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christheump
351 Posts |
 Posted - 03/02/2011 : 16:49:15
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| What are some of your most memorable bush league plays, tricks gimmicks, or otherwise that you all have seen? |
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stanlewis
545 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 19:55:56
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| We will try this. No hint of a team, coach, etc. |
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TLong
9 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 21:11:41
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Well my personal favorite in the "Let's see if we can outsmart a 9yr old" Category is.... The Hidden Ball Trick! (Especially when initiated by the coach during a visit to the mound in a tight game)... coach brings infield to mound, shuffles ball to third baseman during meeting, 9 yr old leads off from third... tag. Your out.
I guess a coach must do what they have to do give their team the best chance to win a game.
My second favorite is in the 8u category..... "Tie your shoe!" Most effective when the game is on the line with time running out in a bracket play game and the home team is up to bat and dad/coach yells it to his own son at the plate to avoid a third out and the start of a new inning. "Tie your shoooooooooooooe!" The worst part of that one is that the poor kid had to untie his shoe to tie his shoe at Pop's request. Kid ends up striking out. Karma...That is truly classless. |
Edited by - TLong on 03/02/2011 22:25:36 |
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touchemall
145 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 21:43:18
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| Runner at second. Pitcher comes set and pretends to throw towards second base. Both the second and SS dive like they have missed the ball and the outfielders go running like the ball is heading past them to the fence. After the second base runner gets up from diving back into the bag, he starts for third in all the commotion. The pitcher still has the ball and runs over and tags the runner. All the while the 3rd base coach is yelling for him to get back because he can see it developing but the poor runner reacts to all the bodies moving around. |
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coach0512
123 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 22:25:07
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| Runner on 3rd, less than 2 outs. Third strike called on batter, swinging or not, and the 1B coach yells at him to "get here, get here, get here" making it look like it's a dropped third strike in an attempt to get young (9U, 10U) catchers to throw to 1B for the put out and then the runner scores from 3B. |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 22:30:31
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First of all, ANY trick play is bush league and to teach it to your players and use it in a game is childish and says "we can't win unless we pull this stunt so all the hard work you kids have put in is for nothing because you're not good enough to win without me, the coach, showing everybody watching that I'm a clever fellow."
My favorite is the offensive team yelling instructions, such as which base to throw to, to the defense during a live ball to get them to throw to the wrong base. |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 22:38:44
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Touchemall, After re-reading MLB rules and USSSA rule 8.05.D I ran across the General Statement Concerning Balks- The purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. Your scenario should result in a balk.
Same thing for TLong. That exact play is the illustration for the balk rule. Straddling the pitching rubber without the ball is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled a balk.
I would argue it with the ump and protest that both should be a balk. Maybe the bush league tricks will stop and real ball will be played. |
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metsFan
63 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 23:00:21
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quote:
Originally posted by touchemall
Runner at second. Pitcher comes set and pretends to throw towards second base. Both the second and SS dive like they have missed the ball and the outfielders go running like the ball is heading past them to the fence. After the second base runner gets up from diving back into the bag, he starts for third in all the commotion. The pitcher still has the ball and runs over and tags the runner. All the while the 3rd base coach is yelling for him to get back because he can see it developing but the poor runner reacts to all the bodies moving around.
For the youth game I don't consider the play described above as bush. It does become bush when the parents in the stands and the coaches are in on the play and shout from the stands to "get the ball!" |
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davidh6265
27 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 23:04:05
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| T Long if it happened that way, then the umpire made a mistake for calling the kid out. Time was called for the meeting, and the pitcher cannot touch the rubber without the ball putting time back into play. |
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TLong
9 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 23:10:07
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| How about the "Screaming Balk"! Another classic... usually initiated by Third base coach in younger age groups while yelling at baserunner in attempt to ditract and startle pitcher into balking. |
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G-Man
326 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2011 : 23:20:40
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I ran this play with my High School team.
