blowout etiquette

I wouldn't allow switch hitting in a situation like this; if you do it becomes a laughing stock to your team at the other team's expense.

Obviously, stealing is over the line, not even border line. I would have my players play like normal without taking any extra bases, and put in my subs at all positions (unless I didn't have someone who could throw strikes--you want this game to end ASAP).

No bunts, no aggressive base-running, play the legitimate back-ups in their correct positions, and the winning dugout needs to get stoic. Switch hitting for guys who are legitimately working to develop it is not out of line, as long as they are switching correctly (i.e., against oppo-handed pitcher). Just keep everything orthodox, and give the losing team the opportunity to suck it up and get honest outs in an uncomfortable situation.

The losing parents are going to think you're rubbing it in their faces no matter what you do...

In a game where even backups are beating up on the team, just hit the ball on the ground.

Winning team was doing the right thing by playing base to base and not looking to walk. On the other hand batting from the weak side is not a good idea. The perception is that you are having fun at the other teams expense. WraggArm is right, no aggressive play at all. Just go up and take your hacks and play baseball.

I believe there's a point where a team gets so conservative it's a pity party on the opponent. I disagree with station to station if the ball is hit to the fence. Take a stand up two. If a wild pitch is an easy advance, take it. Just no agressive baserunning. There's a point where the losing team has to be accountable for their ineptitude.

Batting opposite handed makes a farce of the game and it's more humiliation on the other team. Teammates are bound to make jokes about a players opposite swing if it looks weak. Now you're telling the opponent they're so bad your team is clowning around.

If the game is really out of control ask the parents/fans to stop cheering.

How ironic that this subject comes up this week. 3 nights ago my son's team was on the winning end of a game like this. I thought the coaches handled it fine. non-starters went in except catcher (my son) and 2nd base. Scorebrd was turned off.

To end an inning, varsity coach told my son to find a way to get out. He bunted it straight back to the pitcher. 1st base almost dropped it but held on to get the 3rd out. Blue called the game end of 3rd at 18-1.

Team handled it well. Stopped agressively cheering in 2nd. One kid laughed once in the 2nd and the others jumped his &*^%.

Sad for the other team but was happy we handled it with some respect.

What happened to "I want my players to give 100% all of the time"?

Most times the mercy rules take care of a lot of this. I'd want my kids to go hard until we get the mercy rule lead then backoff on agressive baserunning. I've squeezed to end a game via mercy rule. You always want to save pitchers' innings if possible and it's a chance to get some of your backup players ABs. I would never ask a kid to give up an at bat. I've been on the other side of things and expect opponnents to play hard to put us away.

If you play/coach long enough, you will be on both ends of this scene.....

I am with RJM. If we are up big, we will not be aggressive, but stopping at first on a ball hit to the wall seems to show up the other team.....just take a stand up double. Move up one bag on a passed ball, but do not score on a pass ball.

The other night we were on the short end (down 15-1) and the other team was still hit/run, stealing, etc. I had no complaints. It is our job to stop them. I guess their coach was just taking advantage of us having a down year since he has been on the short end against us over the last several years.

Bottom line, just don't do anything to embarrass the other team or the game.

quote:

Originally posted by 3rdgenerationnation:
I've been on the other side of things and expect opponents to play hard to put us away.

I ran into a friend at the rink a few weeks ago. He was handed the girls hockey team in the middle of the season. "We stink." (they do)

He said the same thing. He'd rather his team lose 20-0, than have the other team skate around in circles and play 'four corners' for two periods. He said his girls get real chippy when they feel the other team is playing around with them.

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Originally posted by AntzDad:
What happened to "I want my players to give 100% all of the time"?

He did. He tried 100% to get out in a way that made them earn the out. That's the big difference. Instead of switching sides and making fools out them and himself.

I've got no issues with it.

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Originally posted by wraggArm:
No bunts, no aggressive base-running, play the legitimate back-ups in their correct positions, and the winning dugout needs to get stoic. Switch hitting for guys who are legitimately working to develop it is not out of line, as long as they are switching correctly (i.e., against oppo-handed pitcher).

I agree

quote:

Originally posted by slbaseballdad:
Blue called the game end of 3rd at 18-1.

Down here you have to play at least 5 innings before the 10 run rule comes into play, no matter what the score is. The only way to stop the game is if the other team runs out of pitchers or forfeits the game. Otherwise it goes on and on even if the score is 20-0 after the first inning.

Agree with Wragarm.

This a tough one with a young team. Generally, you need to tell the fellas to pipe down, no chirpping. Play clean hard baseball. No stealing, hit and run, etc. No advancing on pass balls or agressive baserunning and absolutely no bunting.

Be very gracious after the game, as that can be you in your teams next outing.

