Picking Up: What to expect

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Oct 3, 2011
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113
Right Here For Now
I won't try and speculate as to the reasons for what happened. That said, I will let you know how I, as a coach, treat my pick-ups/subs. I treat them as I would any other member of my team. In other words, every player will sit 2 innings during a pool play game and be on the field the rest of the time. The same holds true for my pick-ups. First, I want them to want to come back and play again if I need them. Second, none of my parents will complain since everyone's playing, being treated fairly and they understand the need.

Please understand that when I use a sub, I'm doing it to fill a specific spot or position than I'm in need of. For example, say I need a SS for a tournament. I happen to pick up a Flamethrower who also plays SS. Because I have 3 pitchers already, guess how many innings this sub is going to pitch? I'll tell you the exact number...0-1 in a weekend. I don't care if she's going to the Florida Gators as a Pitcher on a full ride no matter how tempting it would become. Why you may ask? Because it's not worth the headaches it will cause among the team, my pitchers and my parents even if we rode this Flamethrower and won the entire thing. More importantly, I wouldn't have her beyond the weekend and it's not fair to my 3 pitchers I made my commitment to when they committed to me. Loyalty to the players you have can be easily underrated but is so important.

The next thing to discuss is a tryout/sub situation such as your DD faced. If I'm trying a player out, once again, I'm trying them out for a need to fill a specific position. In your DD's case, both you and her may feel her primary position is a Catcher but she also plays the corners and outfield. I currently have 5 "Catchers" on my team. 1 is truly a Catcher and will be moving on to play in college. Another is a work in progress but coming along. The other 3 have the gear and I can put them behind the plate in a pinch but all they can do is catch a pitch and nothing else. The one thing they all had in common is they felt their primary position was Catcher. So when I offered the last 3, I told them flat out they will not be behind the plate except in the possibility of an extreme emergency but I saw them playing position X if they wanted it. So in your DD's case, if she were to sub/try out for me, I would be looking for example, a corner player or OFer which is where she'd play during the tourney. That doesn't mean that she would not be given the chance to work her way into the line-up as a catcher. However, for my team, her primary position would be third base for example (if she were offered)... not a catcher. Thus, if she were to come and tryout/sub for a tourney with us, the chances of her getting behind the plate for more than an inning would be slim.
 
Last edited:
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
That ^^ is how our coach does things too. He's always honest up front too. This weekend we really needed a pitcher. One was interested, and HC told the dad he'd guarantee her 3 innings, could be more (we have injured pitchers, and he wasn't sure how much they could pitch), and that when not pitching she'd rotate through sitting and outfield since our infield is basically set. When DD picked up with a local team in the fall they told us going in she'd probably pitch and sit. She ended up playing more than sitting but we went into it with the expectation that she was mostly there to pitch, because the coach was honest at the beginning. The lack of disclosure is the real problem here.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
I won't try and speculate as to the reasons for what happened. That said, I will let you know how I, as a coach, treat my pick-ups/subs. I treat them as I would any other member of my team. In other words, every player will sit 2 innings during a pool play game and be on the field the rest of the time. The same holds true for my pick-ups. First, I want them to want to come back and play again if I need them. Second, none of my parents will complain since everyone's playing, being treated fairly and they understand the need.

Please understand that when I use a sub, I'm doing it to fill a specific spot or position than I'm in need of. For example, say I need a SS for a tournament. I happen to pick up a Flamethrower who also plays SS. Because I have 3 pitchers already, guess how many innings this sub is going to pitch? I'll tell you the exact number...0-1 in a weekend. I don't care if she's going to the Florida Gators as a Pitcher on a full ride no matter how tempting it would become. Why you may ask? Because it's not worth the headaches it will cause among the team, my pitchers and my parents even if we rode this Flamethrower and won the entire thing. More importantly, I wouldn't have her beyond the weekend and it's not fair to my 3 pitchers I made my commitment to when they committed to me. Loyalty to the players you have can be easily underrated but is so important.

The next thing to discuss is a tryout/sub situation such as your DD faced. If I'm trying a player out, once again, I'm trying them out for a need to fill a specific position. In your DD's case, both you and her may feel her primary position is a Catcher but she also plays the corners and outfield. I currently have 5 "Catchers" on my team. 1 is truly a Catcher and will be moving on to play in college. Another is a work in progress but coming along. The other 3 have the gear and I can put them behind the plate in a pinch but all they can do is catch a pitch and nothing else. The one thing they all had in common is they felt their primary position was Catcher. So when I offered the last 3, I told them flat out they will not be behind the plate except in the possibility of an extreme emergency but I saw them playing position X if they wanted it. So in your DD's case, if she were to sub/try out for me, I would be looking for example, a corner player or OFer which is where she'd play during the tourney. That doesn't mean that she would not be given the chance to work her way into the line-up as a catcher. However, for my team, her primary position would be third base for example (if she were offered)... not a catcher. Thus, if she were to come and tryout/sub for a tourney with us, the chances of her getting behind the plate for more than an inning would be slim.

