Intentional Walk

From a parent's perspective, it's a weak move. LL is supposed to teach the game while having fun. Sounds like there are some overzealous coaches out there.

From an umpires perspective, perfectly legit.

It is chicken,(expletive) baseball imo.


We had it happen in 8 year old pitching machine ball at a tourney once,imo,that is just wrong.It should never be allowed to walk off a machine and no coach worth a darn would EVER walk an EIGHT YEAR OLD to win a game.

These kids want to hit,let them.



It isn't even allowed in our league up to 10 years old.

These are kids,not paid players and the coaches aren't even paid so the players should be allowed to PLAY.

That doesn't mean you don't have your pitcher try to hit corners,or just off and keep the ball away from the hitter to try to get them to chase while not giving them meat.

Just another thoughtless coach/father making the game about himself and not the kids.

I bet that guy felt very proud going to work the next day knowing he outsmarted the other coach. I bet it never crossed his little mind that he took away an opportunity for a kid to have a special moment.

Had a kid who got intentionally walked 3x at Cooperstown 12 U tournament our only game on "The Green Monster" kid wanted a t-shirt--but took it well--it was a tournament, but wish they would have at least made it look like they were pitching to him ,

Not only does it take the bat out of the kid's hands and may rob him of his moment, it also takes away the challenge from the pitcher to strike out this feared hitter and rob him of his moment too.

In Little League, let them hit. As much as IBB's are part of the game, you want to teach these kids to hit, be aggressive and attack the ball. Little leaguers are just learning that. In Cooperstown, having been there with my son who played in it, and seeing some of these teams that compete, it's no surprise you'll see IBBs. Some of these teams cough up a lot of loot to play in this tournament and some teams fly in pitchers just for the playoff rounds. For some of those organizations, winning the CDP tournament is life and death.

I disagree with the above posts. Look in the rules, section one. Words to the effect that the objective of the game is to win.

It seems that the PC group wants everyone to get a feel good and that is just not possible.

The duty of the manager is to help his team win within the rules of the game. The intentional walk is a part of the game. This coach fulfilled his duty and did just that by inentionally walking a player who was a demonstrated threat. Of course he runs the risk of the next batter getting a hit as well.

At what age are children allowed to deal with reality? The kid being walked should take it as a compliment. I would bet that most kids realized what the strategy was and accepted it better than the parents. Then again, who cares about what the spectators think.

Daque I can't argue with that.
Jalisco a great artisan state in Mexico.

Daque-- I agree--But at the time it kind of stunk for the kid. But the objective is to win with-in the rules so Oh well

Yes and it is about the team and not the individual. Like having a slugger bunt to push the winning run over the plate. They have to learn early.

Agreed, it is in rules.

I think I would use a little more discretion and reserve this move for a playoff or tournament game that has more meaning.

My son was very disappointed that he did not get to bat, and the pitcher was was visibly upset that he wasn't allowed to pitch. (They both play on the same travel team.)

BB is a game of streaks. You always play to win. Every game is important.

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I disagree with the above posts. Look in the rules, section one. Words to the effect that the objective of the game is to win.

I totally agree. It's part of the game.

However, if I'm coaching a bunch of 9-10 yr olds in a rec league just kinda getting their feet wet, I'd rather play it straight up and put the game in the kid's hands and let them challenge each other.. Ther'll be plenty of time and opportunities to go IBB for strategic purposes down the road.

I hate the IBB in LL. It is one of my pet peeves. As long as they have rules stating that everybody plays and no lead offs, they should get rid of the IBB. I know it is part of the rules. But I still hate it. They should add 8 pitches to the pitch count so the defensive manager really has to make a decision if he wants to IBB the kid. I also know that it will never happen. But at least they have to throw the IBB and 4 pitches get counted now. I really hate it in a rec league.

All stars is OK to IBB in my book. All the kids on the team should be able to do some damage. But not during the season.

I tend to agree with rec BB not allowing it. Rec ball is where everyone gets to play. The batter players will eventually want to play at a higher level.

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My son was very disappointed that he did not get to bat, and the pitcher was was visibly upset that he wasn't allowed to pitch.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your perspective, team sports are about success of the team and not the individual. Individual sports such as golf and tennis are about the success of the individual.

I had a selfish kid once. I called for the bunt and he elected to swing away. Unfortunately, he got a single. As we talked about it afterwards he responded to the why question by saying he wanted to hit the ball. I benched him and the parents agreed with that decision. Since they agreed with me, I asked them to explain it to him.

Sounds like these two boys are pouting about, "I" and do not see the bigger picture of, we." Maybe this mindset comes from a sense of importance garnered from travel mentality. Or perhaps they have been around weak coaches. Whatever the reason, they both have both missed out on a valuable lesson which is now revealed in their identical reactions. Sad.

Daque,
I read it a little different from you. One kid wanted to get the kid out and one wanted to get a hit to help the team. I want kids that want the ball or want to be up in a tight situation. The fact that they did what the coach told them to do despite the fact that they obviously wanted to compete with each other says they are good team players.

I would take those two kids anyday of the week.

Because something is OK within the rules does not always make it the right thing to do. There are times, like 8 yo baseball, when the rules and winning are much less important than letting kids play a game.

Maybe that kid that let the MS kid score from third should thrown him out. The textbook says go home in that situation. Something are much more important than the rule book and winning a meaningless baseball game.

And why is everything painted with the PC brush. Is it PC to show some guts and let your kid pitch to a good hitter.

To me it's nonsense to walk a 8-10 yo kid.

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and one wanted to get a hit to help the team.

To help the team or to prove a point to the pitcher on the other team?