Runner on 1st and 3rd. Left handed pitcher. Once left handed pitcher comes set. Runner on 1st takes off on a dead sprint towards the pitcher. Once runner from first sprints toward pitcher runner on 3rd breaks toward home. Pitcher is thinking is this runner on first crazy and is he about to tackle me LOL. Once runner from first gets about 10 ft from pitcher he turns and breaks toward 2nd base. By this time pitcher has either balked or has all his focus is on runner at 1st and runner on 3rd has scored.
Most of you may be thinking he is out of the baseline but no no no no...LOL..rules state that a play must be being made on the runner in order for them to be out of the baseline. |
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TLong
9 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 00:00:23
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quote:
Originally posted by davidh6265
T Long if it happened that way, then the umpire made a mistake for calling the kid out. Time was called for the meeting, and the pitcher cannot touch the rubber without the ball putting time back into play.
That was part of our argument. (That the pitcher had toed rubber.) Still bush. |
Edited by - TLong on 03/03/2011 08:43:56 |
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nastycurve
244 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 01:14:20
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Ive seen this one and thought it was hilarious:
runner is on first and is in the process of stealing second. The catcher receives the pitch and then throws the ball hiiiigh in the air to the second baseman like its a pop up. The second baseman screams "I got it, I got it", the runner hears this and turns around going back to first, usually passing by the second baseman and getting tagged out. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 07:42:25
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excoach,
This play has worked and failed against us. It isn't a balk because the pitcher disengages from the rubber in the spin to 2b. No different than a disengage and fake throw. Once the pitcher disengages from the rubber, he is a fielder and it becomes a fielder deliverately deceiving the baserunner.
quote:
Originally posted by excoach12
Touchemall, After re-reading MLB rules and USSSA rule 8.05.D I ran across the General Statement Concerning Balks- The purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. Your scenario should result in a balk.
Same thing for TLong. That exact play is the illustration for the balk rule. Straddling the pitching rubber without the ball is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled a balk.
I would argue it with the ump and protest that both should be a balk. Maybe the bush league tricks will stop and real ball will be played.
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gatraveler
58 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 09:03:05
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| Saw this 25 years ago. Bases loaded, two balls on the batter. Next pitch is a ball (ball 3) but batter drops his bat and heads for first as if he has walked. All runners trot to next base, with catcher standing by as the guy from third scores. Opposing coach stops the game and umpire brings hitter back to finish at bat. The other runners however were deemed to have stolen the next base and the run stood. Coach called it the "3 ball walk". |
Edited by - gatraveler on 03/03/2011 09:23:45 |
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christheump
351 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 10:33:54
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quote:
Originally posted by touchemall
Runner at second. Pitcher comes set and pretends to throw towards second base. Both the second and SS dive like they have missed the ball and the outfielders go running like the ball is heading past them to the fence. After the second base runner gets up from diving back into the bag, he starts for third in all the commotion. The pitcher still has the ball and runs over and tags the runner. All the while the 3rd base coach is yelling for him to get back because he can see it developing but the poor runner reacts to all the bodies moving around.
This is the one I remember the most also...however the runner didnt fall for it. |
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 10:37:46
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quote:
Originally posted by gatraveler
Saw this 25 years ago. Bases loaded, two balls on the batter. Next pitch is a ball (ball 3) but batter drops his bat and heads for first as if he has walked. All runners trot to next base, with catcher standing by as the guy from third scores. Opposing coach stops the game and umpire brings hitter back to finish at bat. The other runners however were deemed to have stolen the next base and the run stood. Coach called it the "3 ball walk".
We got away with that on time by complete mistake.....It was actually pretty funny, but in the same tournament we saw a coach set that play up and he was screaming at the top of his lungs "BALL FOUR BALL FOUR!!!" and I think all that did was confuse the other team so bad they just threw the ball around.
