Game strategy, offense situation. Winning run on 3rd base, one out #8 at bat.

[Admin]

Game strategy, offense situation winning run on 3rd base, one out #8 batter at the plate 0-1 Count.

Game situation!

A. Semifinals
B. Score 0-0
C. Your Home Team, its the 7th inning.
D. Winning run on 3rd base
E. #8 batter is your number #2 pitcher she usually never bats, but your #8 batter was injured in the Second inning.
F. Your Number #9 batter is sick and won't be able to continue or bat.
G. 1 out, and your going to take a force out on your Number #9 batter.
H. Count on your #8 batter is 0-1, she has strike out the last two times at bat.
I. And you have no subs.
J. The girl on 3rd is the second fastest girl on her team. She also your smartest base runner.

I'm hoping for a pass-ball myself. But we have other options, I've listed my below.


I could try and have her steal home or suicide squeeze on the very next pitch for the win.

I'm not really sure, if I'm willing to let the girls at the plate get a 0-2 count before I try something here. Since she's struggle to put the ball in play.

Either way I think I'm OK with my decision to try the steal.

Even if she's tag out and my #8 batter strike outs.

I'm going into international tiebreaker with one out because my number #9 batter being out of the game. But I'm at the top of my batting order with the winning running on second base.

What your comments or opinions.

 

[daboss]

How confident are you in your #1 hitter to get a hit with 2 outs? Is she a clutch hitter or better off starting out with less than 2 outs? Keep in mind, if you squeeze and the 3rd out is made your at bat player will start the next inning with 0-0 count. this gives you a chance to bunt your international tie-breaker runner over before taking the out due to your #9 runner being sick. Maybe #9 will feel better after an inning and can continue.

Me? I'd be looking at the suicide if the pitcher is one that gives you opportunity with erratic locations and/or the occasional wild pitch. How's the catcher? Read her and your pitcher, make a decision, and stick to it. If I can end a game in regulation I go for it, especially in tournament play. Extra innings take a toll on any team and cost players energy once the hype is gone.

 

[coachjwb]

#8 is not a good hitter ... and we haven't scored the whole game ... I can only assume she is not going to be able to get a suicide squeeze down. My best shot in regulation is for her to take as many pitches as she can and hope for a wild pitch or passed ball. The game is tied ... I'll take my chances in ITB, but the last thing I want is for the baserunner to make an out and have to start the ITB with one out from my #9 batter. If #8 does take a walk, then I am fine with cycling around to the top of the order and trying to win it in regulation.

 

[Coach_Dave]

I think your best bet would be to try and get a bunt down, but I would lean more towards a safety squeeze with instructions to the Girl on third base to really push the envelope and hope for a throw to third. Worst case scenario is you roll your lineup for ITB, but with the Girl on 3rd being a good base runner, they may not even risk the throw to first if she is challenging down the line. I would also make sure the Girl on third understood not to go home unless she is 100% sure she can make it. It would be a disaster if the defense registered the out at first and gunned the Girl trying to score. You would then be starting the ITB with one out.

 

[wow]

Happens a lot. Maybe not with the hurt player and automatic out but with lower batting averages at the bottom. You have to make the other team make a play, even if it means running into a out. There is already one out and you have to assume the #8 is gonna strike out and then you have 2 which is really 3 because of the injury. So here is what you do, Play for the win not ITB. I mean you don't have anything to lose. This is a situation you have to get in a rundown and make the other team make a play. The offence, in all likelihood is not going to hit or even put down the bunt. You have the batter attempt a bunt, and in the series look for the pass ball or wild pitch (Like others have said) but you have to get huge leads and bait a throw or run down from catcher. Its a gamble and you prob run into a out. But remember there is a lot to be said on putting pressure on the other team. If you score you win if not play ITB. The message here is plan for the worst and hope for a mistake. The other thing to consider is the age group you are playing at. The 10 and 12 you can get away with this. The older ones not so much. If I am a 10 or 12 I gamble, Older divisions you have to hope you have the right kids and the #8 makes contact. Not so sure a bunt is the right move because the opposing team would and should just let the runner advance to 1st checking the runner at 3. Take the 2nd out and then make a play at 1. If you throw to one to get the out the game is over.

 

[spartansd]

I would not squeeze on any pitch in this case. Does the other team know that they have an out at #9?

My concern is always that you are not going to get a ball you can even put bat on.

I would walk #8 and get the 2nd out if I am the other team. Now a ground ball gets you out of the inning. Or a fly ball. Basically, why lose on a ground ball to second or pull in infield and have one squirt through. No I think if the other team is any good he walks this batter to get to 2 outs.

