Thoughts on swinging against intentional walk

What are some thoughts on having your best hitter swing a couple of times - after the count gets to 3-0 - when the defense is attempting to intentionally walk her? It's the bottom of the 7th inning, there are 2 outs, 1B is open and the tying run is 60 feet away with the winning run on 2B.

My thought is that the 2 additional pitches would create 2 additional chances for a possible passed ball which might get that critical run home. It would also force the defense to make a decision on whether to pitch to her with a full count.

That's my thinking, but I'm willing to entertain the possibility that I might be wrong.

Saw game last week where the intended walkee moved up and away from the plate and looked disinterested with her bat on her shoulder. The pitcher put the 3rd pitch in the river and she pasted it into RF for a double.

Mmmm....interesting......

I guess it would depend on what level we are talking about here. Is a wild pitch likely? Because if so, then the next batter has at least 3 more chances at a wild pitch. Plus, I think a wild pitch is more likely if the pitcher is trying to throw one at the knees for a strike rather than up and away for an easy ball. I guess I have always been of the mind set that if they want to put another of my batters on base, then I'm good with it.

I am OK with her swinging trying to hit the ball but I would not have her swing to extend the count. That seems bush league to me.

If you are going to do that I would swing at the first 2 pitches and go down 0-2. Maybe they will change their mind and give her a pitch she can hit.

At the younger ages I'd make her throw as many as possible based on not practicing the intentional ball. There is a great opportunity for it to get away from them.

InsidePitch said:

At the younger ages I'd make her throw as many as possible based on not practicing the intentional ball. There is a great opportunity for it to get away from them.

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Yup, so few coaches actually practice this that WPs are a definite possibility. When I coached at 12U and needed and intentional walk late in the game, I brought in a relief pitcher and have her throw 4 outside pitches (after 5 warm up pitches outside with the catcher basically standing behind the opposite batter's box) and then bring back my other pitcher to try and salvage the situation.

quincy said:

I am OK with her swinging trying to hit the ball but I would not have her swing to extend the count. That seems bush league to me.

If you are going to do that I would swing at the first 2 pitches and go down 0-2. Maybe they will change their mind and give her a pitch she can hit.

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How is that bush league? With 1B open, it's the right call for the defense to take the bat out of her hands and put her on base. So, why should the offensive team not seek to counter their strategy? Don't we teach the batters to own their at-bats? To dictate to the defense rather than allowing the defense to dictate to them? Extending the count gives the offense additional chances to score on a WP/PB which are part of the game, just like intentional walks.

My general comment:

If your strategy is to prolong the at-bat to maybe get a wild pitch/passed ball on a newbie pitcher in rec league than you have lost sight of the mission of a rec coach which is to teach the girls how to play the game the right way and develop their softball skills for the future.

Ex. in first year 8U rec. at the beginning of the season, on routine infield grounders we had some idiot base coaches sending the batter/baserunner to 2nd base on every close play at first base (runner beats throw by a step or two). They just kept running to 2nd and sometimes 3rd base because the fielders were still just learning how to throw the ball 55 feet to the next bag. Luckily the league stepped in and said that you can't send the batter/baserunners to 2nd on infield singles.

So the idea is to teach the players how to play the game correctly.

If umps have their A game maybe call time to talk to them about catcher staying in catchers box. Have seen it called several times at NCAA level where catcher is outside the catchers box before ball leaves hand. Result is illegal pitch. Saw it in WCWS a few years ago.

If you don't bring it up to umps then most likely they won't know to look for or call it.

It's 12u A ball, 2 of the area's strong teams. Sorry for not making that distinction.

The catcher was positioned legally.