Clock management...what would you have done?

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Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
I am fine with any clock management technique that is part of the game. Examples, taking a pitch, not trying to steal with 2 out late in the clock if I'm ahead, I'm even OK with striking out to end an inning.

What I'm not a fan of is having players tie their cleats or meaningless conferences, put a substitute catch in (which I have seen happen).

While I think it's wrong, I don't have a huge problem when other teams stall to run out the clock. What I do have a problem with are the ones who think they are geniuses because they figured out how to stall or the ones who act like they didn't do anything.
 
Oct 4, 2011
43
0
Colorado
I am fine with any clock management technique that is part of the game.

Agreed. I don't even roll my eyes any more; it is what it is. In an 18A elim game two weeks ago, I had a coach sub a player in and out and back in within the same at bat for a runner. Poor old umpire would call time, take his time taking his book out, scratch away. Next batter, he waited until the batter was in the batter's box then called time for another sub.

Mostly I was just mad at my team for putting us in that position; I didn't use the time as an excuse for us not getting another ups, we made mistakes to let that happen in the first place.
 
Jul 14, 2010
150
18
To specifically answer we do need more info on the time rules. They can be complex and we were fortunate to have a team last fall who was playing the "game" so long that it went past the 10 add'l minutes and game reverted back to prior inning - when we were winning.

From going through the college recruiting process with my DD1, I think you can teach a lot of bad habits that are not attractive to college recruiters. This is in the extreme when clock management starts in the 2nd inning. Forgot my sunglasses, tie shoes, etc... Seeing this at 14U shows a team of puppets managed by a coach who isn't interested in developing their skills which can only happen when you play the game. Those of us that get extremely frustrated I think are the ones who want to develop our team, which only happens when you play.


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Sep 28, 2015
13
0
San Diego
You say you were the visitor - I would think the home team would get their last AB in the bottom half, irregardless of clock. Maybe I misunderstand what you are describing.

Usually it's the home team that has these kind of clock dilemmas. Do you slow roll your ABs to run clock for instance by taking pitches? My feeling is that you're cheating the girl a good AB by such actions. We've gotten that extra inning in a couple of cases as a result. I think every inning you play and perform under that pressure is awesome, something you can't simulate in practice. Risking the loss is certainly a drag, but hopefully the softball karma gods will look favorably on me in the long run.

You are correct, the home team gets their last at bat. What I'm saying is, if I kill the rest of the time on the clock while my team is defense and we get the last out then the game would have been over due to time being up.
 
Sep 14, 2011
768
18
Glendale, AZ
You are correct, the home team gets their last at bat. What I'm saying is, if I kill the rest of the time on the clock while my team is defense and we get the last out then the game would have been over due to time being up.

Or conversely...you could have killed the clock and the home team scored enough to win the game without you getting another chance to hit. Play the game.
 
Sep 28, 2015
13
0
San Diego
Or conversely...you could have killed the clock and the home team scored enough to win the game without you getting another chance to hit. Play the game.

This is exactly the dilemma that I'm having. With 2 outs though, if they do get a hit to pull ahead, we'd then have to face another batter and then at that point the other coach can easily stall and the game would be over anyway (we were only in the 4th inning so only the clock was going to end the game at that point).
 
Oct 4, 2011
92
0
I absolutely agree with this. Call your allotted time out. Your kids probably fought hard to get to where they are and you should, as their coach, help manage the win.

I know some people may not agree with me, but I'm a believer in clock management. This includes slowing things down (within reason) in order to preserve a win, or speeding things up in order to give my team another at bat if we're behind.
 
Feb 4, 2015
127
0
Olathe, KS
This is why I am a big proponent of going to 1hr 45min games. It is baffling to me that USSSA baseball can manage to get just as many teams playing over a weekend on the same set of fields that the girls would play on the next weekend and the boys play 1hr 45 minutes and the girls have to do it in 1hr 10 minutes. A majority if the boys get in 6 innings which is usually the tournament max innings. I would think the girls could easily do the same. Do not expect to see this in my life time unless it was a tournament I was able to run.
 
Apr 12, 2015
792
93
If this was a game where winning was important, I'd find a way to kill the clock. As soon as they introduce timing to the game, clock management becomes an important factor.

Absolutely, 100% agree.

If tournament directors continue to force timed games (especially drop dead games) than clock strategies become part of the game. In a must win game, secure the win. Its good coaching.

A lot of people call it cheap, etc. Usually people that didn't use good clock management strategies.
 

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