Lefty...

Blowout Etiquette for the winning team:

I don't care of the starting lineup is in the game, or the backup's across the board? The game still needs to be played. I agree that there should not be agressive baserunning, but a shot to the fence Should go for extra bases as RJM stated. No steals, No hit and runs, No bunting, and definitely No switch hitting unless you're a switch hitter...that's just not right. As a parent, I'm still going to root for the kids whether we are trailing big time, or on top 18-1. This may be playing opportunities that bench players don't normally see, and it wouldn't be fair to them not to receive the same enthusiasm...however, I do realize there is a classy way to do it.

I hate seeing coaches allow a player to bat the wrong way in a blowout. I think it makes a mockery of the game and the lesser team. If it was something a guy had been working on only then am I ok with it.

Depending on the age and if it's permissable,my sons coach had the kids use their wood bats. Seems to keep the kids intensity up while making it harder.

Sorry don,t agree with using wood bats in a blow out. Along the same lines as switch hitting.

In high school, I think beatdowns are good for rivalries. I can't blame seniors who've lost five in a row to Team X for wanting to lay it on em good, if they have the chance.

[In high school, I think beatdowns are good for rivalries. I can't blame seniors who've lost five in a row to Team X for wanting to lay it on em good, if they have the chance.] Sorry don't agree with this either. Understand having rivalries, but embarrassing teams in a blow out can lead to other things, especially in high school and up. Too me the classier programs do not do this. IMHO

Our HS team has had sort of a peak in talent at the same time we were moved to a smaller district, so we've had a lot of blowouts. I hate them - no one gets better. So far we've only had 3 games go 7 innings.

It seems like our coach intends to end every game in 4 or 5 innings. No quarter. Rule is 15 after 4, 10 after 5. If it's 12-0 going into the top of the 5th and there will be one more inning, regardless, that's when he'll stop aggressive baserunning, etc., and bring in the subs.

I also don't switch up our IF/OF music for the weakest teams. Everyone can get ready for the Smackdown. I feel like to do otherwise would be disrespectful.

No one seems to have a problem with it. But when our talent pool cycles down and these other teams get better, there will definitely be some payback.

The other side: If you're the losing team continue to believe in yourself. Win an inning. Win the rest of the game. Find something positive to take from the game.

Good teams have bad games too. In 14U our team got mercied because they left their brains at home and their hearts under the bench after three innings. We had a long talk after the game. After I got done talking (I do the cold, calm thing when I'm ticked off) my assistant said to the team, "Well that was the polite version. Now it's my turn. Where's your freak'n pride!"

Two tournaments later we mercied the other team with a no-hitter. Every game the rest of the season went down to the last out. These were two of the best travel teams in the state. They each just happened to have a bad game.

How about the etiquette of the team that's getting smoked?

Don't cry about it. Take your beating and get back on the horse next game.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
How about the etiquette of the team that's getting smoked?

Don't start throwing in back-ups for the "playing time." Keep the best defense on the field, put a quality pitcher on the mound, focus on getting outs and scratching out ONE run on offense. If you manage to get a spark going, don't pull out the rally hats until the tieing run shows up in the on-deck circle.

Don't laugh off errors, or start clowning around or acting like, "we suck this year". And DO NOT let the other team see you throwing helmets or criticizing each other. SS, C, and CF have to keep the team poised.

The only one I'm not sure about is putting a quality pitcher on the mound. You want to save your quality arms for the next game where you have a chance of winning.

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Originally posted by standballdad:
The only one I'm not sure about is putting a quality pitcher on the mound. You want to save your quality arms for the next game where you have a chance of winning.

Yeah, you've got to worry about your schedule. I'm just saying you've got to put someone on who can get outs.

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A couple well-meaning players want to bat opposite handed. Do you consider this a do or a don't?

A big don't. Pulling a stunt like batting from the wrong side adds more insult than any beatdown score. It makes a mockery of the game and the opponent. Total bush league garbage.

Anybody who's played enough has been on both sides of a blowout. There's no need to reinvent the wheel in a lopsided score. Play the game the right way whether it's a blowout or a tight one. Sure, you could probably bring in some subs but you gotta do that wisely in the event you empty out your bench and all of a sudden you're short a player or trying to force the action the same way you would in a tight game. You could also pitch some well rested arms and save the top end of the rotation but at the same time, you don't want to let a team back into a game after getting to a blowout score. It might be wise to keep someone in reserve that can get some outs in case a pitcher strugles.

However, it's better to shut down the other team and get out of there as quick as possible and well rested for the next game. I'm not a big fan of emptying out bench unless it's necessary as opposed to doing it just to randomly dole out playing time just because it's a blowout.

a huge do not

If it's HS, put the subs in early. Worst case scenario, if the opponent gets back into the game coach can re-enter starters.

