| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| baseballcrazymom |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 15:39:08
Looking forward to advice and opinions on this:
If a kid is placed in a perpetual state of "tryout" within a program with multiple teams in order to "earn" a spot by "performance", how is this kid supposed to treat the hit and run sign?
Should the kid put the ball in play which possibly sacrifices himself and also possibly ends in a double play if the runner missed the sign or intentionally swing and miss and then pound the next pitch or what?
Ripping the ball and possibly doubling off the runner is a no no.
Bear in mind the limited action each player gets due to high roster numbers so you get very few chances.
The same holds true for a bunt sign I suppose but a bunt is obvious whereas to the untrained eye, a hit and run ground out just looks like a weakly hit ball.
What would you advise a player to do? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| AllStar |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 17:20:34
If I was the coach, I would note whether or not he was successful doing what he was asked to. If he hit a home run on the next pitch, great, but I would remember that he didn't execute. If he is "perpetually" trying out, not executing a hit-and-run or a bunt might be the thing that determines whether or not he makes the team.
I always advise my sons to do what the coaches ask. Not sure who would ever suggest that a kid who is "perpetually" trying out to intentionally swing and miss. What if he then unintentionally swings and misses or takes a called strike three? Then not only did he fail to do what the team asked him, he made an out.
Edit: Excoach's answer is WAYYYYY better than mine. |
| HITANDRUN |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 11:09:28
I think it depends on what type of hitter the player is what age
and the situation. If the guy is a power guy and big RBI guy and is using anything other than wood or BBCOR then hit the baseball as hard as you can. If he is a smaller type just hit the ball to the right side and get something done. If it's a wood bat or bbcor do the same thing. JMHO |
| excoach12 |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 21:49:34
Quit playing for an organization that would place a kid in a perpetual state of "tryout" within a program with multiple teams and instead take your kid to any of the other hundred programs with perfectly good coaches where your kid can play the game without worrying about this situation.
"Limited action due to high roster numbers" yet you stay there. You might want to consider a program that wants your son on the team and will let him play instead of a program that is keeping him hanging around in case someone "better" quits. |
| a1prog |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 19:39:02
if you execute what the coach tells ya then the coach should like that. If you execute what the coach tells ya and he doesnt like it- then he aint the right coach. |
| BREAMKING |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 17:36:57
I never looked at hit and run as a sac.
"a hit and run ground out just looks like a weakly hit ball."
If you hit the grounder in the right spot easy to get singles and than can lead to big innings. I always thought this was a way to pad the stats. I guess it is all how you look at it. I know some kids are just not willing to only take a single though. One thing for sure will make kids learn to go the other way and that can only help them in my opinion. I would do what the coach ask for sure.
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| bballman |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 16:13:24
The player should do whatever the coach tells him. If he ignores the coaches signs, that will, without doubt, be a boot right off the team if he's "trying out". There is nothing a coach hates more than someone who misses or especially ignores signs.
Baseball is a team sport that sometimes requires a player to "sacrifice" himself for the good of the team. So, coach calls hit & run, you better do everything you can to get a bat on the ball. He calls for a bunt, you better be bunting. To do otherwise would be suicide. The coach understands that these calls do not always work out, but to ignore them is WAY worse. |
| in_the_know |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 16:01:11
If you're the batter in a hit and run, you have the job of putting the ball in play, on the ground (to stay out of the DP) and typically through the vacated side.
I would advise the player to do what the COACH tells him. It's a team sport. If your kid shows that he has the talent to play at a team level and is unselfish and coachable, it will be recognized and he'll be rewarded accordingly. If he shows otherwise, he's not likely to earn a spot as he'll be labeled selfish and not willing to do what's asked.
If the coach isn't watching the game and only looking at box scores, you're correct, they look the same. If the coach is worth his salt, he knows that there are good hits, bad hits, good outs and bad outs. If the coach can't recognize the aforementioned, you don't want him coaching your son.
A hit and run ground out doesn't look like a weakly hit ball to a good coach. It looks like an unselfish player doing his job and moving the runner when the team needed it.
Most parents don't recognize the nuances of this and react accordingly. Don't become one of them. |
