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tombstone
30 Posts |
 Posted - 12/10/2008 : 13:15:36
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| what makes a good 3rd base coach |
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ingasven
120 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 16:33:22
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Having at least one arm to wave runners around is the first requirement that leaps into my mind!
Agressive but not reckless, knowing the speed of his runners, realizing the strengths or weaknesses of the opposition's defense and not overcoaching the batter every pitch are a few that I feel are key components which help make a good third base coach. |
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dblinkh1
39 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 17:06:06
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| Third base coach is a true multi-tasker. They need to know the strengths and weaknesses of the players on their team as well as make judgements about the opposing players. Keep up with the batting order for their team and make decisions on when to call plays based on score, innings, outs, position in line up. The most important quality of a 3rd base coach is to make a "good" quick decision. If you hesitate as a third base coach it can cost you the game. |
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baseman
2 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 19:47:10
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| Well said, dblinkh1. Also, it is important to be able to see your mistakes and learn from them. It doesn't work to say "He missed the sign!" Everyone screws up from time to time, but don't blame the runner if you cause the out. |
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greglomax
1031 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 22:46:37
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| One that does not get caught sight-seeing when the play is going on. Ability to wave a kid around 3rd while also telling the runner heading to second to hold. |
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HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 08:52:45
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| I have seen many a 3B coach watching the play at home when the guy about to hit 2B is looking for a signal to run, or hold at 2B. Gotta know your players too and who is on deck before you make a stupid out at home plate and take your team out of an inning. Should never make the 3rd out at 3B. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 09:37:01
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quote:
Originally posted by HITANDRUN
...who is on deck before you make a stupid out...
Pet peeve, especially on the third out. Having your 3-4-5 hitter lead off the next inning w/the bases empty instead of batting with men on base.  |
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oldcoach
27 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 12:34:55
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| coach needs to give good signs ,not to fast because kid is having to look across the field to see coach,then dont yell if runner misses it.be willing to accept it when things dont work ,if you give steal sign then runner steals and gets out dont say i didnt give the steal sign.accept responsibility |
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743
215 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 13:46:19
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| My pet peeve is having a kid picked off at 3B by the catcher or pitcher because the third base coach is not paying attention or talking to his son in the dugout or on deck, then jumping on the player for getting picked. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 15:19:24
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quote:
Originally posted by 743
My pet peeve is having a kid picked off at 3B by the catcher or pitcher because the third base coach is not paying attention or talking to his son in the dugout or on deck, then jumping on the player for getting picked.
1/3 Guilty. I wasn't talking to my son, I was looking at something else. I also didn't throw the player under the bus, I took the bullet myself. Still....
Emmmmmmmbarassing... |
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ronicard
117 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 10:47:12
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Good 3rd base coaches will literally win or lose you a few games per year. The good ones do little subtle things. Things like when the player is coming from 2nd and the coach is making the decision to either have him go on home or stop at 3rd...when the play is being made, he moves to very front of the coaches box, as close as he can get to the basepath in the box and kneeling down. He's directly in the line of the player rounding the bag but he has also put himself in line with the play (I'm assuming a hit to left or left center here) and finally, gives himself that one extra second of time that he's still in the player's view. That one extra second may be the difference in being able to make a late "hold up" stop sign to keep a player from being thrown out at home or being already behind the player and hoping that he can hear you yelling "hold up" or "back" over the screaming crowd.
There are a lot of other ones, many of which have already been noted, but I came to the realization that I'm not a good 3rd base coach a long time ago, so I partnered with a coach who I consider to be one of the best. I take first base and he handles the hot corner at 3rd because I do tend to be that guy who gets caught watching other parts of the play. At first, my responsibilities are much different and are more suited to my skillset. |
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jrog76
80 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 10:54:10
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When I was 15, we were playing in the Championship game of the District Finals.
Top of the 7th. Down 2 - 1. Man on third. One out.
Batter hits a long drive to right.
3B Coach yells, "Go, ball, go!"
Runner (not destined for Harvard) sprints toward home, saying later that he heard the coach yelling "go!".
Ball is caught. Genius is doubled-up. We lose the Championship Game by a score of 2 - 1.
Decades later, I can still see it all so clear ...
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lifeguard
74 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 21:12:29
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| ronicard, I agree with that type of 3B coach. I was he with a runner at 1B with 2 out and the ball driven into the gap. I was probably two or three steps out of the box toward home :), waving the runner pass me, when I picked up the kid going into second. I ran toward third yelling STOP STOP. The kid going home stopped and looked around. Fortunately, the fielders didn't make a throw to the plate. |
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3rd base coach