All well and good provided coach tells us that when we're making the decision to come try out/pick up. But nothing like that was ever said. It felt a bit like a bait and switch to us.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
If your DD's primary position is catcher, and that is truly what she loves to do, I would be hesitant to join a team that already has two catchers. Especially if either of them are the coaches kids. If your DD is better, and she does not mind fighting for time behind the plate or playing another position, then consider giving it a try.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
All well and good provided coach tells us that when we're making the decision to come try out/pick up. But nothing like that was ever said. It felt a bit like a bait and switch to us.

And the entire point of the last paragraph I wrote was that if your DD only wants to catch, then it's incumbent on you to post on the boards something along the lines of "01 Catcher looking for the right fit for a home or sub" If I see a that, then I wouldn't respond because I don't need another catcher. Now if I see a post on the local board that says "01 Catcher/Corners looking for a home or sub" and I happen to need a 3rd baseman, you better believe I'm contacting you. If you didn't ask about Catching, then it's not the Coach"s fault. It'seems to me that you were under the assumption that she would be catching. Did you ask? Did the coach tell you she would be behind the plate? It's no different than a Pitcher who signs with a team assuming she will get a lot of circle time without asking any questions, finding out that there are 2 Top 20 D1 commits and getting bent out of shape because she sees 2 innings in the circle all weekend long. It's up to you and yours to educate yourself and do your due diligence about the opportunities presented to you and the team you might decide on as a home. You can't expect someone else to volunteer information when they don't know what your expectations are. We're not mind readers. Then you also have those coaches without an ounce of integrity that will tell you whatever you want to hear just as a money grab, a warm body to fill space or any other number of reasons.

So, my advice to you is, in the future, go in armed with information. Talk to parents of players on the team. Talk to past players and their families. Talk to other coaches that you know you can trust opinions of. Get it all; the exceptional, the good, the bad, the ugly and the really ugly. Most importantly, let the coach know up front what your expectations are. More often than not, you'll get an honest answer. 'No, she won't be behind the plate because I already committed to 2 girls to be my catchers. However, I'm looking for a corner player.' 'No, If she wants to catch for us, I will let her earn her time behind the plate but my starter is a mid D1 recruit and plays back there 95% of the time.' OR you may get, ' I have a serviceable catcher but I'm really looking for great catcher because I need a leader on the field.' You never know what the answer will beuntil YOU ask. Don't just assume they will tell you because there are far too many ways for miscommunication to happen.
 
Last edited:
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
And the entire point of the last paragraph I wrote was that if your DD only wants to only catch, then it's incumbent on you to post on the boards something along the lines of "01 Catcher looking for the right fito for a home or sub"
If I see a that, then I wouldn't respond because I don't need another catcher. Now if I see a post on the local board that says "01 Catcher/Corners looking for a home or sub" and I happen to need a 3rd baseman, you better believe I'm contacting you. If you didn't ask about Catching, then it's not the Coach"s fault. It'seems to me that you were under the assumption that she would be catching. Did you ask? Did the coach tell you she would be behind the plate? It's no different than a Pitcher who signs with a team assuming she will get a lot of circle time without asking any questions, finding out that there are 2 Top 20 D1 commits and getting bent out of shape because she sees 2 innings in the circle all weekend long. It's up to you and yours to educate yourself and do your due diligence about the opportunities presented to you and the team you might decide on as a home. You can't expect someone else to volunteer information when they don't know what your expectations are. They'Realize not mind readers. Then you also have those coaches without an ounce of integrity that will tell you whatever you want to hear. So, my advice to you is, in the future, go in armed with information. Talk to parents of players on the team. Talk to past players and their families. Talk to other coaches that you know you can trust opinions of. Most importantly, let the coach know up front what your expectations are. More often than not, you'll get an honest answer. 'No, she won't be behind the plate because I'm looking for a corner player.'

We did exactly that. "03 catcher looking for a team." And that's what he responded to. We didn't contact him. He contacted us.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
We did exactly that. "03 catcher looking for a team." And that's what he responded to. We didn't contact him. He contacted us.

Also, the question still remains...did you ask him if he's looking for a catcher or did you just assume because he contacted you that he was looking for one and thats where your DD would be playing and trying out for? Again there's a few unethical coaches out there so protect yourself with information. Ask questions of everyone!
 
Last edited:
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
To be perfectly honest, my husband and I have been splitting the "contacting coaches" duties and this was a coach he had been communicating with. I know that he and my husband had had several text conversations, although I never saw them. I feel confident that DH had expressed to the coach that DD was a catcher and was looking for a catching position. I don't know the specific conversation regarding the tryout/pickup.
 

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