to throw or not to throw...

[Jr10234]

Situation:

Tie run on 2nd 1 out, top of 7th.
Runner on 2 steals, catcher throws to 3B, hitting the fielders glove, who was looking in the dirt oblivious to the ball coming at her. Ball skips off and runner scores.

Up to this point, SS was covering steals, but 3B plays one step in front of the bag

In the dugout a teammate tells the catcher she needs to make sure people are looking at her before throwing.

High school varsity team.

Should the throw be made?

 

[doublenickel]

yes, it is a snap throw and the catcher can't be watching to see if the fielder is ready she has to assume the fielder is in position

 

[PA SB Dad]

On what planet do you not try to throw out the runner at that point in the game?

 

[chinamigarden]

make the throw. 3rd should be talked to, not catcher.

 

[Sweet Lou]

make the throw. 3rd should be talked to, not catcher.

^this a dozen times

 

[daddiox2]

^this a dozen times

I double that. Especially in high school.

Maybe in 10U or first year 12U you don't go after that play. But by HS if the 3rd baseman isn't paying attention its time for a new 3rd baseman. - cruel maybe... but as far as I can tell, such is the life of the HS player.
Get you head in the game.

 

[bigbomber]

yes, it is a snap throw and the catcher can't be watching to see if the fielder is ready she has to assume the fielder is in position

Absolutely what doublenickel said

 

[29dad]

So the catcher was supposed to concede third base in a tie game with less than two outs?

And the teammate from the bench should leave the coaching to the coach. On my DD's team, yelling negative instruction like that would be a serious violation of team rules. She'd get one warning and a second offense would result in dismissal from the team.

 

[GA42sDad]

Situation:

Tie run on 2nd 1 out, top of 7th.
Runner on 2 steals, catcher throws to 3B, hitting the fielders glove, who was looking in the dirt oblivious to the ball coming at her. Ball skips off and runner scores.

Up to this point, SS was covering steals, but 3B plays one step in front of the bag

In the dugout a teammate tells the catcher she needs to make sure people are looking at her before throwing.

High school varsity team.

Should the throw be made?

Teammate in the dugout needs to quit trying to coach. Of course u make the throw.

 

[Momo'sDad]

Ball skips off and runner scores.

Where was the LF? Even if the throw is missed, the runner shouldn't be able to pop up from the slide and score unless the ball took a funky hop and ended up in foul territory or somehow skipped past your backup.

The catcher did exactly what catchers are trained and COACHED to do.