1st win, but weird post game...

ConorMacleod · Apr 22, 2015

JJS said:
This is a tough one. Especially when coaching TB. We have been on both sides of an old fashion butt kickin'. There are a couple things I consider when in these positions.

1. We never step off bases. We don't want it done to us, and we won't do it. BTW, I think it is ASA(not sure though) now considers purposefully stepping off(whether to get another inning in because of time, or for mercy) to be unsportsmanlike, resulting in both the coach and player being ejected from the game.

2. I do research on the teams we are playing. We do not ease up until we have scored more runs than they have scored this year in a game. If a team has scored 12 runs in 2-3 games this year then we aren't letting up until we get to 13. We were losing 7-0 in the top of the first inning in a game a couple years ago, and ended up winning 9-7(never scored more than a couple in an inning).

3. When the lead is at a point where it is considered out of hand, we simply hit the ball and run to 1B. We won't take extra bases, steal or advance on pass balls. We will also talk to our players and tell them that a walk is unacceptable when up to bat. Now, we won't swing at pitches in the dirt, but we will swing at balls 8 inches off the plate.

Softball has 3 outs, not 2, not 1. We will make it easier for them to get their outs, but just walking off bases in essence is saying that they aren't worth our time.

If the other coach is embarrassed or upset enough and they can't get outs even with us not being aggressive they always have the option to tell the umpire that they are ready to quit.

So, you wouldn't want to send the message that they aren't worth your time by stepping off the bases, but you are willing to beat them into such humiliation that you would force them to just give up and quit? Sure, it isn't a good feeling when another team steps off the bases because you can't get them out, but getting beat 25-0 is so much worse. Notice I said 25-0, not the 7-0 example you gave.

To the OP. If you're ahead 27-9, it's always a good idea to just not talk to the opposing fans. The Umpire will always give you the outs, and your own scorekeeper can tell you the score. Maybe you didn't know you had 27, but I guarantee you that you knew you had at least 20 and were kicking their butts.

ConorMacleod · Apr 22, 2015

BuckeyeGuy said:
Going into the 5th we were up by 9, and like I said, our D was spotty for some reason. I told my girls we needed a few insurance runs and then to hold them in their half. We plated 10, even with our foot off the gas. They walked in 2 and I had 1 HBP.

The only time limit is darkness, so slowing down wasn't an option. And I'm not about to have anyone just step off a bag. I'm not overly concerned with the score. The parents I was chatting with all seemed to be in my frame of mind: it's one game, we all have bad days, let's move on. Heck, every good play they made I complimented them on it.

It was the opposing coach that was bothered by what I said. CB gave a reasonable explanation of how it could have been misconstrued.

In the future, I will not be chatting with parents.

No offense, but I'm just not buying it. "Our D was spotty". Come on. Your D was so spotty that being ahead by 19 is what you needed that game? Admit it. You loved kicking the crap out of somebody after you couldn't score in your two previous games. Lots of excuses of "I just didn't know" seems fishy to me.

ConorMacleod · Apr 22, 2015

Rocketech1 said:
BG - as a coach, never feel guilty for playing the game hard no matter the score. If they can't stop your team from scoring that is their problem, not yours. I never wanted teams to "feel sorry" for my team. You did the right thing, put in your #2 pitcher once it was a blow out, didn't steal home on passed balls, etc. I used to be concerned with what all the parents thought, but the longer I coached I realized that some people won't be happy no matter what you do.

Ex. We were in the championship game, every time the other team was on defense all 4 of their coaches were outside the dugout in the field of play just a few feet from my 3rd base coach and they also had their back-up pitchers warming up on the field of play down the left field line (and not in the designated pitching area). I told the plate umpire about this and they made the coaches get back in the dugout and for their pitchers to warm-up elsewhere. We ended up winning the game and as we are shaking hands with the coaches afterwards, the head coach gets in my face saying "what is wrong with me, blah blah blah" and I keep saying "good game coach" and walked away. Clearly this coach was upset at losing the championship game and during the post game speech he didn't even acknowledge our team as is customary. After that game, I started caring less about what the other team thinks as long as I felt I was coaching the game the right way.