The issue was about them, not about the team. Their personal duel and bragging rights were at stake, nothing more. Who could best who? These hot shot travel ballers ready to put on a show for the crowd.

They both had too much energy in it except for personal ego. Go out and win one for the gipper? Hardly!

As to a following comment of, "...show some guts and let your kid pitch to a good hitter." Once again it is the mindset of individual glory over what is best for the team.

Bottom line the coach who walked the kid did his duty to help the team win. Let the travel ballers get their egos stroked at the travel level.

Back in LL, one of my eleven year olds was one of the better players in the league. The coaches joked before his twelve year old season he wasn't going to see strikes. He didn't see many. He averaged walking twice a game. None were intentional, but it was obvious there was no intention to pitch to him. So I led him off to provide the best contribution to the team. The kid didn't feel cheated. He score a lot of runs. He also learned patience.

Daque,
You still don't get it. They want to compete against the best their league had to offer. That is a very good thing. They put their egos aside and did what the coach wanted them to do. Good team players. They did the right thing. Good players have egos. They want to get the best kid on the other team out. They want to bat against the best pitcher and drive it out.

Two excellent qualities in a ball player.

I don't have a problem with IBB's when the situation calls for an IBB. For example, we were one run up with a runner on first and their best hitter at the plate. On the first pitch the runner steals 2nd so we then call for the IBB. The opposing coach goes ballistic that we were 'taking the bat out of the kid's hands'...He did that himself when they stole second. It was correct strategy at that point to give the kid an IBB.

However, in another game, we had a kid that was IBB'd every AB, regardless of the situation. The opposing coach told us that he wasn't going to let him 'beat us again'. That's not right.

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Once again it is the mindset of individual glory over what is best for the team.

I disagree. Baseball is a whole series of individual matchups within the team game. I have no problem with two players wanting to face each other. I want players who look forward to competing against the other team's best. I don't think it takes away from the team concept at all.

We will just have to agree to disagree on this one. The idea that sometimes it is acceptable to walk a player while other times it is not boggles my mind. If you believe that those two kids wanted what was best for the team as determined by the coach over what they wanted for themselves then we disagree. So be it.

I agree with Joe Morgan on this issue even in the majors.This is the one major flaw with mlb,because you can take the "superstar" out of the game.


IMO,it shouldn't even be allowed untill the big field and even then,used ONLY when the situation dictates.


It isn't like you can't pitch around a hitter without the intentional walk.


In no way should it EVER be allowed in pitching machine ball.This is where the kids are there to hit and learn how to hit.

I just watched my son's team lose a game 6-5. Last at bat 1 out and tying run on 3rd. Our best slugger at bat swinging away. I don't have to tell you we lost.
IBB and bunting are part of the strategy. That is what makes ball exciting. We were leading in the last inning and the other team tied it and went ahead by 1 run. We had to tie the game to stay alive. You get that run in no matter who has to sacrifice.

This example goes back to when I was in LL---our number 4 hitter had been out a number of games with a broken finger---the game he returned I , he hit in the 4 slot and I in the 3 slot, they walked me all 4 at bats to get to Mike---he went 4 for 4--- so much for that line of reasoning.

BTW we won the game


I have no problem with an intentional walk in the right situation but just to do it for doing it is out of line

IBB - uncalled for in LL.

JMO

Different team was about to intentionally walk him again this evening. 5-3 in the third inning we are up, man on first and third with no outs. I Hear the coaches talking about putting him on but they dont know if they need to throw the four pitches or can just tell the ump they want to walk him. As they are calling time the pitcher pitches the ball and son hits line drive to fence.

I new once one team did it , it was going to open it up to everyone. The fact of the matter is that our team is not one of the stronger teams. We have a lot of young kids on our team (10's) and 3 mandatory 12 year old picks that don't have a hit yet this year. Any and every team could Intentionally walk my son in almost any situation to get to these other kids.

I always try and ask myself, why are we here?

If we're playing for the World Arizona Championship of Gilbert or whatever you're big deal of the year is, you play to win.

If you're in a regular tournament or league and you're trying to figure out what you have, who can handle the pressure, who do you want to have the ball when you get to the WACofG, pitch to everyone.

In LL, I wouldn't be pulling that until the playoffs or the game that I have to win to make the playoffs (if there even is such a thing anymore).

Just me.

I think in a rec league, this is a poor move but I have seen it happen. From a player development point of view, I would prefer my player face their best and go after him than avoid him altogether.

We were in a travel ball tournament last year and intentionally walked a guy. It was the last inning and they had the tying run on third and the go ahead run on second with 2 outs. We intentionally walked a kid to put a force at every base. The play worked out as the next batter grounded out to one of the force bases that we may not have been able to get the guy at first. That move was more strategic than trying to avoid a certain player.

OH so thats why they do that !

In the thousands of games I have watched I can't remember seeing a guy IBB more than once in a game.

BHD,
I his last two games my son has been IBB 4 times. Twice in each game against the same team.

LL juniors. My son gets about 1-2 IBB a game. Always if someone is on base. He also gets walked another 1-2 times. Coach just moved him to leadoff. So far so good. No IBB to start the last game. I am curious to see if it will happen in the first inning the last 10 games.

Did I mention I hate IBB in rec ball? Can't say it enough.

I watch enough high level ball to know how few times a batter gets walked intentionally.
I am talking power hitters leading their conference in college etc. # 4 batters tend to walk a lot but only because they are being pitched carefully.
What kid wants to play mickey mouse ball when you are at a high level. To routinely walk a good hitter is dumb BB.
My son has never intentionally walked a batter and he just graduated from college. If he had been asked to he would have done what he had to.