In my the first two games of the season I had a .750 OBP. I was also 3for6 in scrimmages. In the third game I found myself benched with no reason or explaination. Any advice?
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mtownfan
If coaches had to give a reason why they benched a player or moved a kid from one position or the other or down in the order they would have to start practice or be on the field earlier for games. there is no rule as to coaches giving reasons. I once benched a kid. I got a phone call from the parent saying that I should have sat him down and explained why I was not starting him. If you want to know there is only one person to ask.
If coaches had to give a reason why they benched a player or moved a kid from one position or the other or down in the order they would have to start practice or be on the field earlier for games. there is no rule as to coaches giving reasons. I once benched a kid. I got a phone call from the parent saying that I should have sat him down and explained why I was not starting him. If you want to know there is only one person to ask.
This is early in the season. Many coaches I know try to get all the players on the roster playing time early on. You don't win championships in April! Sounds like you are off to a good start.
While you were sitting, were you moping about not playing, trying to analyze what the coach was thinking, or watching, learning, and cheering your team on?
While you were sitting, were you moping about not playing, trying to analyze what the coach was thinking, or watching, learning, and cheering your team on?
Larry,
I was doing a little of both to be honest.
I was doing a little of both to be honest.
mtownfan
I may not be the last time if you were moping and copping and attitude on the bench--- did you ask coach why? He may have had a very good reason such as Larry implies.
Coaches have reasons for everything they do. You may not like the reason but there is always a reason.
Talk with coach but keep in mind there is more to it all than your OBP--- a "good" OBP can be very weak if you include getting on by errors---you did not mention your Batting Average for that same time period.
I may not be the last time if you were moping and copping and attitude on the bench--- did you ask coach why? He may have had a very good reason such as Larry implies.
Coaches have reasons for everything they do. You may not like the reason but there is always a reason.
Talk with coach but keep in mind there is more to it all than your OBP--- a "good" OBP can be very weak if you include getting on by errors---you did not mention your Batting Average for that same time period.
This is what I would expect from a player in your situation. Come to me in private and ask me "Coach what do I need to do to get in the line up?" Listen to what the coach says. Then go out and do it. Keep a great attitude and stay positive. Good luck
In the games( not srimmage) how did you get on base and what happened when you did not....25 % of the time?
On Friday in a tournament my son walked 4 times in 4 plate appearances. That's a 1.000 OBP. He had a bad game at the plate. He had several pitches down the middle that he could have jumped on and broken the game open that he fouled off because he had gone back to an old flaw in his swing. He fixed it the next game and went 1 for 3 driving in a run but didn't walk. The 1 for 3 game was a much better game at the plate in my eyes.
I say again...it is early in the season. Don't think the player needs to have a private chat with the coach this early in the season to ask what he needs to do to get in the lineup. Let's see what happens this week.
CaDad...are you kidding me? Sounds like your son had 2 very good games. You, as dad, want to see him hit. Coach has got to love the fact that despite his "missing a couple that could have broken the game wide open", he had the patience to take the walks when given. In the game he was 1 for 3, was the 1 a productive hit for the team?
CaDad...are you kidding me? Sounds like your son had 2 very good games. You, as dad, want to see him hit. Coach has got to love the fact that despite his "missing a couple that could have broken the game wide open", he had the patience to take the walks when given. In the game he was 1 for 3, was the 1 a productive hit for the team?
CADAD
If the boy got on 4 out of 4 times he was doing his job
That to me is better than 1 for 3
Have you got the proper perspective?
Sounds a lot like "MY SON MY SON"--scouts appreciate 4 for 4 on base days--you do realize that
Of the two gasmes how many did the TEAM win ? you dont mention that
If the boy got on 4 out of 4 times he was doing his job
That to me is better than 1 for 3
Have you got the proper perspective?
Sounds a lot like "MY SON MY SON"--scouts appreciate 4 for 4 on base days--you do realize that
Of the two gasmes how many did the TEAM win ? you dont mention that
The team won both games big and has lost the last two since. I agree that scouts like OBP.
I agree that 4 walks would normally be considered a good day and two of the at bats there was nothing to be done, he didn't get a pitch to swing at. The other two at bats he got several quality pitches to swing at and was repeating an old fault that caused him to not make solid contact. Fortunately, he wasn't facing that strong of pitching and he was able to wait for a walk. Better than striking out but when he drops into that fault it often does result in a K rather than a walk.
Game two he took a fastball down the middle for a strike his first at bat then swung and missed at two good straight changes. I told him that the key to the at bat was taking the first pitch. He said he wasn't ready on the first pitch for some reason. Next at bat he took a fastball low and then jumped on another fastball lining it up the middle for a single, driving in a run to help close up the score against a stronger team. His final at bat in that game was a roller to the left side on a pitch he got ahead of.
The third game against a strong pitcher he lined a single to right center his first at bat driving in a run and helping us take a 3-0 lead. His second at bat he hit a seeing eye grounder in the hole to drive in another run. By the time he came up to lead off the last inning we were down by 7. He whiffed at a first pitch straight change. Took an off speed pitch for a second strike and then waited on another off speed pitch and hit it on a line over the right fielder's head, who unfortunately for us made a nice over the shoulder catch on it.
