Practice time is the coach's time. Game time is the players' time.
Great great post Ken. If this could be mandated as one of the first commandments of coaching, the game of softball would be vastly improved overnight.
Pulling stunts like that disrespect the game. They disrespect the other team, their time, as was noted.
They make you look unprepared and reactionary, as a coach, as was noted.
Managers who manage like this have no concept that their team is performing in public, and presents a face, good or bad, to the public. As a player, if your coach does this to you, I mean geez, if your own coach, who in reality with the way many parents are in the stands, and the way some opponents behave, is your only advocate, treats you like this publicly...
In the bigger picture, it comes down to players should be learning to play loose and all-out, and our generation has become obsessed with inserting ourselves into our kids lives and micro-managing even things like sports games where they should be building self confidence, self reliance, an athletic identity, decision making and leadership.
I'm going to float a "sandlot day" idea to our rec board (which I am sure will be shot down), a day where friends and family are not welcome, a day where the kids come out and play.