I do disagree that all trick plays are "bush" or "childish", while they are definitely the way ANY coach would hate to lose a game, if your kids can get tricked by some kids diving around and running then A. they haven't seen it before or B. they weren't watching the ball. We don't run these plays and it has only worked against us 1 time for all the different teams we have played on, and we see them try it at least once every other tournament. I hope Stan posts this as I am mentioning a team, but a certain SEC team from Louisiana got the final out of an elimination game in the SEC tournament two seasons ago using a variation of the hidden ball trick. I would assume as respected as that particular coach is among his peers few people think that play working is bush, more an issue with the baserunner NOT paying attention. |
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 14:09:50
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| I think I missed the entire purpose of my post in saying, that while MOST coaches don't do trick plays we have to let our boys know they are out there and what to watch for. I'm not sure you see the higher level teams get tricked as often because the coaches have all fallen for it at least once before! |
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oldmanmj
191 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 15:01:24
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| G-man I had this idoitic, major bush play done to our team as 12U from a team in Columbus. The pitcher tagged the kid out and threw the runner out at home. It was the first time in my life I had seen such a ludicrous play. I felt sorry for the kid at first, he was embarrassed beyond belief. Should I say, we run ruled the team also. |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 15:38:30
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Papa knows of one high level team with their most highest level player get tricked by the fake pick off move to second with the coaches, fans, players yelling for the outfielders to go get the ball and it worked as our runner left second and was tagged out by the pitcher that still had the ball.
The Bandits have not and will never forget this play and although it has been tried several times since we have learned our lesson well and have not fallen for the trick play again. (not yet anyway). I will say that each time we play the team that pulled the play that we are the most focused team in the park waiting for another trick play to come our way.
Although it happened 3 years ago at 9U, the play has been used as a motivational tool since and Papa has a motto that goes like this, "If it works and helps you win then it ain't bush". |
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Scorekeeper
35 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 15:55:10
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Bottom of the sixth down by one run, big hitters coming up..................... first batter gets good swing on the ball but it seems to come off the bat dead? Hmmmm? Must have missed the sweet spot. Second batter same thing. Hey did that ball sound funny when it was hit? Third batter crunches the ball and the same strange sound as the ball floats barely to the outfielder? What the heck? Hey! Let me see that ball Mr. Ump.
USSSA stamped leather grade stamped hard competition ball? Nope! Dicks Sporting Goods brand synthetic cover soft $2.99 practice ball.
Now where did that ball magically come from?
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Scorekeeper
35 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 15:59:28
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You better make sure no one but your pitcher touches the ball or walks across the mound as you are changing sides in the middle of an inning.
We had our #1 pitcher put out of the champ game one time because our well meaning right fielder picked the ball up and handed it to the #1 pitcher on his way out to his position. Right fielder now pitcher of record because he held the ball on the mound near the rubber. Complete setup by the other team who had the umps looking for it and had their pitcher place the ball on top of the rubber after out #3.
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6bomber
68 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 20:33:59
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| i have seen all these plays work, the fake throw to second and everyone dives, the fake pop up to second. most times against real comp. these plays don't work! |
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Heater
74 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 22:10:44
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| Have any of you played college baseball? All of this is fair game and encouraged in college, my coach taught us to cut the corner, 5 feet inside the bag, when rounding third, it worked brilliantly 100% of the time. |
Edited by - Heater on 03/03/2011 22:19:13 |
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G-Man
326 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 22:45:19
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I not only played college ball but coached college baseball. Also you are correct. Most college coaches will look and try to tsake advantage of any team it can. People talk about how bush it is for base runners relaying signals into batters but its part of ever upper level baseball program out there. Moral of the story is another coaches bush play is a key to victory for some other coach.
quote:
Originally posted by Heater
Have any of you played college baseball? All of this is fair game and encouraged in college, my coach taught us to cut the corner, 5 feet inside the bag, when rounding third, it worked brilliantly 100% of the time.
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2011 : 22:48:05
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| Heater, I have NEVER ONCE seen an umpire catch that!!! I can't believe it sometimes it is so obvious!!.....And to go along with what you said, if the pros could make these trick plays work they would!!! The reason you never see the pitcher fake a throw to the outfield on a pickoff with players diving has nothing to do with class....It would NEVER work!! |
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Topic |
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Most memorable bush league play...