The team won the first game easily against a weaker opponent that "my son" held to one run over 5 innings. The team lost the second game against a much stronger opponent after coming back to be tied 6-6 after 5-1/2 innings, then get beat when we had to pull our starter. The team lost the third game against the same opponent when our only 14yo came back from a class trip to D.C. and it turned out that he virtually hadn't slept the whole week. He's also a relatively hard thrower with limited control of his off speed pitch and this team jumped on him so after getting ahead early, we got behind early. We put in a little guy to "slow ball" them and he did his job but the defense let him down and they got well ahead of us. As my son had only thrown 63 pitches his previous outing we let him go two innings. He threw all his pitches for strikes gave up a couple hits, no runs and also got a K on a straight change, a pitch he is just developing. Best outing he's ever had, considering the hitting ability of the other team. Now he takes some time off to let his arm recover.
These are 13 and 14yo, there are no scouts there. I'd much rather see kids hitting good pitches to hit hard than waiting for walks in most any situation. Unless I give a kid a take sign (very rare), he's up there to hit if he gets a pitch to hit. Winning is nice but if they learn to play baseball right they'll end up with more wins in the long run.
Game two he took a fastball down the middle for a strike his first at bat then swung and missed at two good straight changes. I told him that the key to the at bat was taking the first pitch. He said he wasn't ready on the first pitch for some reason. Next at bat he took a fastball low and then jumped on another fastball lining it up the middle for a single, driving in a run to help close up the score against a stronger team. His final at bat in that game was a roller to the left side on a pitch he got ahead of.
The third game against a strong pitcher he lined a single to right center his first at bat driving in a run and helping us take a 3-0 lead. His second at bat he hit a seeing eye grounder in the hole to drive in another run. By the time he came up to lead off the last inning we were down by 7. He whiffed at a first pitch straight change. Took an off speed pitch for a second strike and then waited on another off speed pitch and hit it on a line over the right fielder's head, who unfortunately for us made a nice over the shoulder catch on it.
The team won the first game easily against a weaker opponent that "my son" held to one run over 5 innings. The team lost the second game against a much stronger opponent after coming back to be tied 6-6 after 5-1/2 innings, then get beat when we had to pull our starter. The team lost the third game against the same opponent when our only 14yo came back from a class trip to D.C. and it turned out that he virtually hadn't slept the whole week. He's also a relatively hard thrower with limited control of his off speed pitch and this team jumped on him so after getting ahead early, we got behind early. We put in a little guy to "slow ball" them and he did his job but the defense let him down and they got well ahead of us. As my son had only thrown 63 pitches his previous outing we let him go two innings. He threw all his pitches for strikes gave up a couple hits, no runs and also got a K on a straight change, a pitch he is just developing. Best outing he's ever had, considering the hitting ability of the other team. Now he takes some time off to let his arm recover.
These are 13 and 14yo, there are no scouts there. I'd much rather see kids hitting good pitches to hit hard than waiting for walks in most any situation. Unless I give a kid a take sign (very rare), he's up there to hit if he gets a pitch to hit. Winning is nice but if they learn to play baseball right they'll end up with more wins in the long run.
OK TR,
How's your assessment of this day at the plate? (Back to regular season play.) 1st at bat vs. smart little lefty with good location. Led off second after team's "star" player ran on a 3-2 pitch with two outs, the hitter walked, they threw anyways and our "star" rounded the base and was tagged out. (Sorry to digress but that one really bugged me.)
Mine grounds one down the line. The third baseman backhands it and can't make the throw, but would have gotten him with a decent throw.
2nd at bat hits a sharp grounder to the ss side of second. A good ss makes a routine play, the weak ss they had doesn't get to the ball. 3rd at bat, with the game tied 3-3 and a runner on third with one out he tries to get the ball in the air and tops a swinging bunt down third for a hit and an rbi. I noticed in pregame BP he was hitting everything on the ground and rolling his hands a bit but didn't try to fix it knowing the other team was weak in the field and figuring trying to make a fix at that point would hurt more than help.
Not a good day, not a bad day in my book. Put the ball in play and got a couple breaks on a day where his swing wasn't quite there day might be the best description.
How's your assessment of this day at the plate? (Back to regular season play.) 1st at bat vs. smart little lefty with good location. Led off second after team's "star" player ran on a 3-2 pitch with two outs, the hitter walked, they threw anyways and our "star" rounded the base and was tagged out. (Sorry to digress but that one really bugged me.)
Mine grounds one down the line. The third baseman backhands it and can't make the throw, but would have gotten him with a decent throw.
2nd at bat hits a sharp grounder to the ss side of second. A good ss makes a routine play, the weak ss they had doesn't get to the ball. 3rd at bat, with the game tied 3-3 and a runner on third with one out he tries to get the ball in the air and tops a swinging bunt down third for a hit and an rbi. I noticed in pregame BP he was hitting everything on the ground and rolling his hands a bit but didn't try to fix it knowing the other team was weak in the field and figuring trying to make a fix at that point would hurt more than help.
Not a good day, not a bad day in my book. Put the ball in play and got a couple breaks on a day where his swing wasn't quite there day might be the best description.
Good day at the plate dad. Put the ball in play three times on the ground and made something happen.
