Playoff "Options" ie (Site / 3 Game)

If they can't agree on something.........

I have a worksheet that I use when I'm meeting with another coach to set up a series. Here is what is on it...

Type of Series...one game...series
Dates
Times
Sites...Home/home...neutral...home/home/neutral
Home/Visitors
Umpires...how many...which chapter (if you can't agree on umpires then you go UIL...which means that the UIL will assign the crew from goodness knows what chapter in the state)
Game balls
Uniforms
Dugouts
In and out times
BP times
Who makes the programs
Ticket prices

Everything is "negotiated...bargained...or agreed upon." If it is not, then its decided by a coin flip. The order things are done can be in any order. That all depends with who I'm dealing with. Most coaches, things are smooth and agreeable. Some coaches, go absolutely crazy if you tell them you want a one game series. Sorry...I'm going to do what is best for MY team. I would expect nothing less from the other guy and I don't begrudge that. In fact, I have more respect for them as a coach.

Now the flip...this part is fun. If you are coaching in the metroplex, you can meet with the other coach and flip a coin face to face. Or you can meet at an undisclosed location like they do in the movies. Ahhh...but when your first round is a school that is 150 miles away (like mine is this year)...or you are in the regional finals back in 2009 vs. El Paso Socorro...I'm not wasting my Sunday afternoon driving.

So for us lucky guys that have to flip with people that are far away this is how we do it. Both coaches are on the phone...both coaches have their coaches directory out. Coach A gives Coach B a name of a school...Coach B must give an immediate response of odd or even. Then both coaches look up the school and check to see if that school's zip code is odd or even. If Coach B guessed right, he wins the flip...if he's wrong he loses the flip.

Oh, I know what you're thinking...just quickly flip (no pun intended) through your directory and find the school. Wrong! If you don't give an IMMEDIATE response then Coach A can give you another school.

I know...this is ridiculous. That's what I thought too the first time I heard of this about 5 years ago. But after memorizing the zip code of every school in the state...I'm undefeated in flips!!! Just kidding, I haven't done that...but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I tried to!

Funneldrill,

Thanks for the info, provides some insite into the process.

I'd like to pick some of the coaches brains.

Questions:

1 - If you have a good pitching rotation, but the other team has an ace (better than your #1), do you pitch your #3 in the first game, or do you go ace against ace?

2 - Would you rather have the opening game at home followed by 2 away, or open on the road, followed by 2 at home? I'd think that if I've got a true ace, site shouldn't matter, so let's play at your house and then I'll have the home field advantage.

3 - Assume that if you have a shorter rotation, you would want a Thur-Sat series?

4 - Which dugout do you prefer? I'm guessing in Texas, the one that provides the most shade?

5 - Is it true you always want to be home? Thoughts.

6 - When finding a neutral site, I'm assuming that field dimensions are thought about............ie a good pitching team doesn't want to play in a band box.

7 - Could you desire a one game series one week, and then want a three game series the next.......depending on the strength of the opponents pitching?

8 - Game balls because of the seams correct? Also, different pitchers like differnt balls, so do you have different game balls for different pitchers? (I know that you can't change during a game, but would you start with different balls?)

9 - Uniforms - During day games, want to wear white (or light colors) correct, especially towards the end of May, or do you go on superstition?

10 - Can you say "no" to a specific umpire crew?

Many more, but to me this is a very interesting process that has an effect on the game.

1 - If you have a good pitching rotation, but the other team has an ace (better than your #1), do you pitch your #3 in the first game, or do you go ace against ace?
That is definitely an option. I've had a coach in the past not exchange line ups with me when I brought mine over. He went back to his dugout to get his...I suspected he had written out 2 line ups based on who I was throwing

2 - Would you rather have the opening game at home followed by 2 away, or open on the road, followed by 2 at home? I'd think that if I've got a true ace, site shouldn't matter, so let's play at your house and then I'll have the home field advantage.
I agree 100%

3 - Assume that if you have a shorter rotation, you would want a Thur-Sat series?
Lots of reasons for this. If I'm local, then yes, I want Th-Sa. This weekend I'm playing a school from Longview so we are playing game 1 on Thursday, and games 2 and 3 on Saturday.

4 - Which dugout do you prefer? I'm guessing in Texas, the one that provides the most shade?
We decided on dugouts this weekend based on what we use during the season. However...when I played in West Texas in mid to late May, I would alternate dugouts for the shade!

5 - Is it true you always want to be home? Thoughts.
Sure...you get to bat last. Plus those last 3 outs are the absolute hardest to get!

6 - When finding a neutral site, I'm assuming that field dimensions are thought about............ie a good pitching team doesn't want to play in a band box.
I prefer a larger park, but more importantly, I want a field in which the prevailing south wind will blow in. That's what I have this weekend and that is what I usually try to get. Playing surface is important...particularly the mound. I've driven around East Texas the last couple of years looking at mounds.

7 - Could you desire a one game series one week, and then want a three game series the next.......depending on the strength of the opponents pitching?
Absolutely!!! If I could have won that flip in 2010 against Monterey, I believe we would have played Plano West in the regional finals that year.

8 - Game balls because of the seams correct? Also, different pitchers like differnt balls, so do you have different game balls for different pitchers? (I know that you can't change during a game, but would you start with different balls?)
We use Diamond, my opponent this weekend uses Pro Nine. When we are home we will use Diamonds, when they are home we will use Pro Nine. All HS balls have seams. The only difference would be if we used a ball from a professional league. Those seams are flat and would make a huge difference. All approved HS balls have to have the NFHS seal on it.

9 - Uniforms - During day games, want to wear white (or light colors) correct, especially towards the end of May, or do you go on superstition?
Unfortunately...we are wearing Maroon because they make us more powerful and we throw more strikes than if we wear White jerseys. So I purchased dri-fit t-shirts that are replicas of our maroon jersey's with name and number on the back.

10 - Can you say "no" to a specific umpire crew?
Absolutely!!! This weekend I'm "going UIL." I've scratched all the chapters they have used, they have scratched all the chapters we have used. Now, if my opponent and I use the same chapter during the season...each coach submits a list of preferred umpires. The opposing coach may scratch any umpire on the other coaches list. The chapter then assigns the highest rated available umpires on those coaches list.

RUSS,

Who does Crowley play in the first round and where
are they playing?

Intersting stuff.......thanks for the info funnel.

SMO -

Waco University - Thursday @ Crowley, Saturday in Waco

10 - Can you say "no" to a specific umpire crew?
Absolutely!!! This weekend I'm "going UIL." I've scratched all the chapters they have used, they have scratched all the chapters we have used. Now, if my opponent and I use the same chapter during the season...each coach submits a list of preferred umpires. The opposing coach may scratch any umpire on the other coaches list. The chapter then assigns the highest rated available umpires on those coaches list.

Since coming to TX... I always thought this was funny that coaches can't agree on the local chapter umpires... or even just outside the local chapter. At least you know what you are getting vs pot luck... But I like to travel it's actually a lot of fun for the crew...

Well, unfortunately, some chapters are just bad. And some have a reputation as being homers. Not that I believe that, but I've had coaches not want to use our chapter and that was the reason given.

Pot luck is better than homers in my opinion.