Maybe - as a player - you just keep playing your *** off - until someone decides the game is over or the 9th inning rolls around.
If some clown coach - or his players - want to run up the score - so be it.
They just need to remember that some players have long memories - and can be very competitive and aggressive in the future LOL.
Grateful,
If you read the entire thread on the other subect, what i was advocating there was the use of tennis balls initially and then after a while throwing inside to make sure the players learn the skill appropriately.
That particular thread was initiated by the post of an article where a coach setup a pitching machine to throw balls at the kids as a start for learning the skill.
I disagreed with that approach, but did indeed state that one would at a point need to throw balls inside to make sure the players had gained a good grasp on the skill. Many players will be necessarily take the drill seriously if they know it will only be done with a ball that would not inflict pain.
I also stated in that discussion that the approach is not different than one would take as you teach a young player to field ground balls in the infield. You start slow (even using a tee ball if the player is having a serious issue with it) and build up to hitting balls at them that would be the equilavent of what they would see in a game.
That is a far cry from having a pitcher intentionally throw at batters to inflict pain to make a point to another coach.
If you want to believe im here only to argue, that is your choice. If I beleive someone has stated something foolish or absurd I say so. I thought the whole idea here was an open forum. This turned "personal" persay at the point you advocated purposely throwing at another teams players because you didnt approve of the other coaches handling of an out of control game.
I am truely sorry if you fail to see the impact of your statement. Obviously there were others here who share my feelings on this subject.
It is also clear that I will not be altering your thoughts on this matter, so I will close on a positive note between us.
I agree with your plast ost wholeheartedly. Never ever give up when down in a game. Continue to put forth hard effort until the game ends and its time to shake hands.
Good Luck To the Maine Black Bears in the NCAAs!!
If you read the entire thread on the other subect, what i was advocating there was the use of tennis balls initially and then after a while throwing inside to make sure the players learn the skill appropriately.
That particular thread was initiated by the post of an article where a coach setup a pitching machine to throw balls at the kids as a start for learning the skill.
I disagreed with that approach, but did indeed state that one would at a point need to throw balls inside to make sure the players had gained a good grasp on the skill. Many players will be necessarily take the drill seriously if they know it will only be done with a ball that would not inflict pain.
I also stated in that discussion that the approach is not different than one would take as you teach a young player to field ground balls in the infield. You start slow (even using a tee ball if the player is having a serious issue with it) and build up to hitting balls at them that would be the equilavent of what they would see in a game.
That is a far cry from having a pitcher intentionally throw at batters to inflict pain to make a point to another coach.
If you want to believe im here only to argue, that is your choice. If I beleive someone has stated something foolish or absurd I say so. I thought the whole idea here was an open forum. This turned "personal" persay at the point you advocated purposely throwing at another teams players because you didnt approve of the other coaches handling of an out of control game.
I am truely sorry if you fail to see the impact of your statement. Obviously there were others here who share my feelings on this subject.
It is also clear that I will not be altering your thoughts on this matter, so I will close on a positive note between us.
I agree with your plast ost wholeheartedly. Never ever give up when down in a game. Continue to put forth hard effort until the game ends and its time to shake hands.
Good Luck To the Maine Black Bears in the NCAAs!!
So we all pretty much agree that (1) just because you are up big, players should NEVER be told to not play hard, (2) that if you are up really big, there is nothing wrong with putting in some back-up players to get them some time.
I would like to add that I don't have a problem with an opposing team who is up on me by 9 runs in the 5th, trying to scrape across another run by bunting, stealing etc. to try to get his 10th run....again, because saving 2 innnings of pitching can be a huge thing if you have a lot of games.
I'll fall in the minority here I assume, but I tend to agree with Grateful on the other thing. I haven't done it in a long, long time, but I don't have a problem with letting an 18 year old kid feel a little pain in rump, especially if it sends a messag up to his brain that he is acting in an improper way. I don't mean hitting a kid who's gone 4-5 with a couple of home runs, I'm talking about a player purposely embarrassing or trying to hurt an opposing player.
We had a kid leaning in at First base and trying to steal signs. We called several pickoffs over to first and our 1b knew to put several FIRM tags on him....then mentioned that he should reconsider trying to steal signs. Some will have a problem with that, some won't.
I would like to add that I don't have a problem with an opposing team who is up on me by 9 runs in the 5th, trying to scrape across another run by bunting, stealing etc. to try to get his 10th run....again, because saving 2 innnings of pitching can be a huge thing if you have a lot of games.
I'll fall in the minority here I assume, but I tend to agree with Grateful on the other thing. I haven't done it in a long, long time, but I don't have a problem with letting an 18 year old kid feel a little pain in rump, especially if it sends a messag up to his brain that he is acting in an improper way. I don't mean hitting a kid who's gone 4-5 with a couple of home runs, I'm talking about a player purposely embarrassing or trying to hurt an opposing player.
We had a kid leaning in at First base and trying to steal signs. We called several pickoffs over to first and our 1b knew to put several FIRM tags on him....then mentioned that he should reconsider trying to steal signs. Some will have a problem with that, some won't.
CoachMay/Ric - this is the type of answer I was looking for when I started this post. Never stop 'playing', using some of your bench guys [situation dictates to what extent], but there is a limit to what you do.
Thanks!
Thanks!
And, since we are discussing high school (or at least the original question was), one of the nice things about high school is the ability to re-enter your starters after taking them out. To me, the ability to re-enter mandates putting other players in when the score gets lopsided. Besides, why wouldn't you give these other guys some playing time? All you're doing is improving your program.
On the other side, I have heard Gordon Gillespie state in no uncertain terms that he is offended if the other team backs off no matter how badly his (Gillespie's) team is losing. I understand this but I am not personally comfortable with it when I am coaching the winning team. First I put in subs. Then, if the score continues lobsided, I will stop all stealing (but will advance on passed balls although not to home) and bunting. I use the situation as a chance for my subs to swing away and enjoy (hopefully) getting some hits. When a player does get a hit, I have any baserunners advance the same as the hit: one base for a single and so forth. Kind of like 'ghost runners' we used when we were kids.
Coaching this way is what I am comfortable with. I don't take offense when others do differently.
On the other side, I have heard Gordon Gillespie state in no uncertain terms that he is offended if the other team backs off no matter how badly his (Gillespie's) team is losing. I understand this but I am not personally comfortable with it when I am coaching the winning team. First I put in subs. Then, if the score continues lobsided, I will stop all stealing (but will advance on passed balls although not to home) and bunting. I use the situation as a chance for my subs to swing away and enjoy (hopefully) getting some hits. When a player does get a hit, I have any baserunners advance the same as the hit: one base for a single and so forth. Kind of like 'ghost runners' we used when we were kids.
Coaching this way is what I am comfortable with. I don't take offense when others do differently.
I am not a proponent of running the score up. I agree with Coach May that substituting when you obviously are dominating the game and there is no chance of a comeback, is the smart thing to do. This is when guys on the bench have a chance to play, who might not otherwise get a chance. However Bobby Bowden once said when he was accused of running the score up, and why didn't he substitute his bench players, "when it gets to that point, if you take your starters out of the game, I will take mine out". Something to be said for that. In the majors, if you steal, hit and run, r bunt when the game is in hand, you are libel to get your next hitter thrown at. Kind of an unwritten rule. No one likes to be embarrassed, so back off, and enjoy your victory, let your subs play!