What do you think of this strategy by a coach?
Team is trailing by 3 runs with only 5 minutes to go. Bottom 3 hitters are up. Coach instructs those 3 to make outs on purpose by bunting with a foot outside the batter's box, guaranteeing a new inning that will bring up the top of the order for another inning that wouldn't be possible without 3 quick outs. This is a B-level 12U team.
It will never be called, but any action to purposely hasten or delay a game is a forfietable offense.
Until they take the clock out of the game, coaches will use it to their advantage. Honestly, probably a good move on the coaches part. At least he is attempting to get his team another chance at winning the game. Agree or disagree? I don't know, I probably wouldn't have done that but to each his own.
barlowjames (07-10-2012),Rockjerry (07-19-2012)
There's no right or wrong here.
It would depend on the age level, the overall goals of the program, and what was at stake.
TB - I've rushed players between innings and had them start a defensive inning without a warmup to conserve time, but never instructed players to take deliberate outs. If the #7 hitter strikes out, then it's not a bad strategy. If she draws a 3-2 walk, though, it might be worth it to roll the dice.
REC - I have instructed players to 'swing at anything' in order to get to the next inning of a playoff game. When you've got players batting .030, the team's best chance late in the game might be taking the quick outs. It may not have been nice or fair, but it was the right call at the time. I questioned myself about this later on, but because of the team and individual dynamics at work in that specific situation, I would make the same call again. That does NOT mean I'd make the same call with every group of 10u players, because it's my job to inspire confidence in these young women.
Was this just another tournament for the team in your case? Or was this their season finale? If it's just a tune-up, and this is 12u, let the girls bat. Showing that you've got confidence in them to make something happen is about way more than softball. Even if they fail, they took on the challenge. In 12u TB, those players are fully aware of what you're saying when you tell them to take a deliberate out with the team trailing in a timed game.
I don't like it and I wouldn't do it. I have seen it done in slowpitch, if you have two outs and time is running out the batter steps on the plate and then hits the ball. Automatic third out.
I would never have three batters do this even if it's the bottom three.
An umpire told me just last week that if he heard players talking about doing the above he would call the game. He said if you just do it (step on the plate) he wouldn't call it.
But if you did it three times in a row I would think an umpire would call it (making a mocker/travesty of the game).
One day she'll have forgotten if she was out, hit or run.
She will only look back on all her friends and the fun.
By openly displaying no confidence in hitters due up or even giving them the chance to play? Odds are their parents paid the same amouth to play as numbers 1,2&3.Originally Posted by CoachKevin
Yeah, I want my kid learning from this guy....not!
As an umpire, I see and/or hear this, I'm going to warn the coach and each batter of the effect of an intentional violation and that the game will be over if it occurs. (5.4.F. As Comp noted, 5.4.E is equally enforceable)
Just another tournament.
btw, my own team was not in this tournament. I heard about this second-hand.
I think I would probably do the swing at three pitches in a row thing because at least then if two of them get one base all the better and you have started your rally.
I do think the situation matters too although given the situation of you having zero confidence in the bottom three and willing to give the other team another at bat I am assuming rec. In fact in a competitive environment I would think this would be a terrible strategy as you are giving the other team another chance to score more runs. Even if they get just one or two more runs you now probably are back to needing your sixth or seventh batter having to come through with a game winning hit anyway.
It was a travel ball tournament. ...
Also, while I am interested in what people think about the strategy, I'm perhaps more interested in the ethics of it. Is it an appropriate strategy? Do the benefits of the strategy outweigh the message sent to those kids? That sort of thing.
Given that it was just a regular tournament, even if we're into bracket play on Sunday, I'm not taking the bats out of my kids' hands, although some parents do think you're doing that anyway when a bunt is called.
From an ethical standpoint, I think it's cheating the game. From a moral standpoint, I'd be cheating my girls.
We circle 2 tournaments a year on the calendar. If it's Sunday at 1 of those 2 events, I would not deliberately STALL to get a game to end if our team was ahead, but I would be willing to use this tactic to get the additional inning in a win-or-go-home situation and I also know that I'd hate myself for making that call, even if the team went on and won the championship.
The flip side to my feeling is that some of the parents of the 3 sacrificial lambs would likely be completely supportive of that decision if it resulted in big smiles and a big trophy for their DD. For the moment, that is. Imagine how much more supportive they'd be if their child was given a chance to contribute with the team's fate on the line and the player delivered. Imagine what the player would feel having the opportunity and coming through.
It is a call that would haunt me forever, especially given what I stress about making sure we're teaching kids the right life lessons out there.
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