Stepping off to start new inning

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Feb 15, 2017
391
43
Seen this alot lately. Home team down to their last out, time almost out and coach has a runner step off to start a new inning. 1 run game. Thoughts? Bush league? Shows lack of confidence in your hitter at the plate? Great coaching? What is the consensus?
 
Feb 13, 2015
164
18
As others have said, if you time limit games the clock is now part of the game. Football has many strategies to manage the clock. The odds of scoring a run with a runner on 1st and 2 outs are pretty long. I haven't been in this situation yet. I have, however, endured opposing coaches changing pitchers, have catcher's gear issues and other situations to prevent another inning when they are ahead.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,712
113
Chicago
The problem with the clock being part of the game is there are no safeguards against gaming the system.

Taking an out to try to extend the game? That's fine. You're taking a risk. It's kind of like fouling intentionally when losing at the end of a basketball game.

The stuff that bothers me is all of a sudden everybody has an untied shoe or whatever. I hate the stalling. If a game has a clock, there needs to be a pitch clock. Time between innings needs to be strictly enforced. If your catcher's gear mysteriously breaks in the last 10 minutes of a game, it's an automatic ball every 15 seconds until you figure it out. Something like that.

I'm glad our high school games don't have strict time limits. Imagine if a football game didn't have a play clock and the winning team could run one play in the entire fourth quarter and the defense couldn't do anything to stop the clock. That's what we have here, and it's really only a matter of time before a coach just tells his pitcher to refuse to pitch for ten minutes until the game is called.
 
We had a fiasco last season due to time limit in championship game. We were ahead by 1 as home team batting with 2 out. Batter at plate with 1 strike ump behind plate when time keeper in press box tells ump time has expired. He raises his hand in the hold position then turns around and takes about 2 steps toward press box behind the plate. Defense coach doesn’t notice, batter and catcher didn’t notice. Coach says pitch the ball so she does. Batter hits to second throws to 1sr for 3rd out everyone runs off the field. To start a new inning. Ump calls ballgame and losing coach goes ballistic says there is 1 minute left on his clock. I had 1 minute left on my clock also. Umps leave the field. After about 30 minutes of losing coach refusing to leave the field cussing threatening to never play in tournament just crying. Umps come back on the field batter returns to plate with 1 strike and we resume for 2 minuets. We still won without any delaying because pitcher was rushing at that point after 30 minutes delay and walked the batter. I don’t know the solution. In games where it’s only 1 game 7 inning is fine. In tournament maybe just play 4 innings would be better than time limit. Pros and cons to both. If you have a time limit as a coach you have to use it to your advantage and stepping off is a rule you can utilize if it’s going to work in your favor.
 

#10

Jun 24, 2011
398
28
909
Our coach has done this at showcases so more kids will get at bats in front of schools attending. In that scenario, two thumbs up.
 
Dec 15, 2012
102
18
Playing against the clock is 100% Bush League IMO. Ignore the clock and let your players develop and learn how to play under pressure to produce. Eventually you will need to get clutch hits when your back is against the wall. Quit chasing plastic trophies and focus on developing players.
 
Dec 15, 2012
102
18
From Softball Clinic

If you're in a Travel Ball program where your coach calls time out so the game clock will expire & ur team wins.. get out! You're not being taught how to finish a game and your skills both mentally and physically will suffer.

Nice Trophy Though Coach..jeez
#teachthegame
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Was in this situation today and used a hurry up defense to get more outs on offense. If it is a timed game and as a coach you do not manage the clock you are not doing your job. The question is how you manage the clock? I see nothing wrong with accelerating the pace of the game to move to a new inning. Delaying by calling time outs, swapping pitchers, etc. is bush league.

#controlthecontrolables
 
Dec 15, 2012
102
18
Was in this situation today and used a hurry up defense to get more outs on offense. If it is a timed game and as a coach you do not manage the clock you are not doing your job. The question is how you manage the clock? I see nothing wrong with accelerating the pace of the game to move to a new inning. Delaying by calling time outs, swapping pitchers, etc. is bush league.

#controlthecontrolables
That’s a great clarification. Accelerating the pace to get an additional at bat by eliminating warmups, speeding up pitches, is part of the game. “Stalling” to kill the clock is 100% Bush League. The worst is when coaches stall during a showcase tournament. Coaches want to see you compete under pressure situations. I can guarantee you they could give a flip who wins.

In my mind anything that shows lack of confidence in your team or players is a red flag.
 

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