Hello everybody,
Once again, this place is almost dead, but it's time to try and revive it. I'm sure we all had a smashing good time celebrating x'mas and new year over at moley's and dae's place respectively. Seems like this year, we're all into mahjong eh? Spending both nights mahjong-ing the night away. Well, it's always fun to just get together regardless of the occassion and I'm sure the overseas boys are too. I think the only one left out this year is, as termed by Bertram, Gerrard, the bitch, who is spending his holiday away from the rest of the softball gang. TSK TSK... Of course, I thank each and every one of you for your well wishes, great surprises on my 21st, amazing gifts and your very existence.
Anyway, true to the spirit of this blog, googoo and I were cordially invited to Wee Hao's place today for a bbq dinner. Dinner was fully sponsored by the Ng family which we are very thankful for and no cooking was involved. (At least not for googoo and me) I must say, this was one of the better bbqs I've actually been to because the prawns were big and juicy(hy take note!), the food was churned out quite fast(due to the 5 pits that they had ongoing all the time) and the weather was surprisingly cooling. Best of all, it was a free dinner of course... HEHE. *I wonder if Wee Hao will be offended if he sees this?
Okay on to the next thing that googoo and I were talking about just now over at Wee Hao's place. Why is it that outfielders are always thought to be a position that is easiest to play? At least in the context of Singapore? I came up with this, that the standard of the majority of outfielders in Singapore are not as high when compared to the rest of the other positions. I'm not sure if you all understand what I'm trying to say. You know like say to be a good infielder, you have to be able to think fast to make the plays, or go for that extra out, do a feint, make a double play, catch the runner off guard, make a miraculous stop off that fast grounder to prevent a run or even a single. But for outfielders, where is the high standard of play that we should expect? It's not even expected...?
For example, how many people, when they play right field, even think of trying to get the runner out at one when a single is hit to them? How many people when playing outfield know how to position themselves at the different fields, left center right? Most people think that outfield is the same, and the main goal is just to catch the ball and throw it back in. I think that's where the crux of the problem lies right? That outfielders do not need or are not able to convert that play or get an extra out. And why is it that only right fielders should be told to make the throw to one? We should go to the stage where even left fielders are trying to make that throw to one to get the batter out. Note, to get the batter out, not a runner already on one. Oh, another thing also was that today during ORA training, I made a throw to Albert who was catching during our warm-up batting and it was high, like above his head. Of course, it was an easy catch without having him to move, just a slight stretch of his hand over his hand to catch the ball. But I was like, oh shit, sorry! Then Wee Hao was saying, "Why you say sorry? He didn't have to move." That was the story, but my point is, yes, he didn't have to move, but in a game, a throw that high could have made the difference between a safe and an out at home.
HAHAHA... YES I know once again, I am lamenting on outfielders once again, but I guess there isn't any other position I can comment about. I thank all of you for your patience and kind attention for all these years about my theories on outfield and I assure you there'll be more to come, so do continue to bear with it. All of you here are also subject matter experts, so please feel free to give me your professional advice.
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ReplyDeleteWell, most teams we face could only get us out on simple plays like pop-ups to outfield or soft grounders to infield. We hardly faced many situations where we get thrown out at home, due to the fact that most coaches dedicate their 'top' players to positions like SS, C and P. I think the whole issue of where coaches should allocate their players would somewhat be a catch 22 given the limited pool of players that they have and i shall spare myself from further ambiguity because its not easy to argue without stats.
ReplyDeletePositioning is a gift; an innate ability to judge the most probable direction of a hit. Through an untrained eye, it may seem like an easy catch, but the process leading up to that catch is what makes a gifted fielder.
Outfielders may have slightly less direct roles in plays involving runners on base, but they make up by becoming solid batters at the plate. So while infielders are sharpening up their double plays, the outfielders would be sharpening their eye on the plate. How often in the majors do you see outfielders batting first and cleanup?
Unfortunately, outfielders still lie in the shadow of infielders in Singapore, but i am pretty sure that with great role models to look up to, this would not be the case in future. A little long winded, this is just my view on the role of outfielders.
ok sweet post. i like.
ReplyDeletebut my question is: how often?
Firstly. i think weehao's mum should open a cake shop, her cakes are fantabulous!!!
ReplyDeleteand yeah, free bbq...we lived up to our names.
I agree with andreu totally.Outfielders really have minimum role to play except for sharpening their bats. If a ball is hit to outfield, the only realistic chance of getting a player out is by catching a pop fly.A grounder is likely going to result in a 'safe on base'.An average runner(yes not even a good or smart one)will not allow an outfielder to throw him or her out that easily.
