Ways Coaches Can Teach the Fundamentals of Softball, The Truth Behind Sports Camps and Clinics. ATTENTION TO RIGHT HOLDERS! The formula for total chances is: assists plus putouts plus errors. In general, however, a batting average of .300 or higher is considered very good, while anything above .400 is considered outstanding. Diagram: All Nine Softball Position Numbers. I then interpreted the linear regression line for some more context. Strikeouts: 1 or more per inning . Kevin Pillar - .272 All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com. What is the difference between a batting average and an earned run average? ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. After all, the batter is out on a sacrifice fly but another baserunner advances or perhaps even scores a run? Here are a series of tips to boost your squad's team defense and help them maximize their fielding potential. The use of the statistic is almost exclusively limited to its role as the denominator for determining fielding percentage. Its the most demanding out field position with lots of ground to cover. This means that there is a moderate positive correlation between a teams batting average and its winning percentage. It is calculated by the sum of putouts and assists, divided by the number of total chances (putouts + assists + errors ). In theory, a defender's total chances represent the number of opportunities he has to record an out. It has much of the information that play-by-play defensive metrics use to measure professional fielding skill, except for the type of batted ball (grounder, line drive, etc.) Oakland promoted him to Kane County thanks to a solid offensive performance last season, but in 79 games this year, hes played 61 at third base and zero at shortstop. ERA is the average number of earned runs allowed per a full 9 inning game. Stats: OB%: .550; Slugging: .450 (Minimum 2 AB's per game) Coach Keys: 500 on base percentage. However, Green did, and his 07 performance was in line with the more recent numbers. *This article may contain product links which pay me a small commission if you make a purchase. It is defined as the total number of bases divided by the number of at-bats, however it is generally just two times the number of singles plus three times doubles plus four times triples plus five times home runs. 137. What is the DH in softball? The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? He has a reputation as a defensive wizard, and his 09 season would seem to support that. But if a players skillset and body type just doesnt project well at that positionmeaning if a softball player isnt going to be big and strong and hit for power like a typical first basemanthen they need to come to terms with the position just not going to work in the long term. Camps and Clinics. On-base percentage, on the other hand, is a measure of how often a batter reaches base safely, regardless of whether he gets there via hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch. Why is it even more crucial that the batter reaches base getting a hit or even driving in a run? After all, what is the most important job of any baseball player at the plate? Be willing to learn and play other positions it may keep you off the bench. Because when you walk, youre not making an out and you are preserving your scarce resource. Help your team improve its bunt defense with this drill set from Missouri head coach Ehren Earleywine. Ideal Body Type and Attributes for Pitchers, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for Catchers, Demands, Skills & Role of a First Baseman, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for First Basemen, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for 2nd Basemen, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for Shortstops, Demands, Skills & Role of a Third Baseman, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for Third Basemen, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for Left Fielders, Demands, Skills & Role of a Center Fielder, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for Center Fielders, Demands, Skills & Role of a Right Fielder, Ideal Body Type and Attributes for Right Fielders, Mistake #1: Sticking too long with a position that just isnt a good fit, Mistake #2: Not being open minded about other positions, Read My Article on Beginner Throwing Footwork, My Article on Building Great Softball Workouts, [Shes Got a Cannon] Softball Overhand Throwing Courses, Softball Batting Power: 5 Ways to Increase It, Two Pitch-Calling Mistakes that Cause High Pitch Counts - Elite Baseball Performance, How to Create High-Velocity Softball Throwing Mechanics, 5 Easy Ways Softball Players Can Throw Harder - Coach Dan Blewett, How Do You Size A Fastpitch Softball Glove: Beginner's Guide, The modern catcher is getting taller and more athletic than in the past, Catchers need to have strong legs and be able to withstand some punishment, Hitting skills are a plus and less of a requirement, Slightly slimmer, more athletic and agile catchers are becoming more common, Overall, scouts want to see catchers who are very athletic, strong and agile, A strong arm is a bonus but not overly important, Good fielding skills needs to be able to pick balls and read bad throws, Quick reflexes batted balls come to first base HOT. Hits are great. I dont think scouts generally talk about Beckham as a liability in the fieldjust a guy who cant stick at shortstop. Bumped to second base for the 2009 season. Sources and more resources A couple of other notes. First, lets recap a bit of what I wrote in the Mendonca article. They use up your scarce resource. Third, fielding percentage misses a lot of subtlety. Pitch velocity: 63+ MPH. Sure, there are some opportunities to range either way and make throws from deep in the hole, but when guys make contact, one of two things happens: It gets by you (and it would get by anybody, because its going that fast), or its a hot shot you can reach. For example, if a batter has 100 hits and 400 at bats, their batting average would be .250. This will give you a better idea of what types of pitches they like to throw, and how they like to attack hitters. I would love to be on a softball team someday. The line statistically says, On average, if a team raises its batting average by 1%, its winning percentage will go up by 5%.. For shortstops who were in the field for 800 or more balls in play (roughly 33 games) in both 2007 and 2008, the year-to-year correlation was approximately 0.29. First off, I seem to have over emphasized fielding percentage as a statistic. College Softball Recruiting Guidelines Am I good enough to play softball in college? How many square meters is a baseball field? High School softball (55-75 mph). 1. Thus, it goes to help boost their on base percentage. Its also interesting to note that all but Votto have a batting average above .300 as well.