White Flag and College Scores

Because of the travel sometimes involved, I'd say let 'em play. When you see rosters of 30-plus (even if there is a rule on the number you can dress), it seems those should be the times when you get some people some playing time.

I don't think I've known very many coaches [or players for that matter] who would "surrender" under any circumstances. I've always thought it worked best the other way around. If I am up on a team by an obviously insurmountable lead, it is up to me to take measures to limit the pain inflicted. Coaches would do well to remember that whatever is sewn is later reaped.

I think there are always lessons to be learned in this wonderful game of baseball -- even during a pounding. Sometimes utter disappointment can be a great motivation and I don't think we do college age men a favor by attempting to shield them from the harsh realities of life. If nothing else, it would motivate me as a player to make sure that as far as it was within my power, NEVER AGAIN would I want to be in that situation.

Furthermore, I agree that blowouts are a good opportunity to give guys (on both teams) who don't get much playing time a chance to play. Guys who play at the same level of intensity regardless of the score have always impressed me and they just might impress their coach during one of these games.

Tough call--not sure which side to come down on. I don't like the idea
of ever giving up and saying "Uncle", but on the other side of the coin when it's obvious a team is overmatched what good does it do when
a coach brings in position players to throw "batting practice" because
he is out of pitchers? What does it say about the hits garnered against a 70mph "fastball". Stats become inflated both individually
and teamwise. Don't know what the answer is, but I do agree that a score of 31-3, or 38-0 is way out of line.

College baseball is no place for slaughter rules. You play and you deal with the results.

I don't know of a coach in the country who would "surrender".

I know that I cannot spell that word------------

and I do not think many other coaches can either

Baseball unlike other sports does not have a clock so the idea of always having your last bat is an integral part of the game. In high school there is the 10 run rule after so many innings. Is this good.Games are stopped if the margin is 10 after so many innings. What is the message there.

Sauceman...You would have gone nuts with the sign that one local protestor held at the Supreme Court during the arguments re "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.


..."God is Make Believe"

BeenthereIL,

No, actually I would feel sorry for them for "They know not what they do." It never ceases to amaze me that these people fight so hard against something they [supposedly] don't even believe exists. However, someday "...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess..."

Back to baseball: I should have added that I believe Mercy Rules have their place in high school and younger leagues. Just not college and beyond. It's good to hear other people's take on the issue though.

I am off to today's game! 70 degrees in East TN and I am breaking out the shorts. I hope my legs don't blind anybody

A couple of years ago my son was playing in a tournament and the game was getting out of hand. Between innings we asked the umpire about the run rule. After getting that info, he went on to say he recently had umpired a game where the run rule was 20 run lead after ANY 1/2 inning. That particular game he called during the top of the first with the score 20-0. When the "home" coach complained, he told him "when you put a player in to pitch and tell him he is going to have to take one for the team, make sure the team is prepared to take it".

In most cases, the fans of the teams that have been beaten so severly are more embarrased than the players.

IMO I wouldn't want a mercy-rule at the college level. They’re adults, life is not always fair nor is baseball. Need to learn to deal with it sometime. Keep the self-esteem cushions at the younger levels.

Sounds kind of harsh re-reading this, but when do parents stop expecting everything in life to be "fair"?

Well...I would like to see college teams go back to using the wooden bat. I know that may be a little off topic, but I truly believe the metal bats contribute to some of these big scores. Not to say that a team who can win a game 38-0 would lose with wood. They might win 19-0.

just my thoughts.

Two Seamer

You hit the nail right on the head. when I first started coaching in the early 70's we used wood. Then aluminum came in. It was originally a way to save money. A dozen bats would cost 70 some dollars 3 aluminum cost maybe 100. they did not break and you would buy 3 more the next year etc. Eventally you had every player using the aluminum. they were for the team. Eventually the technology improved the bats became more expensive so the players paid for the bats. Everybody used them. In high school aluminum is one thing but college kids are more physically developed. The results are the scores we read. when I coached high school with the wood if a team scored 9 or 10 it was a lot.

I don't think a "mercy" rule belongs in the college ranks and possibly not even in high school. Perhaps some more thought as to scheduling is in order though.

In this particular case, Cornell is in the process of playing seven straight days. That's alot of drain on a college pitching staff. Obviously, though, Cornell wanted a little spring tour of california.

Also, some of these one sided games are just one time aberrations. While Cornell did get blasted 31-3 by UCSB, they played each other last weekend and UCSB won 12-1 and 12-6, not all so horrible and the two teams play again today and tomorrow. During the week Cornell also played Cal Poly SLO, losing 8-1 and 4-1.

Also, as many above have said, I don't know a worthwhile coach or player that wants to ever say "uncle".