Posted by: steve (steve@side2.com) on Thu Jun 9 09:52:39 2005

Jack & Mark,

Interesting reading. Ray, thanks for initiating it. My time right now is quite limited but I would like to add a little to the discussion.

I had the pleasure of facing Mark and can vouch that during his prime, he was among the very top pitchers in the world. What was amazing with Mark was that he was also one of the best hitters in the game. I can think of only one other person who was world class in both areas in fast pitch. That would another hard throwing left handed Canadian friend, Undy from Owen Sound. They were both the Babe Ruth’s of fast pitch or should I say fastball. Also for the record, Mark is one of the classiest competitors you’d ever want to meet. Team Canada is fortunate to have him as their head coach.

As far as hitting fast pitch, I have said before that fast pitch hitters would do themselves good adhering to the principles of Mr. Mankin. Because of the different trajectory and less reaction time, there are some adjustments that are helpful, especially when facing the highest level pitching such as Mark. If fast pitch pitchers only threw drop balls, hitters could set up and swing the same as a baseball. As Mark suggested, hitting a rise ball often necessitates using a little more top hand and I won’t disagree.

In addition to playing world-class softball, I played high level college baseball. I can assure anyone that there is little comparison between a baseball submarine pitcher and a traditional fast pitch delivery. Another hard throwing Canadian lefty who Mark also knows, Peaches, also worked out for a major league team. They also found that pitching from 60 feet with a smaller ball and from a mound makes an underhand rise ball pretty ineffective. In addition, legally throwing a pitch when holding on a runner is pretty impossible.

As far as pros playing fast pitch, from the names you mentioned, I believe Paul Molitor and Ichiro would have the most success without making many adjustments to what they currently are doing. Bonds would need to clean up his swing a little but after doing so and adjusting to the quicker pitching, would be as equally great a hitter in fast pitch.

Ichiro would be a left handed slap type hitter and be the toughest out in fast pitch. Left handed slap hitters are well suited to employ linear techniques but for the rest of fast pitch hitters, I would recommend rotational mechanics.

Best Regards to all,

Steve Kerian