You have no good options. And a 1-0 count is a good count but 2-0 is even better to execute a squeeze. Not sure why you are afraid to let it get to 2-0?? Or are you say 2 strikes which would be 0-2.......

 

[Admin]

Thats my bad 0-1 I had it back words

 

[Coach_Dave]

Even with a 0-1 count, I try to put the ball in play by bunting. I would probably even bunt with two strikes. I doubt that the person calling pitches is going to get too cute with the Girl in this scenario, so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a wild pitch or past ball. You have to put some pressure on the defense. You would hope a weak hitting pitcher would be able to bunt.....but frustratingly enough, that is not always the case.

 

[Rebel]

Simple...squeeze. Don't be afraid to fail. Win the game.

 

[wow]

Even with a 0-1 count, I try to put the ball in play by bunting. I would probably even bunt with two strikes. I doubt that the person calling pitches is going to get too cute with the Girl in this scenario, so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a wild pitch or past ball. You have to put some pressure on the defense. You would hope a weak hitting pitcher would be able to bunt.....but frustratingly enough, that is not always the case.

So I am confused. Say she puts the bunt down and they hold the runner at 3. The next out is your 2nd because of the injury. Now its a play at 1 and into ITB you go. I am not sure a bunt helps. Unless you want more base runners and assuming the top of the order gets a base it.. But again you are making assumptions on two or three moves ahead.

 

[JoeA1010]

It's hard to answer without knowing just how incompetent this #8 hitter is. If she is someone who is likely going to strike out and who is unlikely to get a bunt down in fair territory, I don't know at that point. Since the game is 0-0, you have to assume the pitcher is good. I know I wouldn't want to end this half inning by having the #9 come up to start the next inning with an out, so I wouldn't be putting a squeeze on with an incompetent batter at the plate. I'd rather take my chances in the ITB or hoping beyond hope there is a passed ball or wild pitch right now.

You have to ask yourself if you decide to squeeze, what are the odds it will be done successfully? And what are the odds for each of the results any decision here might yield? If you go into the ITB, you figure you have roughly a 50-50 chance of winning the game, assuming you don't start with an automatic out in that inning. So the question becomes, is there some decision here that will give me a 51% chance or better of winning right now that won't create the risk of our automatic out coming up to start the next inning? If you take a chance on trying something that will start the next inning with the #9 hitter and an out if it fails, that chance had better yield at least about a 75% chance of succeeding, because if it doesn't your odds of winning this game probably went down to around 20% or so since you will start the ITB with an out and the other team won't. Given the situation Ricky described, I think I would try to lay a safety squeeze down and hope the defense panics or tries to get the out at first and accidentally lets the runner score; or the defense gives up first base and now we at least have a shot with our leadoff hitter and two outs, with the worst case scenario going to the ITB.

 

[MaddKennaMax]

What about the old Jake Taylor call your shot then bunt play?

 

[LADY_KNIGHTS]

I call time and talk to my #8 hitter. Tell her I want her to put her toes three inches from the plate and just stand there and don't move or swing...and hope she knows how to take a pitch!!! #9 batter is out number two and we win the game with a walk off hit from my leadoff batter. Want to know how I know...did it in the championship game of my oldest daughters 12U rec tourney ten years ago. Lol

 

[Admin]

I call time and talk to my #8 hitter. Tell her I want her to put her toes three inches from the plate and just stand there and don't move or swing...and hope she knows how to take a pitch!!! #9 batter is out number two and we win the game with a walk off hit from my leadoff batter. Want to know how I know...did it in the championship game of my oldest daughters 12U rec tourney ten years ago. Lol

OK, when I read your post I crack up laughing. That so wrong. Lol

 

[Coach_Dave]

Based on the scenario, the Girl at the plate doesn't have much of a chance of putting the ball in play, unless she bunts. I would take my chances putting pressure on the defense by having my aggressive runner at third trying to draw a throw. Heck, I've seen girls eat it and not even attempt a throw in that situation.

 

[FastBat]

I would have her try to show bunt and actually try to get it down if it was a strike. Pull back on any bad pitches. Then you atleast could have a past ball from a bat distraction. If she actually gets it down, they may try to throw it to first, and the run scores. The smart base runner on third, is too smart to make a mistake with a pump fake, so she could score or hold. But, if 8th batter gets on base, runner on third doesn't score still in a good position. Two outs now, with runner on first and third, first batter in the line up and that's a kid that has the highest on base average on the team!