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15 replies

Does your coach "talk" to batters?

P playball20115,000+ posts
Just an observation after half a season. Some coaches are big talkers, yell instructions/directions after every pitch,and others are more quiet. Ours gives general comments like "we need a hit here", "protect",etc. Guess my fav. has been our summer ball coach who says very little while they are in box except to give a sign, then he will pull aside during change of innings to give instruction on how to correct things during next at bat. He gives specific comments on what he is seeing with players hands, head movement,etc., not just fluff comments. I just feel that yelling too much and too many different things confuses the batter.
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mcmmccmmcmmccm100+ posts
I have always loved the third base coach yelling, "It's gotta be right here", while drawing the imaginary micro strike zone with his index fingers. I want to yell, "Our pitcher's not going to throw it over there”.
I believe most of the chatter is just that. It makes them feel like they're doing their job just like when we yell encouragement from the outfield into the howling wind and there is no way on earth the player will hear it. It's mostly for our own benefit or those around us.
standballdadstandballdad5,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by mcmmccm:
I have always loved the third base coach yelling, "It's gotta be right here", while drawing the imaginary micro strike zone with his index fingers. I want to yell, "Our pitcher's not going to throw it over there”.
I believe most of the chatter is just that. It makes them feel like they're doing their job just like when we yell encouragement from the outfield into the howling wind and there is no way on earth the player will hear it. It's mostly for our own benefit or those around us.


Sorry MCMMCCM, have too disagree. At the youth level, and a 3-1 or even a 3-0 count its just a hitting que to look for a pitch in your zone and not to chase a bad pitch. Older players should know this but the little guys need to be reminded. Smile
FoxPride2500FoxPride2500100+ posts
HS coach and summer ball coaches are exact opposite for me. HS coach is the screamer, saying something after every pitch, often negative (although he tries to mean good, it just doesn't come out that way). Summer ball coach is way more relaxed and stays positive, which helps keep the batter positive. The negativity and yelling from a coach makes it not only confusing for the batter, but usually lowers the confidence and messes with the hitter's mentality.
mcmmccmmcmmccm100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by standballdad:

Sorry MCMMCCM, have too disagree. At the youth level, and a 3-1 or even a 3-0 count its just a hitting que to look for a pitch in your zone and not to chase a bad pitch. Older players should know this but the little guys need to be reminded. Smile


I agree with you for youth baseball. Keeping their little minds refreshed and focused is a critical coaching component.

I was refering to HS JV and Varsity coaches.
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Good coaches will try and reinforce a mental approach in a situation, from little league to MLB.
Reminding runners to freeze on a line drive with less than 2 outs; reminding a runner at 2nd on the approach with a ground ball hit in front of him or behind him, tagging from 3rd on a fly ball and making sure than first step is back to the bag.
With hitters, most good coaches reinforce an approach that has been practiced when certain situations arise: keep a hitter focused on situation/count: 3-1, look for a ball in a certain area/make your strike zone smaller and be selective; 0-2 expand the zone and protect; runner at 2nd, less than 2 outs and perhaps the goal is to hit behind the runner.
Trying to correct mechanical issues during an AB are usually too late. Just like golf, the mechanics of a swing are not good to be part of the thought process for a good AB.
In my view, one of the very best college coaches is George Horton at Oregon. Watching his team last weekend, he hardly said or did anything from the dugout. His 3B coach, 1B coach and from the bench: they were constant in working players verbally and with signs in many, many situations. That college team executes as well as any, but they get coached each step of the way during every inning.
Last edited by infielddad
Coach BobCoach Bob500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I help coach my son's 14U team. I am probably one of those you'd classify as always talking to the batter.

No worries though, they don't listen to a single word!!!


I thought so too until last weekend when I was reviewing signs before the game and started with the phrase "I'm not going to do the indicator"; meaning in my mind, during this demonstration, HOWEVER, all 12 of my players took it as there would be no indicator for this game, which we realized somewhere in the 2nd inning after someone stole a base that shouldn't have...

They only really listen when you don't want them too!!!! crazy
3rdgenerationnation3rdgenerationnation100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by infielddad:
Good coaches will try and reinforce a mental approach in a situation, from little league to MLB.
Reminding runners to freeze on a line drive with less than 2 outs; reminding a runner at 2nd on the approach with a ground ball hit in front of him or behind him, tagging from 3rd on a fly ball and making sure than first step is back to the bag.
With hitters, most good coaches reinforce an approach that has been practiced when certain situations arise: keep a hitter focused on situation/count: 3-1, look for a ball in a certain area/make your strike zone smaller and be selective; 0-2 expand the zone and protect; runner at 2nd, less than 2 outs and perhaps the goal is to hit behind the runner.
Trying to correct mechanical issues during an AB are usually too late. Just like golf, the mechanics of a swing are not good to be part of the thought process for a good AB.
In my view, one of the very best college coaches is George Horton at Oregon. Watching his team last weekend, he hardly said or did anything from the dugout. His 3B coach, 1B coach and from the bench: they were constant in working players verbally and with signs in many, many situations. That college team executes as well as any, but they get coached each step of the way during every inning.


this is the approach I was taugh and have always used. In particular nothing mechanical during at bats. It's tough enough to get a kid out of his head during an at bat without dad or a coach telling him what to do with his hands or not to fly open. You take your at bats with the swing you've developed over hours and hours of practice. I want a hitter with a clear understanding of the situation and what he's trying to accomplish and a clear mind, focused on picking up the ball prior to the pitch. The two most common things I'm likely to say are "get a good pitch to hit" and "see it out of his hand".
coach2709coach270910,000+ posts
I'll be honest and tell you I'm a talker but that's my personality. By the end of the game the first or third baseman will be my best friend depending on which coaches box I'm in because I like to talk. But I rarely instruct during a game / at bat. By that point it's too late to make a fix usually. I think there are some cues you can say that will help them but if you have to constantly say them then you need to examine what you're doing in practice cause it's not working.

I have no doubt my players have learned to ignore me on the vast majority of stuff I say and that's great. I want them to focus on the task at hand instead of trying to figure out what I'm trying to say / teach seconds before they hit.

Teach / fix in practice and cheerlead during games if that's who you are. If you're a quiet guy then don't say much.
F freddy775,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by mcmmccm:
I have always loved the third base coach yelling, "It's gotta be right here", while drawing the imaginary micro strike zone with his index fingers.


I'm grateful when the opposing 3B coach gives his batter the "it's gotta be right here" instruction on a 3-1 count.

It puts some doubt in his batter's mind-- takes the edge off his swing.

Thank you.
Last edited by freddy77
F freddy775,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by junior5:
as much as I HATE coaches being talkers while a player is up to hit, it is something you are going to have to deal with as you go on in the game of baseball.


I agree. I've always instructed my sons to tune out motor-mouth 3B coaches, whose anxiety disorders have always been part of the game and always will be.

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