Well, let me tell ya about this designated player thing in softball, you know, the kinda thing them youngsters are doin’ these days.
What’s a Designated Player (DP), you ask?
It’s like this, see? You got your nine girls out there on the field, catchin’ and throwin’ and whatnot. But one of ’em, well, she ain’t so good at hittin’. So, they get this other girl, the DP, to do the hittin’ for her. Simple as that. She just hits, don’t do no fieldin’. That DP girl, she’s there just to smack that ball good and hard.
- The DP hits, that’s her job.
- One of the fieldin’ girls, she don’t hit no more.
- It’s all official like, gotta tell the umpire and everything before the game starts.
Now, some folks get this mixed up with somethin’ called a “Flex” player. Don’t you go gettin’ your head all tangled up. The Flex, that’s a whole ‘nother story. We ain’t talkin’ ’bout that today. We’re talkin’ ’bout the DP, the designated hitter, the one who swings that bat like she’s choppin’ wood.
Why do they even have a DP?
Well, I reckon it’s ’cause some girls are real good at catchin’ and throwin’, but just can’t hit the broad side of a barn. And some girls, they can hit that ball a country mile, but can’t catch a cold. So, the DP lets the team have the best of both worlds, you know? Good fieldin’ and good hittin’, even if it ain’t from the same girl.
Is it always used?
Nope. Not every team uses a DP. Sometimes, all the girls are good enough at both hittin’ and fieldin’, so they don’t need one. It’s up to the coach, I guess. He figures out what’s best for his team.
Can the DP play defense?
Well, now, here’s where it gets a little tricky. Mostly, the DP just hits. But sometimes, and I mean sometimes, the DP can go in and play defense. But if she does, then the girl she was hittin’ for, she gotta sit out. Can’t have too many girls on the field, now can ya? It’s like musical chairs, but with bats and gloves. It ain’t so complicated if you think on it a minute.
So, what happens if the DP gets hurt?
Well, that’s a pickle, ain’t it? If the DP gets hurt and can’t play no more, then the girl she was hittin’ for, she gotta go back to hittin’. Or, the coach can put in another girl to hit, but then she becomes the new DP. It’s all in them rule books, I tell ya. Lots of rules, just like in life.
It all sounds kinda complicated, don’t it?
Maybe a little, but it ain’t so bad once you get the hang of it. Just remember, the DP hits, and one of the fieldin’ girls don’t. That’s the long and short of it. And it’s all official, gotta tell the umpire and everything.
I remember back in my day…
We didn’t have no fancy DPs. If you couldn’t hit, you sat on the bench. And if you couldn’t field, well, you sat on the bench too. But times change, I guess. These youngsters got all sorts of new rules and ways of doin’ things. Makes an old lady like me scratch her head sometimes, but as long as they’re havin’ fun and playin’ fair, that’s all that matters.
Anyways…
That’s about all I know ’bout this designated player thing in softball. It ain’t rocket science, but it ain’t exactly simple neither. Just gotta remember the basics, and you’ll be alright. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go make some supper. All this talk about softball has made me hungry.
One last thing…
I heard tell there’s different rules dependin’ on who’s playin’. Like, high school rules might be different from college rules, and them ASA rules, well, they’re somethin’ else entirely. But the general idea is the same, a DP is there to hit, and that’s that. Don’t go gettin’ yourself all confused with the details. Just watch the game and enjoy it.
And remember, whether you’re a DP or a fielder or just sittin’ in the stands watchin’, it’s all about teamwork and havin’ fun. That’s what sports is all about, ain’t it?
