Hitting and Hitters Discussion Bat Waggling - Appropriate?

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I'm certainly no grandiose high level coach or noteworthy softball sage, but I am a pitcher's Dad AND a catcher's Dad. One is a scholarship player in college, the other will be next year. (just to qualify my opinion a little). But the bat 'waggling' is neither bush nor a 'lower level tactic'. It was done at CWS, does the level get much higher than that? The distraction is to the catcher, not the pitcher, the 'waggle' interferes with her view of the pitcher and the ball. I'm not sure where the 'net' advantage would be, unless the batter would be taking the pitch no matter what and runners were in place to advance. This is just gamemanship... akin to having runners on 1st and 3rd in a tied game in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs and having the 1st base runner jog and fall down and your 3rd base runner tear home...it's sorta silly and probably won't work a lot, but when it does it is something to remember...

 

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Funny that is NOT what I thought this thread was going to be about.

We don't teach it but I don't get upset if one of our kids or another team's does it either. Just trying to create a distraction - could be for the pitcher, could be for the catcher to protect the runner stealing. It usually results in the pitcher throwing a perfect strike.

I get more bothered by Bush League (or what I call "Rec-Ball Amatuers") cheering that is designed to taunt opposing teams. That we do not allow from our kids.

Well said Mad Hornet! I think negative cheers are "bush" league and I dont permit it either. In saying that, I tell my girls to ignore it and play ball. Nothing stops a negative like a solid thumping on the field of play!

 

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I'm certainly no grandiose high level coach or noteworthy softball sage, but I am a pitcher's Dad AND a catcher's Dad. One is a scholarship player in college, the other will be next year. (just to qualify my opinion a little). But the bat 'waggling' is neither bush nor a 'lower level tactic'. It was done at CWS, does the level get much higher than that? The distraction is to the catcher, not the pitcher, the 'waggle' interferes with her view of the pitcher and the ball. I'm not sure where the 'net' advantage would be, unless the batter would be taking the pitch no matter what and runners were in place to advance. This is just gamemanship... akin to having runners on 1st and 3rd in a tied game in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs and having the 1st base runner jog and fall down and your 3rd base runner tear home...it's sorta silly and probably won't work a lot, but when it does it is something to remember...

Hey Centerville-FP: My oldest dd is playing for UC next year!!! Would like to get your thoughts on the program and the school.

 

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I personally am not a fan of it. Its usually to distract the catcher I think more than the pitcher,whens there's a runner on first and third and u want the girl on first to steal. The throw isn't going to be made to second anyway with a runner on third. (12u) is where I coming from. So to me its pointless, I don't think "bush" but I don't think it works either.

 

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If the girls want to cheer, then let them cheer. They are playing to have fun and if the opposing team (pitcher) cant block it out then so be it. Just like the bat waggle. My DD feeds off these tactics and it causes her to hunker down and get the job done. As a coach, I am not here to hold the girl's hands but to teach and inform them of what to do in certain situations. I believe what the girls do is in all fun of the game. Now coaches, thats another situation. Love it when they stare down my signs and call out pitches or tell their girls "inside" or "outside." Thats when we play opposite day!

 

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I cant believe this is even considered bush. Grow some thick skin people your pitcher has. ( By the way this was at pitcher dads lol )

 

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As a coach and a pitchers dad, I couldn't agree more Tim. Let the kids play and have fun. Teach the girls how to block everything else out and focus on the task at hand.

 

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Hey Centerville-FP: My oldest dd is playing for UC next year!!! Would like to get your thoughts on the program and the school.

I would be happy to...my oldest loved her first year there and my 2nd oldest has it on her short list. They had a tough season this last season but will come back strong next year for sure!!

 

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This isn't quite bat waggling, but at dd's tournament last weekend, a catcher and pitcher caught a batter stealing catcher's sign. The batter hit a home run, and the next at bat, the catcher decided to give the batter 1 pitch for 1 base instead of 1 pitch for 4 bases.

 

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I'm not a fan of it. It really doesn't affect any pitchers. I usually see a pitcher throw inside when a player waggles her bat. Waggling the bat take way the power to hit]

 

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This isn't quite bat waggling, but at dd's tournament last weekend, a catcher and pitcher caught a batter stealing catcher's sign. The batter hit a home run, and the next at bat, the catcher decided to give the batter 1 pitch for 1 base instead of 1 pitch for 4 bases.

What exactly do you mean? Are you saying she intentionally hit the batter? If so, WOW!!! Not cool.

 

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What exactly do you mean? Are you saying she intentionally hit the batter? If so, WOW!!! Not cool.

Oh lord..... I'm staying out of this! Lol

 

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Oh lord..... I'm staying out of this! Lol

Its all part of this great game.......

 

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original post...agree with Boulder let them have fun.. i dont teach either but will let them do what they do. Dont think any of its bush unless its in poor sportsmanship fashion. It is gamesmanship and part of the head games...
And oh yeah im a pitchers dad too!

 

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I'm certainly no grandiose high level coach or noteworthy softball sage, but I am a pitcher's Dad AND a catcher's Dad. One is a scholarship player in college, the other will be next year. (just to qualify my opinion a little). But the bat 'waggling' is neither bush nor a 'lower level tactic'. It was done at CWS, does the level get much higher than that? The distraction is to the catcher, not the pitcher, the 'waggle' interferes with her view of the pitcher and the ball. I'm not sure where the 'net' advantage would be, unless the batter would be taking the pitch no matter what and runners were in place to advance. This is just gamemanship... akin to having runners on 1st and 3rd in a tied game in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs and having the 1st base runner jog and fall down and your 3rd base runner tear home...it's sorta silly and probably won't work a lot, but when it does it is something to remember...

We are at a tournament in Nashville and discussed this sitting around the pool last night relaxing with a beer. Centerville FP is part of team but we didn't let him come down with us. Haha. Consensus was ........ Who cares! Let em waggle if they want to waggle. Lol

 

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Bat wagging is a deliberate attempt to distract the pitcher. It is "bush league" by definition, similar to a team screaming at a pitcher just as she is about to pitch. Coaches who tolerate or, worse, teach this, simply have no class and no concept of the word "sportsmanship."

 

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Bat wagging is a deliberate attempt to distract the pitcher. It is "bush league" by definition, similar to a team screaming at a pitcher just as she is about to pitch. Coaches who tolerate or, worse, teach this, simply have no class and no concept of the word "sportsmanship."

Harsh! I personally don't teach waving the bat and I do agree screaming while the pitcher releases, is totally ridiculous! But waving the bat is part of the game now a days.... like it or not.

 

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This has got to be the lamest topic on OFC. There used to such good topics. We need a good Ringer thread.

 

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I just need to find out who these people are who are so annoyed by it so we can get under their skin... LOL

 

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I think when a pitcher is chewing gum and is chomping on it, it is very distracting to the hitter and is totally "Bush"....how could a coach let their pitchers chew gum??.....