Is there a difference between a HS JV and varsity game? I can see why a varsity coach would want to put the game away in short order. But some coaches look at JV as developmental rather than playing only to win. Is that a case where you would put subs in early in either scenario?

quote:

Originally posted by 2Bmom:
Is there a difference between a HS JV and varsity game? I can see why a varsity coach would want to put the game away in short order. But some coaches look at JV as developmental rather than playing only to win. Is that a case where you would put subs in early in either scenario?

Even though JV is about developing and playing more players, these games should be played to win as well. One shouldn't be exclusive of the other. Otherwise, what's the point of even taking the field. Players should learn to win at the JV as well. How else are they going to learn about playing to win if JV is treated like a sunday rec game. There are HS JV tournaments with a conference title at stake and the goal should be to win that tournament. JV should be about developing a winning mentality for the varsity since most HS players go thru a JV team before they make varsity.

If you play and coach the game the right way, there shouldn't be much difference how you approach a varsity and a JV game.

My son ran into this a couple years ago when he was 10. He was literally up to bat for the fourth time in the same inning. He was a 4 hole power hitter and had worked on left handed hitting some so with no subs available, I told him to swing lefty.He decided on his own to do a drag bunt from the left side. He made it safely to first. The team forfeited on the next batter.



I told my son that was wrong after the game and I wanted him to swing because he had a better chance of getting out with a swing because I have seen him drag in the cage before.



Imo, you never tell someone not to try.

I think if a player is a legitimate switch hitter or has switch hitting potential and has been using it in games and decides to hit from the opposite side in an at-bat in a lopsided game, that's far different than getting up there as a goof or just to make an out. As for drag bunting on the winning side in a blowout, I'd rather be swinging the bats though.

quote:

up to bat for the fourth time in the same inning.

Twice last season we simply quit batting and took the field.

Call time out, talk to the other coach, and switch....

Nobody is having fun the fourth time through the line-up....

quote:

Originally posted by Hawk19:

quote:

up to bat for the fourth time in the same inning.

Twice last season we simply quit batting and took the field.

Call time out, talk to the other coach, and switch....

Nobody is having fun the fourth time through the line-up....

True

After the forfeit,that is exactly what we did. Took the field and let the other team bat.

quote:

Originally posted by tfox:
My son ran into this a couple years ago when he was 10. He was literally up to bat for the fourth time in the same inning. He was a 4 hole power hitter and had worked on left handed hitting some so with no subs available, I told him to swing lefty.He decided on his own to do a drag bunt from the left side. He made it safely to first. The team forfeited on the next batter.



I told my son that was wrong after the game and I wanted him to swing because he had a better chance of getting out with a swing because I have seen him drag in the cage before.



Imo, you never tell someone not to try.

Bunting was bush. You're not going to see four times around in a high school game. Teams just aren't that mismatched.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

Originally posted by tfox:
My son ran into this a couple years ago when he was 10. He was literally up to bat for the fourth time in the same inning. He was a 4 hole power hitter and had worked on left handed hitting some so with no subs available, I told him to swing lefty.He decided on his own to do a drag bunt from the left side. He made it safely to first. The team forfeited on the next batter.



I told my son that was wrong after the game and I wanted him to swing because he had a better chance of getting out with a swing because I have seen him drag in the cage before.



Imo, you never tell someone not to try.

Bunting was bush. You're not going to see four times around in a high school game. Teams just aren't that mismatched.

He was 10,not exactly bush at that age and I informed him that what he did was wrong and why.


He is now playing freshman ball as a 7th grader and it is a different game now.


But I see nothing wrong with someone that is working on switch hitting to bat opposite handed in a blow out situation. Are they supposed to work on it when a game is on the line?

[Bunting was bush. You're not going to see four times around in a high school game. Teams just aren't that mismatched.]

If you have ever coached 10 year olds, the majority just want to have fun. 10 year olds do not understand the concept of not embarrassing the other team. IMO it is the coaches responsibility to teach his players this. Then again, I think a lot of older players and some adults do not grasp this concept or wish to ignore it.

Our high school team was on the losing end of one these games, and one of their players was fooling around and was not a switch hitter, but moved to the over side of the plate and tried to hit left handed, the infield got ****ed, our pithcer purposely hit the batter, batter than charged the mound and it was ugly from there, both benches cleared and the game was called at that point. Sometimes these games can be tuff when teenagers are invovled.

What about being up big early in a tournament game and trying to get the game over as quick as possible to save some of your pitching?

Say your'e up by 13 batting in the bottom of 3rd. Aren't you going to try to get those next two in?


if you can get the game over in three innings instead of 4-5 or 6 why not?