02Crush
Way past gone
I coach a 2nd year 10U TB team. We have progressed nicely for our time invested. My question for the catcher guru's is as follows: With a runner on third base who is leading off and and playing chicken for attention, should the catcher ever come out and engage the runner by walking down the line?
My assistant coach feels she should come out and address the runner everytime it happens. I see this as a problem because is it kills their legs (remember 10U) over the course of an all day tournament all the extra steps. Coming out from the plate area has led to an eventual score of the runner playing chicken with us. At a minimum the rear baserunner will advance while everyone is pre-occupied with the third base runner. I feel this is a tactic used to pressure a nistake thus manufactering a run. We use it all the time to press a catcher's mental and physical ability to determine how good they are.
I feel she should stay put and make a swift throw back after every pitch being fully prepared for the pitcher to fire the ball right back to her for an out. I feel that if she is quick enough in her return of the ball to the pitcher, the runner will never get down the line far enough to pose a problem that a throw back from the pitcher would not handle. Am I wrong? Are there variables I should considering? Are the obvious situations I am overlooking? Thanks for your input in advance?
My assistant coach feels she should come out and address the runner everytime it happens. I see this as a problem because is it kills their legs (remember 10U) over the course of an all day tournament all the extra steps. Coming out from the plate area has led to an eventual score of the runner playing chicken with us. At a minimum the rear baserunner will advance while everyone is pre-occupied with the third base runner. I feel this is a tactic used to pressure a nistake thus manufactering a run. We use it all the time to press a catcher's mental and physical ability to determine how good they are.
I feel she should stay put and make a swift throw back after every pitch being fully prepared for the pitcher to fire the ball right back to her for an out. I feel that if she is quick enough in her return of the ball to the pitcher, the runner will never get down the line far enough to pose a problem that a throw back from the pitcher would not handle. Am I wrong? Are there variables I should considering? Are the obvious situations I am overlooking? Thanks for your input in advance?