egotistical coach

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Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
DD is a backup pitcher on V and is #1 P on JV.
Last nights game is a nail biter for the first few innings. Top of 4 she has a 0.0 ERA however they've scored 4 on infielders errors. In the fifth, the wheels completely fall off. The opponents are getting on with every single batter. DD is giving me that look with high eyebrows and pursed up lips between every pitch call thats getting relayed to the catcher. She tells me after the game that he threatened to bench her if she continued to disobey his pitch calls. He was calling high and out change ups, high and out peel drops and fast balls down main street! Apparently in the first 4 innings, she was ignoring him and mixing speeds extremely well and jamming batters hands with low and in drops. Once the 5th inning started it was BP... Defence played like a rec league 3rd string. The entire 45min. long, 14 runs scored, and about 10 errors top of the 5th.....not a single change up was thrown. He then pulls dd and says "you've lost your gas and they've dialed in on ya".... my wife who is usually very positive and quiet finally speaks up and yells its not the pitcher its the coach that needs pulled! LOL
During the post game outfield meeting the coach blames the loss on DD's poor pitching. What an rear!
 
May 31, 2012
716
0
Who calls high change ups and drops? And then he blames a loss on 1 specific player? Why even play for him? Sounds like an idiot
 
Jan 6, 2014
38
6
Coach, doesn it seem kind of odd that some coaches prefer a pitcher pitch to contact? I know this is a proven strategy in baseball, but while the basics of the game (throwing, catching, and hitting) remain the same, the parameters of the field dictate that the game be pitched a different way. And even in baseball, you don't relent and give up a BP fastball down the middle. Sounds like your dd's coach either overestimates the ability of his fielders or underestimates the other teams hitters (maybe both).
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
During his rant about throwing what's called, she responded to him that she thought the catcher (who is new) was misunderstanding the signs and was relaying the wrong call. She explained to him she was getting calls for high change ups etc. He said "I know what I'm doing, you do your job and follow orders or you can have a seat"... it was at that point she said screw it. I'll put em where your want em....
My thinking is that because my dd doesn't throw gas, she's a low 50's pitcher, we focus primarily on constant speed changes and working the edges with drops and curves. If you see 40 pitches in a row that are all 50 mph, and over the white, its gonna be a great day at the plate for you!
Out in left field.... you are probably one of the most negative minded people I've ever met... I recommend you change your screen name to Debby Downer.
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
I can say this now, since those days are behind us. Our coach had a "no shake off rule", when DD knew a pitch call was a bad one, she'd just throw what she knew/hoped worked for her and the situation.

The few times coach questioned her about when he called _____ and she threw _____, she'd reply "that one just got away from me, my bad". :)
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Seems you are asking whether the coach is making good decisions. Answer is likely no.

But is your daughter making good decisions?

Not judging. You are there, not us. But I do think it's fair to ask --

Should DD be having non-verbal communication with a parent during a game? Is her body language negatively affecting the team? Could your daughter have a calm, respectful conversation with the coach about how she doesn't trust his pitch selection and how they can work together to make the team better? Is DD being discouraged from that sort of solution by any validation she might get when looking in the stands, or by hearing her mother's comments when she is pulled? What would you want to teach her about handling problems with people in authority?
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Maybe if my DD was a pitcher I'd understand, but I find it interesting on these threads that the advice so often in dealing with problem coaches is be passive-aggressive or just plain dishonest.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Maybe if my DD was a pitcher I'd understand, but I find it interesting on these threads that the advice so often in dealing with problem coaches is be passive-aggressive or just plain dishonest.
We have a history with this particular guy... he and I are like oil and water. I believe he takes his dislike for me out on my dd. He's the same guy who screamed at dd all the way back to the dugout a few weeks ago when she paused between 1st and 2nd as a base runner to prevent a double play when the ground ball was hit sharply to the 2nd baseman. He felt she should have ran hard...
He bullies and intimidates her into a quiet little mouse that only looks like my dd on the field but sure doesn't play like her. Her confidence is completely gone. We play in the summer nothing but A/B level TB tourneys with a hand full of showcases. She is a consistent #3 batter with a team leading .650 OBP, starting pitcher who averages 10 K's a game with an ERA of 1.5
However when she plays for this guy its a completely different kid.
 
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