Coaching/Scorekeeping Dilemas

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Ok, we've all been there. You are in a game where you are up by enough runs to run-rule the opposing team. Your girls are having a tremendous hitting day.

You want to get this game over and done (for numerous reasons we won't discuss here). So, you tell your batters to "make an out" by either bunting, stepping off the base, or standing there and taking 3 strikes (numerous ways to make this happen).

Your players look at you and say, "He wants me to give up my average to get this game over with? What in the world is he thinking?"

What'cha gonna do?

I have my way to help this situation but I'll wait until we get a few responses.

 

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One thing to add to this. I had a team get very upset with us, for trying to end a game.

 

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I prefer leaving base early. It does not affect any averages. It is important to be discreet about it so as not to upset the other team.

I had one team cheering that they got out of the inning and had no idea that we did it on purpose.

 

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I'm not big on either making outs on purpose, or bunting when up in the game a lot, for the reason sbfamily mentions. My first move is to get my subs in, and perhaps play some girls in positions they don't usually play, or have some girls work on their slapping. But it sounds like you may be going down the path of telling the girls you won't penalize them in the scorebook for this, which I don't have an issue with.

 

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"SACRIFICE" ... after all, that is what they are doing.

Not sure that it is "technically" correct, but at least that way you could have a "no at-bat" situation, and as long as a "K" does not occur, there really is no stat recorded other thana "positive" stat ... a "sacrifice."

I have also seen coaches get angry, while a few say thank you (very discreetly & quietly). I like the idea of doing something challenging, and skill developing, like switching to the left side and bunting, if possible, given the situation. No need to win 25-0, or stay on the field longer than needed on a 90 degree day either though.

QUESTION: When leaving base early, isn't that a "caught stealing?"

 

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played a fall tourny this year where we were playing an 11u team that was in a little over there heads we roster 10 players this year with an 11th developmental player who doesnt pay for anything but her uniform but no promises she usually gets an at bat or an inning or 2 every game in tight games she knows she is not going in.well she was up to bat and i had an umpire come over and tell me if i dont do something to get the game over with his buddy behind the fence who was umping the next game was not going to care for me of course i let her hit but game played another 5 minutes her best hit of weekend umpires i guess have to get over it i did lol

 

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Played in a tourney a few years back and the other team couldn't get an out and walked the lineup at least once through. Had bases loaded and called time and instructed all three to leave the base early...When play resumed all three stepped off the base and the Umpire called all three out, and the inning was over. Glad I don't have to do that very often.

 

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Most all that know me, I keep a pretty honest scorebook. Good scorekeepers work hard at keeping an honest book. ATEC tells scorekeepers how to keep a good scorebook but it doesn't cover everything. I feel that the coach has ask this batter to sacrifice her at-bat for the team. So, we can do the following:

1. Let her hit and take the consequence of her at-bat. If she gets on base, then have her leave early.

2. Intentionally Sacrifice her at-bat. Credit her with a sacrifice, even though it doesn't meet the definition of a sacrifice.

I run into this more in HS than travel. As mentioned above, most coaches don't want to penalize a girl's batting average when the coach intentionally ask her to "get out".