Having said that, minimum role doesn't mean no role and yes, i can see where dao zhe is coming from.In Singapore, if a throw is coming from outfield to home but missed the play due to over or under throwing the outfielder never shoulders the blame. It will be considered a "good attempt". This is an epitome of the lack in standard in our play.
One plausible explanation is the age factor.Softball is played at really young ages and for the players to make the 'big' throwouts from outfield is really a tough call. It is not good for the arm at all without professional guidance(eg.coach Farhan).And honestly speaking, very few players continue the sport after JC or poly and for the few who make it,their basics do not allow them to make the big throws at all.
Basically, what we really need is good and professional outfield coaching from young and it can start with Dao Zhe:)
as much as statistics have proven the higher percentage of outfielders making it to the top bracket of the battig lineup, that is just outfield's pride and joy. but i'm refering more to the level of play from the outfielders.
ReplyDeleteinfielders are blamed when their throw is rather off target right? but outfielders aren't that much. at least not from what i know in singapore? but even so, the fact that many view outfield as just their backup position in case they cannot make it at their primary position also speaks volume about how outfield is viewed upon right?
but i have to agree with ps on sth. the different positioning for different batters, making it look like an easy catch is not something people can pick up easily... it consists of knowing your range, your teammates range, strengths and weaknesses, your pitcher's form, the batter's swing and of course whether you are playing left, right or center.
To be fair, I think outfield has never been so exciting if not for DaoZhe's crazy throws and superb judgements; Hanyuan's super fast sliding catches (I still remember one very clearly - hy did a split/slide shoe string catch!) and of course, the range of the outfield covering (sorry hy for overthrowing at 2nd base and the bounce hit your nose... =P)
ReplyDeletePeople often mistake outfield as the easiest position to play in softball. That is because of the natural tendency for coaches to place them in outfield to learn. I believe hs and khoo started out as LF and RF with zhang that way. Infielders often face a faster pace for the play especially during bunt plays or slow grounders. There is little reaction time and hence, necessary for near perfection to make that "simple out". Wherease for outfield, where at International Levels, they are most awwed for their range and judgement, including powerful arms. In Singapore, bad throws are often excused because of stupid reasons like its too far, hence the angle, hence the strength etc... I believe with more training, outfielders can throw with perfection too.
I remember the time I trained as catcher so hard, especially after sec3 because my throws are like shit. Coach Nelson made me throw weighted balls to 2nd base and thousands of throws and squats and ball stoppings and what not, I was so happy that I reached a stage where HS would cover 2nd base and place his glove at the desired position and the ball would travel to his glove. how nice that feeling - seems lost for such a long time already. Nowadays, the more exciting catches I get are from DZ where he launches a 200ft throw to me straight to the tagging position.
Outfield is not an easy position, it requires great skills. However, it is viewed as the "easier" position to play because of the reaction time. Just like what alvin had mentioned, a grounder past infield would usually render a safe hit. Of course there were occasions where the runners were forced out at 1B or 2B...
Congrats to DZ for making the entry with the most comments!!!
LOL... okok, i was thinking about this again when i was doing some big business today. then i realised that this is really one hell of a team sport no? especially for our team, i think we were just a notch above the rest(i apologize for this seemingly boastful comment) and that was what allowed each and every one of us to exhibit our fullest potential.
ReplyDeletelook at it this way, han yuan and i were able to cover a large area due to:
1.) our speed
2.) hy and i know each other damn well
3.) we know the infielders range damn well too and vice versa
4.) the whole damn team expects nothing less from us as your outfielders, in fact if we don't perform, hy's backside kena ...
5.) we are full time outfielders
and of course i must say our throws are no fluke either. i still remember the 2 of us taking whole bag of balls to throw into the net from a considerable distance after every circuit trg on weds. it was our own trg, not something dictated by coach or captain...
yea i know i know, still on outfield, but that's what my post is about, go start your own thread on catcher or 3b or sth...
Eh dz, you didnt mention the times that you and hanyuan could sleep in outfield or jd each other especially when the pitcher and catcher playing the game only...
ReplyDeletehey hey hey, sorry for seeing this late, how could i not comment here as an outfielder myself when you're talking about outfield.
ReplyDeleteInteresting insights on outfield indeed, i have so much fun reading the comments. Ivan, i still rmb all the things u said, haha, dun worry about the nose one la, we probably got closer after that, haha, bu da bu xiang shi, all these little things adds to the experience.
