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An Update On Our Team Direction
By: Alex Nedzel
Updated: 05/15/2009 at 12:26 AM
I wanted to share a brief synopsis of conversations that a number of you have shared with me over the past couple of weeks about where we are and where we’re headed.
On first blush, it doesn’t seem encouraging that in our first four games we have not yet had a win.
By way of explanation, it’s been pointed out that two of our losses were to two of the league’s top teams; that we’re still in the process of zeroing in on suitable field positions for 6 new players; and
that our average age is higher than that of the teams we’ve faced.
The first issue is no longer a problem, as those teams are now in our past rather than our future, and hopefully we’re making progress on the second issue.
The third issue, apart from working to attract a greater number of “ringers” over the long term, is simply a fact of life over which we have no control in the near term.
A common theme to all the conversations I’ve had is that people feel as though our overarching goal of having a great time with each other playing softball is being met solidly.
I’m delighted by that feedback, in that it matches exactly how I feel.
That said, it’s also true that people would *rather* we come out on top of some of our games.
Here are several observations and ideas you’ve offered to help us get there:
1)
Even if our fielding were perfect, we’re not generating enough runs to counter the runs that an opposing team could reasonably be expected to generate.
Ideas to solve this were (1) take batting practice during the week to gain confidence and skill in making contact and controlling your timing and swing so as to place your hit where the fielders aren’t; and (2) arrive at games earlier than 9:30 so there is time to take ample batting practice.
2)
Have each of us take on a very limited number of fielding positions, so that we can more quickly become well-practiced and skilled in the nuances of playing our positions; in this way we will be successful in a greater percentage of the plays as each one unfolds in rapid-fire.
We’ll emphasize this more in our fielding assignments—and of course, everyone can help by making sure I know of any strong preferences you may have.
3)
When on the field for batting practice: cover our actual favored field positions and inject/integrate fielding drills into the batting practice.
4)
Several people observed that our defense has often been lax in the early innings, not only allowing runs that must be recouped, but also allowing a positive momentum to develop on the opposing side.
A tighter opening on our part
would have the opposite effect on our opponent’s start.
Early on, we need to make sure we are moving quickly to get to the ball, calling our plays, and making them.
In this way we can cover more ground and reduce the number of “drop-ins” that could have been catches.
Each out we can make is HUGE, and has a drastic impact on the opposing team’s run generation; and of course, the opposite is equally true.
Making progress on items 1 through 3 above will enable substantial improvement on this front.
Well, that’s it … I think these are all great ideas, and I encourage all of us to do what we can to implement them in our play.
Let's play ball!
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