Coach doesn't want HS pitchers to hit

The only reason I can see a coach doing this in hs is if he is loaded with talent and is trying to accomodate everyone. A lot of times the dominating pitchers are also some of the best hitters. In California he is probably is loaded!

Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!

dad...There are alot of opinions on this topic. I have seen both sides and IMO it is a coach that wants to WIN.Some say they don't want their pitchers running bases during a game as they may get tired, but they sure can run the 3-4 miles or 20 poles to get in shape. Most of the pitchers in HS are some of the better athletes and also play other positions as well.

As Chicks said, if the team is stacked, it may make sense. But I still think it is about Winning and Accomodation. I can give you a dozen senior pitchers that can hit better than the majority of their teammates, but coaches have reasons...they just sometimes are not always in the best interest of the player.

My son being a pitcher, likes to hit, but his coach doesn't hit him when he pitches...he hits when he plays 3B when he is not pitching. He is OK with that with a day or two off after throwing.

Good Luck!

"If you can imagine it you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it". William Arthur Ward

"Baseball is Life"

Agree, this decision seems to differ by HS and summer team, and by the level of players on the team. Son hated to give up his bat. He was good and you'll still find him taking cuts occasionally. But, being a great position player can be a full time job as well as pitching. Trying to be the very best at both positions.... well, I think only a rare few can accomplish this. Hopefully it's the player who will get to decide when to specialize, but sometimes the coaches choose for them.

I don't know the situation on a personal level but there is always the Fanatics that want to do everything like the majors and not realize that they are dealing with Highschool Baseball. But as i said i don't really know the situation so i really can't say for sure. I'm a Sr. in highschool and our coach is known to pull that kinda stuff just trying to act like the pros.

Our son was asked to give up his bat at age 15 for his summer team when he joined a Connie Mack team as a pitcher only. That year in HS he hit over .500. The Summer team struggled offensively but the coaches refused to consider him as a hitter. He'll hit again for HS this season. If it's a BIG game, he takes himself out of the lineup. Prefers to focus strictly on his pitching game.

_______________________
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby, Hall of Famer

I know how all those other guys feel. Until h.s., I always hit either 3 or 5 hole for our teams. When I got there, they told me I would focus solely on hitting. In the falls, against juco's, I've gotten to hit and have done fairly well. Our coach is finally going to let me at least take bp to try and earn 'my bat' for my senior year.

Brice

I don't know the reasoning behind HS coaches doing it but with our travel team we don't allow the pitchers to hit for a number of reasons

01-- we are a travel tema with the purpose of getting players exposure
02-- I want our pitchers concentrating on what they are doing on the mound
03-- In many events we can use both a DH and EH--by not allowing the pitcher to bat I can have 11 players in the game at one time thus getting the exposure we seek.

TRhit

Trhit is right about showcase and travel teams. With the DallasMustangs, we had some great pitchers who were hitter, but they do not hit.That was known going in.

As far as hs goes. One reason coaches don't like pitchers to hit is that they don't want to have to change around line-ups and such. My son for example is an excellent 1b. He won't play it much. Why break up the continuity of the infield every other game. My son can hit. So he will hit for himself and probably dh for the other pitchers.

Other more creative coaches want their best nine on the field and don't mind mixing up the infield at the corners if need be.

Very few coaches like to mix it up at ss.

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

The higher you go in baseball, the greater the level of concentration that is required on the mound.

My son is in the same situation. He's always had a very good bat. The coach will put him in the line-up to hit. During tough games, when he's concentrating heavily, he'll ask the coach to pinch-hit for him towards the middle of the game so he can maintain his concentration on the mound and prepare mentally for the next inning.

If he hits, great, he loves it. If he doesn't, great, he'll concentrate on the mound. As the season progresses, coaches will want (and need) offense. If your son can help provide it, he will hit. If your team is so deep that his bat is a luxury, he won't.

"other more creative coaches"

What does that mean?????

TRhit

Were the words to big?

Some coaches want their best 9 out there and will be creative and not afraid to mix things up to do it. Others don't want the stress of changing things around.

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

BIGHIT

You cynicism is not appreciated-- by the way it is too not to , just to be grammatically correct.

"stress of changing things around" ---lol

If coaching a Travel team is stress to the coach he had better quit-- stress is in the real world not coaching a travel baseball team--at least in my eyes.

TRhit

Cynicism or not had you read the post you would have seen the comment was about "hs" coaches not travel coaches. Maybe I can't spell, but I can read. Knot the first thyme that u have missread one of mi posts.

Sorry that I did not put a smile in there for ya. If you don't know me by now.....

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

...if you don't knoww me by nowww, you will never, never know me...................................

Always liked that tune..........

TR, Big ....

Man, you guys need a baseball fix .... or at least you need to move to my planet...

HHH

No problem on this end
Hey-- what planet are you one--- are we neighbors?

BIG

I didn't differentiate between the two-- all I asked was a question about creative coaches and then regarding stress.

Darn I didnt want you to get so upset that your spelling went crazy--- relax and have a sweet iced tea with lemon-- it will soothe your nerves.

TRhit

Former,
You left out a never. Never mind...thanks, now I"m off to work w/ that tune stuck in my head! Ugh

_______________________
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby, Hall of Famer

My speelling went crazy when I had that English teacher from Baston as a 1st grader.

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

LOL

TRhit

why are we so negative about high school coaches, and their creativity??

I feel the same way every time you coaches start complaining about parents. 2 sides of the coin, sir.

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"