Around the horn!

Good question! I hate leaving my 1st baseman out so I always want the kids to go 3-6-4-5. Some clubs with throw to first or third depending on the side of the plate the batter stands on. You can leave it up to the cather to throw to whatever side he likes. If you want another break from the typical 5-4-6-5, you can also go 5-6-4-5.

There is no real reason for this, but my stomach turns over whenever the catcher throws the ball to the first baseman after a strikeout. I don't know why....I think maybe it's because I've seen lots of softball teams do that, but I'm not sure. I just think the first throw should always go to the third baseman.

As a 1st baseman's parent I was very curious why he always got left out.

Just make sure you can do it.....nothing more embarassing than throwing the ball away.......and if you do mess it up more than once expect the umpires to not appreciate it.....

Why not just throw the ball back to the pitcher? Some people get all upset when a hitter takes time to celebrate a home run. Why should it be any different for a defense? If you're an outfielder, you catch a fly ball, you throw it back in. If you're an infielder and make a spectacular play, you get up and dust yourself off and go back to your position. Why then would you celebrate a routine play? I guess I don't see the point.

I think throwing the ball around the IF actually takes some attention away from the K victim.

This is also a way to keep your IF alive and into the game and not get flat and complacent.

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Why not just throw the ball back to the pitcher

After a K in HS my son liked the ball back right away so the on-deck batter had a only the guy walking back to the bench as his reference. There's nothing worse than watching a teammate pass by with his tail between his legs and the pitcher and ump looking at you saying "come on, you're next".

Along with an ump enjoying a quick pace, the tactic may interupt the next batters preparation for his AB. Besides, a good pitcher will realize that he is only as good as his last pitch, and the most important pitch is his next. Why break that momentum?

I think this tradition has its roots in a desire to keep the infield awake, and to allow the catcher and infielders a chance to exercise their arms. I think the first baseman is frequently left out because he gets the most activity of any infielder.

If done accurately, the round the horn stuff is done before the next batter can reach the box, and it doesn't slow down the game.

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Originally posted by fsmjunior:
I think throwing the ball around the IF actually takes some attention away from the K victim.

This is also a way to keep your IF alive and into the game and not get flat and complacent.

I will agree that it may keep your infield alert and into the game...

I will mildly disagree that it takes attention away from the K victim, but having said that, I will offer that in the higher levels of baseball that I do, I do not do a large "PUNCH OUT" on a strike 3........I just take a simple half step back and call strike 3...with a simple motion....

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I think this tradition has its roots in a desire to keep the infield awake, and to allow the catcher and infielders a chance to exercise their arms.

Agreed. K's and BB's can really lull the field players to sleep and result in trouble on subsequent plays.

3finger, you're correct saying it doesn't speed up a game in real time, but may be a subconscious event where you are dictating the preparation of your opponents AB. A good coach is always looking for those intangibles. The opposing coach may do the same by having his hitters stepping out of the box consistantly during an AB to break a pitchers pace.

Around the horn is a form of celebration. One way some may look at this is............

A strikeout is a pitcher-catcher event and the celebration may be in watching the batter walk back to the bench after failure.

If the infield makes an out they should celebrate the play by going around the horn that shows unity and teamwork that happens on the dirt.

The outfielders are soloists who have the stage to themselves after a catch and many times raise their arm almost, as if taking a bow, and indicating how many outs there are.

Different strokes for different folks.

I think a crisp, sharp around the horn looks cool, but is not a necessesity if the team is focused, understands their accomplishments, and celebrates as they see fit.

IMHO if your around the horn is to keep the infield awake you might have other issues. Everytime a picher begins his windup is a infield wake-up call and infield "chatter" backs that up.

Our college team threw it to 1B and that is what I teach.

Why? Because the C has far more plays that throw to 1B than to 3B.

Also, it HAS to be done quickly and at full speed. I always give our guys a goal of getting it around before the hitter gets near his dugout.

Ok…I’ll willing to ask the stupid question…

Why is this called "around the horn"?

Wasn’t the panama cannel built so we wouldn’t have to go "around the horn"?

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Wasn’t the panama canal built so we wouldn’t have to go around the horn?

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Originally posted by Bullwinkle:
Ok…I’ll willing to ask the stupid question…

Why is this called "around the horn"?

Wasn’t the panama cannel built so we wouldn’t have to go "around the horn"?

I love your humor, Bully !!!

No offense but are we really putting this much thought into throwing the ball around the horn? It's not that big of deal - an out is made with nobody on then just throw it around. If someone is offended over this "celebration" then they are waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy to thin skinned.

The original question was to get some ideas for unique ways to throw around the horn, not to discuss whether it shows up the other team or not. It's difinitely up to each coach whether or not they want to have their infielders throw the ball around or just have the catcher throw it back to the pitcher, but I was wondering some other programs utilze this tool in a game. I try to get the ball back to the pitcher before the batter reaches the batter's box to focus on speed and quick feet in the infield.

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not to discuss whether it shows up the other team or not.

pevs,
Ya gotta bare with us. Sometimes when folks are sittin' around chattin' with one another, the topic naturally takes a few turns on its own. I think most of us understood the intention of the question, we just sometimes like to throw in a few extra opinions here and there,..like I do below:

Personally, if its done swiftly ( the faster & more accurate the better ) from a spectators point of view, I like to see it. Wakes me up & recharges me.

Doesnt matter what order they throw, ( although I do prefer when they include the 1st baseman,) as long as its thrown like a bullet!

I agree with piaa_ump:

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Just make sure you can do it.....nothing more embarassing than throwing the ball away

3rdgenerationnation offered a couple of fun and unique ways to go around the horn.

Going around the horn has several different purposes. I always liked the fielders to work on good throws, quick exchanges, footwork, and teamwork. I like to go to first for the catcher to work on his first base pickoffs. It is a coaches personal decision. I do not like going straight back to the pitcher. It leaves the pitcher to just stand there and wait for the batter to walk up and go through his get ready gyrations. jmo

I used to like the throw to go 3, 6, 4, 5. Meet at the mound and exchange information if need be. Such as...I am pitching him away or in, etc. Or, have the fielders exchange what they need to if anything. One to three for a practice throw to first. Three to six to four to practice the dp exchanges. Four to five to practice the quick release for the four player.