- Jul 29, 2016
- 231
- 43
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.
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.