In this scenario the girls are 13 years old!! If you seriously don't care about kicking the snot out of 13 year olds, then that's all I need to know about you. Ultra competitive, take no prisoners, let's crush their will and spirit all in the name of winning a 7th grade softball game! I guess that's what it takes to make you a big man.

As for me? I'd feel very bad if we beat a team 25-0 or 27-9. And I would have put my foot on the brake a lot sooner than 27 runs.

Also, I discount your next paragraph where you try citing an example that somehow makes you a good guy.

ConorMacleod · Apr 22, 2015

4 girl's dad said:
No mercy rules in play? I would think in MS that would be needed.

I won't let off the gas anymore. I have been burned more than once, including a game this season, losing by 1...

What was the situation? How much were you up when you lost? I was told the same thing by a coach, after he was up on me 20-0. "We got burned once by letting off the gas". I'm calling BS on this. The situation does matter. If you're up 27-9 in the bottom of the 5th in a 7th grade game, I find it hard to believe that the other team is coming back on you. This isn't major league baseball.

ConorMacleod · Apr 22, 2015

I lost a game last year 25-0. The "break" the coach gave us was to stop stealing bases. Hey, thanks, otherwise you might have scored 30. Just step off a base and let everybody go home. 15-0 and stepping off a base is less humiliating than 25-0 but knowing my team "earned" those outs. And, if you're a tourney ball team, you might want to think about stepping up a level in competition.

Many of you stated you would never tell your players to let up because it's not teaching them anything. What is winning by 20 runs teaching them? Let's try to remember, we aren't just teaching softball skills out there. We are teaching life skills.

Rocketech1 · Apr 22, 2015

ConorMacleod said:
In this scenario the girls are 13 years old!! If you seriously don't care about kicking the snot out of 13 year olds, then that's all I need to know about you. Ultra competitive, take no prisoners, let's crush their will and spirit all in the name of winning a 7th grade softball game! I guess that's what it takes to make you a big man.

As for me? I'd feel very bad if we beat a team 25-0 or 27-9. And I would have put my foot on the brake a lot sooner than 27 runs.

Also, I discount your next paragraph where you try citing an example that somehow makes you a good guy.

14u girls are already playing college showcases so I don't really understand your point? Most of the kids DD plays with have played softball since they were 5 years old.

The blame for a big loss always seems to go the team scoring the runs. How about the team that didn't prepare their players to stop teams from getting mercied. How about taking some responsibly for the big loss.

Again, it's one game, has happened to every player who has played a competitive sport at some point. Maybe I'm delusional but even when my team was losing big, I always played hard until the last out. You don't give up and you don't blame the other team for executing plays. If a team is continually getting blown out, there are bigger problems to worry about than what the other team is dong.

bucket pinata · Apr 22, 2015

Losing just plain sucks and coaches and parents are always salty afterwards, A case could be made that getting curb stomped is easier to take than losing by 1 with a runner on third, One Thing I learned with my Older DD playing High school ball is that the parents with kids on opposing teams in school That you spent years with playing Travel ball who were great friends will not even look your way after your DD s team beats there DDs team. Its crazy, If your DDs team loses and we walk up and say Hi they are offering to go out to dinner to catch up and have some frosty ones, If my DDs teams wins we wave and say hi, they throw you a courtesy smile and turn away. You did nothing wrong and I would not change or regret a thing, Human nature is what human nature is.

BuckeyeGuy · Apr 23, 2015

ConorMacleod said:
As for me? I'd feel very bad if we beat a team 25-0 or 27-9. And I would have put my foot on the brake a lot sooner than 27 runs.

It was 17-9 at the top of 5 - certainly not out of reach. We scored 10 in the 5th:

1B
BB
1B
HBP
BB
1B
BB
BB
BB
BB
OUT
BB
OUT
OUT

I had already stopped stealing in the 4th. It would be poor sportsmanship to be stepping off bases. When, exactly, would you have put on the brakes?

1st win, but weird post game...

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