The Game

Great post with excellent points that everyone should heed.

As some have mentioned, if a player allows yapping to interfere with his focus, he probably should look for something to do other than sports...

HOWEVER...

I have grown sick and tired of the constant taunting and verbal cheap shots, whether it is players at each other, students in the stands or whatever. I realize emotions can run high during games, and I can understand a helmet/bat throwing after a strike out more than I can the premeditated BS heard between players. To me, the loudest talkers are usually the weakest players and this is their moment in the sun.

I realize that there is good-natured ribbing between players. My son knows several players on teams his school has played this year (such as summer team teammates) and I have seen him banter back and forth with them. There is a HUGE difference between that and what we are discussing.

In a recent district game, our opponent's JV team stayed and watched the game as most do. They started taunting right from the start, calling out players numbers and criticizing their performance.

I have learned to live with it because most of time you just look at it as kids will be kids. But, as the beautiful collikar pointed out, where is the line crossed? One of our players was hit by a pitch in the helmet. He was OK, but right after the pitch hit him, several of these players in the stands were yelling, "Take that #6" Have we crossed the line yet? Only a little over a year since Chris Gavora was killed by a baseball to the head and we are ready to resume taunting players that are hit?

As our opponent's lead got larger, the taunting never stopped, in fact it was worse, as if they smelled blood. I realize that being on the losing end of the game made it worse to the parents in the stands, but it sure didn't help watch the team lose any better. I knew some parents on the other team and they seemed ashamed of the behavior, but it appeared that they were in the minority.

I suppose some may see it as home field advantage but I see it as a group of undisciplined wanna-bees.

you are so right tychco

I think this is a big part of home field advantage. Not heckling the kid that gets hit or gets hurt in some way, but being loud is what makes it tough to play some places. I am talking about fans (usually students) in the stands or down the lines, not players on the field.

When i was in high school, Poteet was in our district and what made it so tough to play there (IMO) were their fans down the left field line. One time a single student took it too far, but other than that it was all fine and it made it an incredibly tough place to play.

I know it felt good to have fans in the stands at our field. Thats part of any sport especially baseball.

TTU,

Can your fans not be loud and support without taunting opposing players?

If that is a requirement to be a good fan, I would prefer to be a bad fan.

Besides, I bet the quality of the Poteet players is what made it a tough place to play.

Our fans were loud and didnt say or do anything out of line, but they werent angels and they did make comments. They were great fans.

The poteet players were really good. Their fans were even better. Both years we split with them and we each won at home every time, the same players played at both locations. Probably had nothing to do with home feild advantage though.

I am glad you guys were able to heckle high school baseball players without the situation escalating...you should be proud of the maturity that prevailed there. From what I have read, Poteet has been a good model for good behavior and sportsmanship.

It has been my experience that heckling typically causes the fans from both sides to get involved and it rarely ends very well.

I wont take credit, i was on the field.

Yes, Poteet fans were good at what they did. Heckling. Now if we both agree they did a good job, then there's no argument that heckling is inappropriate.

TTU,

I seriously doubt we agree on much related to this thread.

There are 3 or 4 new threads on here addressing this problem and thats just on the Texas part of the website. What in the world is going on out there in HS baseball. IMO this all is on the back of the head coach. If it goes on then its a direct reflection on him. I will tell you an observation I had during fall baseball. A lot of times you will have a unofficial HS team playing a select team. Usually from what I saw you will hear trash talking coming out of the HS dugout and nothing being said in the select teams dugout. Is this something others have noticed?

tychco,

We agree to disagree. I wasn't trying to get on your bad side.

quote:

Originally posted by TTU:
tychco,

We agree to disagree. I wasn't trying to get on your bad side.

Nothing personal, TTU, besides, I am a Tech grad.

P1 tickethead - I think I have to agree with you.

" Usually from what I saw you will hear trash talking coming out of the HS dugout and nothing being said in the select teams dugout. Is this something others have noticed?"

my sons played a poteet several times over the years Poteet fans were worst i had ever heard.

I'm not disagreeing, but can we not believe that players smack talk sometimes quietly enough that a coach can't hear it? It may be a reflection of a kid's respect towards his coach, but I know of kids under good coaches that would never allow such things, smack talking.

KCR,
Thanks for your complimentary post about the Newman-Smith players. I think its safe to say that those young men have been taught to respect the game and other players by Coaches JT and Tommy Blair.

With all the smack talking going on you wonder why kids get one in the side from time to time. I agree with KCR its time to stop it and it starts with coaches and parents. Regarding his summer teams he does not allow it period, I know I been with him for 10 years.

KCR,

Thanks for the post. It needed to be said and it needs to continue to be said.

My son was fortunate to play for Cecil Espy for a few years.

Not only was Cecil a great coach, but he taught about "The Game", too.

Now fastforward about 8-9 years (I can't believe that) to just last week in Phoenix, AZ.

A phone call from my son indicated that he had been "bumped" to AAA (Milwaukee) today.

We got there a little before the team did.

As they arrived, the first thing I noticed was a seriousness to their demeanor. Hit the field, did their loosening up, and got ready to play.

And, I flashed back to seeing Cecil teaching the boys how to do just that when they got to the field.