Just my take on outfielders, aiyah it's very easy one wat, catch ball throw back only wat, haha, dz why you tok so much? Actually it's like cooking fried rice....It seems easy to cook fried rice, but not easy to cook a FANTASTIC fried rice. Sometimes the simple things are the hardest to do. I do admit it's relative easy to be an outfielder than an infielder at the start(because like ivan said, the reaction time and knowledge of the plays and tagging), but to reach the level of greatness in outfield, it's harder to achieve because it comes right down to the angle of the throw(one degree off, and your ball land miles away), tagging position of where the throw lands, the running scoop, the milliseconds u will be faster when you stand that 2 more steps in front or catching the homerun-looking ball if you took 2 back. Infield has your own set of skills to determine how good you are too, but because the balls so rarely go to outfield(which is damn sian sometimes) compared to infield, outfield only have that 1 or 2 chance to put all we have learn to use, to prove how good we are, so there's no room for errors. Dz i think u agree with this right?
That's why you see us so wanting the ball and get ppl out at home all that, it's coz we get a rare sense of satisfaction in knowing we delivered when called upon, which so many outfielders might jus switch off when they stand out there too long, AND still delivered with precision. Errors are just one too much in the outfield world. Imagine a drop fly ball, a ball past your legs, the consequences are more dire than if the ball lands infield. So really, the challenges are there, and no less than infield, it's jus diff forms of challenges and set of skills.
No doubt outfield is a misunderstood position, like it's easy to play and stuff, partly coz we are less involved in the action. But WHEN u r called into action, can u do a good job? Keeping your mind and body sharp after 4 innings with no ball to the outfield and u miss the homerun looking ball in the 5th inning, tt's the only thing ppl is gonna rmb. HAHA, thought of sth here, if infield is like the policemen who takes care of the things day in day out, which calls for utmost consistency, outfield is the special force you rarely see and we only have one shot to kill.
I know in our team, you all appreciate our job, which is both comforting and motivating at the same time. You dun get that everywhere, so i'm thankful for that. So bottom line, it's easy to cook an average fried rice, but not a good one, just ask alvin or dz, lol! It's also easier to tell a average infielder from a good one, coz you have more balls to prove yourself, but outfield so few....it's a tough job la, what to do? but someone has to do it, haha.
I must say i'm really fortunate to have dz as my partner in outfield, someone who understands me, share my joy with great throws and close catches.
Okay really long post here, thanks for reading! =)
i like hanyuan's comments
ReplyDeleteface it, outfield is easy
chao fan is harder, you need oyster sauce
what nice words from everyone! since we're on the topic of glorifying the outfield, i shall continue this worthy cause of dignifying the honorable position of an outfielder.
ReplyDeletea) Don't mess with outfielders, they take up 3 of 9 starting positions on the team. unless you're a pitcher since on any given team there are more pitchers than outfielders.
b) Don't degrade outfielders, one day when you grow a potbelly your much younger teammates will relegate you to that position, if 1st base is not already taken.
Ok i've had enough, let me go on the other side now. why are outfielders in singapore deemed to not be playing at a sufficiently high level?
wait a min. how many players outside of our team, regardless of position, are actually playing up to the level demanded of their position? hardly any, so why are we only griping abt outfielders?
but since we're on outfielders, let's carry on with it.
a) if you're gonna start a team, how will u allocate positions to your players?
strong arm - try pitching
good reflexes - try catching
quick thinking an accurate throws - try infield
bats well but can't seem to field - OUTFIELD!
ok so i guess you guys get the drift, we don't need charles darwin to explain how did outfielders happen to miraculously turn out to be the defensively inferior players.
b) i always like to bring up hongshen's favourite player, yankees world series starting lf, boston red sox world series starting cf - johnny damon. you know what's the quote i rmb most abt him? "looks like jesus, acts like judas, throws like mary".
c) one of the best outfielders that come to my mind, multiple gold gloves to his record, Ichiro Suzuki. how did he become an outfielder?
oh he wasn't, he was actually a pitcher throwing 99mph until he got injured in a bicycle accident.
d) imagine a common sight in a singapore softball game.
C looks at batter and crafts a pitching strategy.
Pitcher concentrates on delivering the pitch.
3B and 1B says "Watch the bunt coming our way"
2B says "I'll cover 1 on a bunt"
SS says "I'll cover 2 if runner steals 2"
OF says "SWING THE BAT AH BATTER, SWING SWING"
yeaa get the idea of what an outfielder does during a game? maybe they shld bring a bottle of water to the field next time. reminds me again of how manny ramirez got bored in outfield during a major league game one time and whipped out his handphone from his back pocket to talk.
e) who gets least physically beaten up after a game? hey i'm talking involvement during THE GAME. not from making the long arduous run from outfield in between innings, nor picking up balls sprayed all over the field while doing warm up batting.
alrite DZ you deserved this for asking for my precious time to glorify your position.
"OF says 'SWING THE BAT AH BATTER,SWING SWING'"
ReplyDeletehaha, classic...but totally untrue. Outfielders do a lot of positioning according to the batter's strength and possible plays that may occur.
I think Aston has negated the fact that he cramped at centre field before. Although,for most part of what he said makes pretty good sense