- Jun 22, 2008
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That is how I was taught in baseball, the runner will get out of way.
Not trying to hurt anyone.
What do you think happens to a runner when s/he is hit by a thrown ball?
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That is how I was taught in baseball, the runner will get out of way.
Not trying to hurt anyone.
I think any coach who does not teach their baserunners to avoid the throw is seriously at fault. Runners should either slide or veer out of the way of the throw. Most times, the SS or 2nd baseman is looking past the runner to the first baseman. Even though the baserunner is in their line of sight, the fielder doesn't see (or notice) the runner. It is like a pitcher who doesn't see the hitter even though she is standing in the batter's box. It is all about what the fielder (or pitcher) is focusing on. They should be focusing on their target and not the baserunner.
Any coach who teaches their players to act in a way that will cause injury to another player really should face criminal charges. Obviously softball has rough moments even in the course of a clean game and there is no doubt that a team will exact retribution for dirty play by the opposing team, but for coach to teach this is beyond the pale.
Oh my, I teach my batters to hit the down the middle pitch right back to the pitcher. Since a batted ball is much faster than a thrown ball, you would probably have me for attempted murder! Here is what you don't get, for certain actions there are and will be certain reactions. If the young lady's coach would have instructed her properly on how to break up a double play she wouldn't have gotten hit. I am pretty certain she went in standing up to cause a disruption in the play. If her Coach has instructed her properly she would know there is a high likelyhood she will get hit. It is not fielder's fault because she turned the double play as she would have if there wasn't a player there. Just ask these umps what would have happened if the SS didn't throw the ball or attempt to throw the ball. Nothing. No call except runner out on 2nd and people thinking the runner was dirty. Yes, dirty. She came into a base standing up with the intention of breaking up a double play the non traditional way. No slide rule, neither technically at fault but in the spirit and traditions of the game the runner is at fault here.
No, that's not what I meant. In an earlier post, somebody said he would tell his player to throw at the runner's head. That's a bit different from a SS who is thinking only of the double-play and ends up hitting the runner while trying to throw to first. This is how the Alabama SS hit her own 2nd baseman - it was a fast moving play and the SS was focused on the throw to 1st when the 2nd baseman got in the way.
I guess it goes to intent, I tell my catcher to throw at my pitchers head when she throws to second. Pitcher knows she better move cause it is coming fast. I am definitely not trying to hurt my pitcher but I use her head as a target. (Pitcher is not thrilled by this)
Devils advocate with this, If a runner is in the throwing lane, a hard ball thrown from second at her head hits the mark at 1st. No intention to hurt anyone, it's the reference point when target is obscured. Also, the most protected part of the runner is the head so one could argue he is keeping the runner safe and completing the play.
I think any coach who does not teach their baserunners to avoid the throw is seriously at fault. Runners should either slide or veer out of the way of the throw. Most times, the SS or 2nd baseman is looking past the runner to the first baseman. Even though the baserunner is in their line of sight, the fielder doesn't see (or notice) the runner. It is like a pitcher who doesn't see the hitter even though she is standing in the batter's box. It is all about what the fielder (or pitcher) is focusing on. They should be focusing on their target and not the baserunner.