Coach attemtping steals in the last inning when the team is losing....

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Jul 29, 2016
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Runner on 1B with two outs stealing is a different scenario from a runner on 2B with two outs stealing. The OP mentioned at least 4 different scenarios.

FYI: From a Run Expectancy probability stealing in any scenario is bad math (and yet teams still do it, and for a good reason!).

The mother/father/grandparent/sister/brother/aunt/uncle that plays the result after fact is a tired act. You were down 5 with two outs and complaining about the coaches tactics? Umm.....yeah.

You're coming across as a coach with a chip on his shoulder, which is fine I guess. Spit-balling a coach's game decisions on an on-line bulletin board isn't the same as being openly critical of the coach after the game, which I've never done. At the end of the day, I'm writing those big checks to the travel team so I don't have to coach.

But that doesn't invalidate my opinion, and I think that stealing bases with one out to give in your last at-bat is unwise. We ended bracket play in the prior tournament on exactly that kind of silliness. When its win or go home, risking the final out when the tying run is still sitting in the dugout is dumb gamble. I don't care if you're Patrick frickin Murphy or Patty frickin Gasso - I'm still going to think it is a bone-headed call.
 
Dec 11, 2010
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Well, moving their corners back behind the bags does help a lot. I mean no disrespect, but if she was your best bunter, how'd she get 2 strikes on her in a "must get it down" situation?

Because once the hitter got two strikes on her the defense adjusted and moved behind the bag?

Probably wasn’t bunting until she got two on her. Because bunting with two outs and the corners up would be kind of dumb.
 
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Jul 29, 2016
231
43
Probably wasn’t bunting until she got two on her. Because bunting with two outs and the corners up would be kind of dumb.

Reminds me of a cool play I saw last year. South Carolina is playing Miss State - last series of the year. Sc is up 2 or 3 runs, and they're looking for a cushion. Bases loaded. Two outs. Alyssa Kumiyama comes to the plate. Big girl.- not much speed, but tons of power. Playing DP. This is who you want at the plate because she can help you plate four runs with one swing of the bat. She walks to the plate from the on-deck circle and takes a couple of big practice swings. Everyone in the infield takes a couple of steps back. The outfielders have their butts on the fence. The home crowd is going crazy.

Then she drops the prettiest little suicide squeeze bunt down the third base line. Everyone caught (literally) on their heels. The runner on third out-runs the third-baseman who is sprinting toward the ball. She scores. Kumiyama beats the throw to first by half a step.

Just a gorgeous play. Brings a tear to the eye....
 
Aug 5, 2015
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As a coach I love how every parent plays the result (and thinks they could do a better job calling the game).

Some of your thoughts above go against what analytics suggests.
Runner on 1B with two outs stealing is a different scenario from a runner on 2B with two outs stealing. The OP mentioned at least 4 different scenarios.

FYI: From a Run Expectancy probability stealing in any scenario is bad math (and yet teams still do it, and for a good reason!).

The mother/father/grandparent/sister/brother/aunt/uncle that plays the result after fact is a tired act. You were down 5 with two outs and complaining about the coaches tactics? Umm.....yeah.
It's amazing how many times you said something incorrect in these two posts.
 
May 1, 2018
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To OP: It really depends on how much I'm down by, how good the catcher is, if the pitcher gets rattled ect. I'm trying to take 2nd to get rid of the force there. But would most likely not 3rd unless the catcher has thrown it in the outfield a couple times already.
 
May 3, 2018
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As a coach I love how every parent plays the result (and thinks they could do a better job calling the game).

Some of your thoughts above go against what analytics suggests.

I'm curious as to where I can find these analytics. My admittedly brief search only turns up these analytics for baseball.
 
May 10, 2019
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My daughter has just ended a travel season with a team that had lots of talent, but also had lots of issues. One pet peeve of mine I saw over and over again - the coach attempting steals at the end of the game (or tournament) when the tying run wasn't even on deck.

This is 16U. I saw this scenario several times: we're playing a game that is a must-win (deep in bracket play where you're win or go home) and we're down by two or more runs. Two outs (!) and runner gets to first. Then the coach sends her to steal second. Then he sends her to steal third.

Yes - this runner is now in position to score on a base-hit or a ball that gets past the catcher, but why are you giving the other team two chances to get out of the game with a throw-down?

It makes slightly more sense with one out, but I saw this exact fact-pattern at least once this past season where we needed 5 runs. 5 runs! You can't win this game without a bunch of base-runners, and why are you risking outs to advance a runner that does not matter one bit to the outcome of the game (and tournament)?

But I'm open to other perspectives. Prove me wrong.
Did the coach know that a change-up was coming? Although, what if the baserunner falls or trips. At that point you need a few hits to get back in the game. Be aggressive with the tying run on base.
 

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