The bracket pitcher...
It's a term that seems to perplex everyone within the fastpitch space. To some, it doesn't even seem to exist and to others, the meaning of the term is rather dubious. Within this blog post, we will try and do the following:
- Define a bracket pitcher (if possible)
- Understand why the term can be polarizing
- Decide if the term worth your attention
If this term has been tormenting you, then be sure to keep reading!
What does bracket pitcher mean in softball?
There really is no concensus on the definition of a bracket pitcher.
We'll offer an attempt at pinpointing the origin story(ies) of the term "bracket pitcher". But first, an explanation:
If anyone has spent time around baseball or softball, they most likely have had some experience with the common tournament setup. That arrangement is the pool play -THEN- bracket format. Essentially, teams will be split into mutliple "pools" to play a round robin of games against opponents within those pools. Then the top teams (or top few teams) from each pool will be put into a bracket. The winner of bracket play will decide the champion of the tournament. See below for a visual explainer of the pool -THEN- bracket tourney setup.
Now that we've got the explanation of bracket play out of the way, we can get to the origin story of the term "bracket pitcher".
In our opinion, there are three possible origins of the term. However, we believe that one of them is the most likely cause of the term's origination. Read all three possibilities below:
- Skilled Pitcher Origin - At some point a fastpitch pitcher must have reached a certain level of skill and a coach or parent must have thought the young lady was one that they certainly wanted pitching when a tournament's format flipped from pool to bracket play. However, it seems too obvious that you would want a skilled pitcher to throw during the bracket play of a tournament. This theory for a true origin is too weak. On to our second possible theory...
- Pitcher Won A Bracket Game Origin - Again, somewhere along the line of fastpitch tournament history, a lady pitched in a bracket game of a tournament and won the game. Thus, she earned the unofficial title "bracket pitcher". In our opinion, this possible origin seems more like a fad that might start with a certain team or region and then die out. The Foul Pole to Foul Pole podcast shed light on the term and helped us form this possible origin. Let's move to the third theory...
- Hired Gun Origin - A young lady is an exceptional pitcher and maybe hails from another city. A certain team has plenty of hitting, but maybe is a little lighter on pitching. They'll get through pool play fine with the pitching they've already assembled, but when bracket play starts on Sunday, this young lady will show up to toss multiple games for them, trying to earn the team a championship. This may be her role for this specific team...or she may play this role for multiple teams throughout a season.
After thinking it through and reading this thread from the Discuss Fastpitch blog, we are leaning toward option number three as the most likely origin story for the term "bracket pitcher". But from that origin, the term has still been used for pitchers that fall under option two and three from above. And thus, confusion has been created within the fastpitch world.
Why the term bracket pitcher is polarizing?
The term "bracket pitcher" causes a lot of individuals within the fastpitch world to bristle.
First off, we believe that this is due to many coaches' and parents' feelings towards the use of "hired" players. Questions can always arise when a player comes in to just play one day of a tournament. Is that player really even a part of that team? | Is it fair to the other players on the team? | Are they teaching that winning is all that matters | etc...
However, we also believe that the term is polarizing because when it's not being used to describe a "hired" player, it is used as a synonym for a "good pitcher" (as scenarios one and two outlined above). This can cause some insecurity for both parents and players.
Families may feel as though their player is a solid pitcher, but she might not be relied on heavily in "bracket games", so can she be considered a "bracket pitcher"? Should they even be using the term? Do teams even carry enough pitchers to have a select few that only pitch in bracket games? Thus, the cycle of confusion persists...
Is the term bracket pitcher worth your attention?
We would say "no". However, it is probably good to know that the term floats around.
As parents, when talking about pitchers, it is probably best to just give complete descriptions of the player. Here's an example: "My daughter has been starting to pitch more frequently. She's been relied upon in pool play and she was even brought on in relief during bracket play this last Sunday, which was exciting to see!"
As coaches, every pitcher's goal should be to pitch when a game or tournament is on the line. Telling a lady something like "we don't need you to be a bracket pitcher" could impede her desire or confidence to strive to be the best pitcher possible.
Overall, when describing a pitcher, we think the best option is just to be as descriptive as possible when explaining her experience. When that happens, there is no confusion. But the same cannot be said when an ambigupus term like "bracket pitcher" is used.
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We hope that this blog article has been helpful for you in having a little more understanding of this ambiguous term. If you have arrived here and just want some more info in regard to buying a glove, don't fret! Just reach out to our team of Glove Experts by starting a live chat now! We're here for you from Click-To-Catch!
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