Tangent: What do infielders say to baserunners and vice versa?

Smoke - So, I'll take this tangent on another tangent.    What if a pitcher and first baseman were really good teammates & friends and devised potential conversations in advance (through social media and other means) as a way to distract runners and eventually pick them off?  It just takes a little homework but I've seen it work many, many times. 

My favorite victim was a drafted SS (first team all conference) out of prominent NYC University  school who just couldn't stop talking about himself, the draft, etc, etc.....   The first baseman had him so engaged in conversation he made no attempt to go back to first base when my son threw over.  Son had a pretty good pick move to first.   After the game, I asked my son what that was all about, because from a fans perspective it looked really odd when he didn't even make an attempt to retreat to the bag.   My son came clean.   I saw this happen quite a few times.

So, for you aspiring first baseman out there learn the gift of gab, do some social media homework, and make some good friends with your pitching staff.   They will appreciate it, and you'll both look great in the eyes of the coaching staff.  Pitchers, make your first baseman your newest best buddy.

My son played SS on his HS travel  team.  He was/is a gabber and will talk to anyone on base as well as the umpires.

Son was chatting with a player at 2B and he always asked if they were committed anywhere.  Player was was from California and says "yeah, I'm committed to Virginia Tech.  Do you know where that is?"  My Virginia boy, whose dad and brother went to VT says "oh yes I know VT well, I'm committed to William and Mary, do you know where that is?"  Nope, he didn't.  But 1-4 years that player found out about W&M lol.

Son was playing an out of state college one weekend for a showcase and he started chatting with the other team's short stop.  The other player says that the coach from W&M is looking at him.  My son says, that same coach is looking at him as well.   Coach offered them both after that weekend.  At least they were different grad years.  But it was awkward during the game and my son knew in advance who he needed to outplay in college (son was moved to 2B so they wound up playing together many games).

His junior year in college his team opens at Florida.  Scouts are everywhere.   It is a big deal for son's mid-major, and they are playing head-to-head during one game.  Son is chatting with everyone that stops by 2B.  Florida's coach is agitated.  Finally the coach comes stomping out of the dugout and yells...."stop talking to that guy!!!".   We all started laughing, but that poor player.....

Many years ago, in the College Summer League, I am playing 1B and I ask the runner "Please can you step off the bag while I clean the top"

Of course, I had the game ball in my mitt.

Umpire said "your out"!

Bob

My son has the gift of gab and loves to use it as often as possible.  He plays OF, so it's a wasted skill.....but he loves to chat up the home plate ump and the catcher! He will look up the catcher on social media and if he has a GF, he will ask him how she is.  it can be really fun!! The team will often look up all opposing players and yell out their GFs names when they are at bat or pitching.  Within reason though, not chirpy like softball

I have noticed that sisters and girl friends are fair game these days...not sure that is a good thing but whatever. 

While my son was playing SS, he was always talking to the runner on 2B.  That was during HS, and by his senior year he knew a lot of the kids so I guess that was probably part of it.  Last year in college (senior year) he was DHing and playing 1B after having been a PO for the first 3 years.   HIs talkativeness was back.  He was constatantly talking tot he runners on 1B.  I never asked him what he was always talking about....I'll have to bring it up

Played  a little second in the old days.  Most of my chatter was about take out slides that went some thing like this...."missed again motherfu$$%er" which usually got something back like "only a matter of time sh##head".

It usually went downhill from there talking about heritage/religion (Catholic School).  Race and sexual orientation and various deviancies of the opposition were always good topics. When we'd worked through that stuff we started on mothers and their proclivities. 

You knew it was a good line when the old Marine WWII umpire laughed.  BTW no one had anything to say to the guys with the USMC/Semper Fi  tats in those days.  Those dudes were scary.

Generally it was boys will be boys having good clean fun.  

luv baseball posted:

Played  a little second in the old days.  Most of my chatter was about take out slides that went some thing like this...."missed again motherfu$$%er" which usually got something back like "only a matter of time sh##head".

It usually went downhill from there talking about heritage/religion (Catholic School).  Race and sexual orientation and various deviancies of the opposition were always good topics. When we'd worked through that stuff we started on mothers and their proclivities. 

You knew it was a good line when the old Marine WWII umpire laughed.  BTW no one had anything to say to the guys with the USMC/Semper Fi  tats in those days.  Those dudes were scary.

Generally it was boys will be boys having good clean fun.  

nothing to add just worth a repost 

My 1B son likes to say " Welcome to the Casa...." or
"Be polite and let me know before you leave, I like long goodbyes! "