Matt didn't stick out, because he fit right in.

He knew what to do.

But, they all knew it was his first game.

Encouragement, teamwork, businesslike.

I was thankful for my son getting the training that he did from Cecil.

I watched the young men, (they are not boys now) compete.

Respect, courtesy equally from each team and each player.

No mouthing, no taunting.

The next day, he played with the AA team.

Same things happened.

Friendly interactions amongst the team mates and opposing team mates. (San Franciso AA)

Except, the coach comes up to one of Matt's teammates who was on deck getting ready to hit.

And, I heard, the player kinda say out loud, "Noooo, coach I didn't do that", Nooooo, I didn't say that"

I watched the interaction with the umpires. Introducing themselves on a first name basis, talking baseball. Learning from each other.

Keep in mind, these young men are competing against each other for a spot on team...............

Was allowed more than one question after the games this special week.

What did the ump say on that (certain) pitch?

He said, "Matt sit in there a little longer next time and I'll get you that strike...."

What was the coach talking to the young man in the on deck circle about?

He made a slight comment about fouling a ball off and a slight subtle body gesture (not really offensive) that offended the pitcher and then K'd on the next pitch, and the pitcher returned the same jesture.

The player continued to try to reassure the coach that it hadn't been intentional. It actually might not have been intentional.

All I heard from the coach at the on deck circle was, "Don't ever do that again......"

So, for those of you that taunting is part of your game, I can tell you.

You are going to have some sore ears.

And, you won't be at AAA.

FormerObserver, how is younger catcher doing?

Very, very tired right now.........

2 1/2 days left of ST.

Waiting for the music to stop...........

We'll know where his chair is next Tuesday........

Was just fixin' to provide a subtle hint.

If you want to hear some smack talk, be at Flower Mound HS at 7pm against Coppell on Friday, 3/28. JM returns to FMHS in a Coppell uniform. It should be a fun night at the ballpark!

SWAC,

I didn't see the ER.

I sent you a PM on #2.

quote:

Originally posted by Shuttle:
If you want to hear some smack talk, be at Flower Mound HS at 7pm against Coppell on Friday, 3/28. JM returns to FMHS in a Coppell uniform. It should be a fun night at the ballpark!

It was in deed a fun night at the ball park, Jacob seemed to enjoy himself. The Flower Mound fans weren't too bad towards him and they didn't have a lot to cheer about either so all in all not too bad.

I couldn't hear any of the on the field chatter but there did seem to be to much jawing going on which is good for both teams.

quote:

Originally posted by ACowboyFan:

quote:

Originally posted by Shuttle:
If you want to hear some smack talk, be at Flower Mound HS at 7pm against Coppell on Friday, 3/28. JM returns to FMHS in a Coppell uniform. It should be a fun night at the ballpark!

It was in deed a fun night at the ball park, Jacob seemed to enjoy himself. The Flower Mound fans weren't too bad towards him and they didn't have a lot to cheer about either so all in all not too bad.

I couldn't here any of the on the field chatter but there did seem to be to much jawing going on which is good for both teams.

Meat,

I don't think this post belongs here. Respect KCR's thread...yes I know you are responding to Shuttle. JMHO

Kirk,

I don't know you and you don't know me. Maybe we will meet this spring or summer at DBAT or at a field.

I know you are suppose to be one of the good guys but your post directly back to me just isn't called for.

My post did belong on this thread because it fit and I respond to another member.

In fact my point was that the game was played on the field by the players, there wasn't any real noticable chatter....and it was a fun day at the ball park because of the play on the field.

I am sorry if I didn't articulate that well enough for you.

By the way, your response to me would be exactly the type of thing that disrespects Cade post.

Why so sensitive???

I simply said your post didn't belong on this thread...JMHO. What part of JMHO did you not understand, the J, the M, the H, the O?

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

No disrespect, but KCR do you not ever sit in your summer teams dugout?

The mouth of the south is in your dugout

Edited by moderator -- just for fun.

Redundancy will get you no where.

Agsnhere thats a novel way to say something. Say which DBAT Team it is. My team graduated in 07 and I know those kids never said a word other than let their records since they were 14 do their talking. Coach Dave Parker, Coach Whoa Dill and Coach Pat Leach did not allow the chatter. Cade chewed me out bad one game for simply disagreeing with a call at third base. I challenge you to identify the team as oppose to hiding behind your philosophy of the entire summer team program. And yes Cade does sit in the dugouts doing the summer when he attends our games and that is often. Apparently you are either a parent or players of an opposing team we have played? I don't think you attend summer games on days when its in the 90s for the love of the game.

Ags,

There is always going to be a certain degree of mouthing in summer baseball due to the competitive nature of the players. I would be interested to hear what DBAT team you are talking about? There are teams that have a reputation for being that way but I can assure you that the organization you called out as the "mouth of the south" is not one of them. And I guess the team you're involved with is not guilty of any mouthing!?

Team identification, just as I expected.

If I recall, Agsnhere was the one who proclaimed the Mustangs to be the best ever last year and no need to play, just show them as a team in Farmington.
If memory serves me right, DBAT defeated them and took their spot in Farmington.
He still must be fuming!