Game Strategy -> What would you do???

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Always liked it when JoeA would post some sort of game situation and ask others their opinion. He is way to busy now guiding Hillsdale toward their first DII National Championship so I thought I would give it a go.

Top of the 6th inning with away team losing 6-4. #7 batter (good speed) leads off inning with a double, #8 batter comes up with no hits on the year, with #9 to follow who is batting .273 with a .364 SLG% and .385 OB%. If it helps any in your thought process, home team has #8,9,1 coming up in bottom of 6th. With all this in front of you as a coach what would you have done after that lead off double in the top of the 6th???

 

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I make sure I don't lose that double on something stupid. Probably pinch hit for #8, try and go to right with it and at least get a throw to plate to get 8 in scoring position. Have 9 lean into pitch ( only kidding) have 9 go to right field as well and use judgement on if 8 scores or continue working with maybe a suicide for #1 batter, every batter in lineup must know how to get it down whether you are #1 or #9 if you're going to make a mistake, make it being aggressive.....

 

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I make sure I don't lose that double on something stupid. Probably pinch hit for #8, try and go to right with it and at least get a throw to plate to get 8 in scoring position. Have 9 lean into pitch ( only kidding) have 9 go to right field as well and use judgement on if 8 scores or continue working with maybe a suicide for #1 batter, every batter in lineup must know how to get it down whether you are #1 or #9 if you're going to make a mistake, make it being aggressive.....

I would have the #8 batter lean into the pitch she has no hits on the season, I don't see her placing the ball on the right side of the field why waste a out. Just kidding I would prob. pinch hit for the 8 hole, if pinch hitter has speed I would prob. play small ball just to have 2 runners on for my 9 hole slg% not that bad and see what happens.

 

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If you could not go to the bench for a better contact hitter, I bunt the girl down 3rd base line to move the runner to third and see if batter can make it to first to set up the run, see what you can produce on the next batter..... moving the runner is key.

 

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Coaches at the upper levels rarely give batters in this situation a pitch they can hit to the right side - they work the left side of the plate and have their defense set up to make plays on that side. Batters need to have another plan besides waiting for a pitch they can hit to the right side.

Down 2 in the top of the sixth means you can't go all out to just get R1 home - you need to give yourself a crack at scoring multiple runs. Besides that, visitor needs to play to take the lead while home teams get to play to tie.

 

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I saw the title of the thread and thought, this is something I'll probably like, and then there is my name.

I would likely do nothing. I might pinch-hit, depends on who is on the bench and all of that. But as far as bunting, I'm not likely to be playing for one run when I'm down two in the sixth inning. By bunting, we are specifically playing for one run. So even if we're successful, we're down one run and we have one at-bat left and they have two. On defense, I'm looking for outs. If they want to sac bunt or hit a ground ball to second base, be my guest. I'll take a 6-5 lead at home headed into the bottom of the sixth.

 

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This is why building a team based on speed if you can is critical in my opinion. Gives you options. My first question is how good is the catcher? Can I straight steal? Thats what I need to know at this point.

 

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I saw the title of the thread and thought, this is something I'll probably like, and then there is my name.

I would likely do nothing. I might pinch-hit, depends on who is on the bench and all of that. But as far as bunting, I'm not likely to be playing for one run when I'm down two in the sixth inning. By bunting, we are specifically playing for one run. So even if we're successful, we're down one run and we have one at-bat left and they have two. On defense, I'm looking for outs. If they want to sac bunt or hit a ground ball to second base, be my guest. I'll take a 6-5 lead at home headed into the bottom of the sixth.

Right on Joe. The only real decision here is the pinch hitter choice. Without another base hit R1 means little. Not enough outs left to move the runner just to get within 1.

 

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This is why building a team based on speed if you can is critical in my opinion. Gives you options. My first question is how good is the catcher? Can I straight steal? Thats what I need to know at this point.

All due respect but why would you steal? Runner is already in scoring position and means nothing if she gets thrown out or no one else gets on.

 

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That is why I am asking Spirit... LOL.... You are down by 2. You are not home team. You need runs. Tie if you can but put on the runs if possible. Why waste an possible out on a bunt if the runner is very fast and catcher is average?

 

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Only thing I would question is age of girls?? Older girls I try to hit her in maybe pinch hit younger girls I lay bunt down without question and at least force them to make the play if she gets on yeah run don't score but that's one more batter at top of your lineup that will get a crack at it now with tying run on........... And I m assuming top of lineup has had some hits throughout the year

 

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But I don't see someone being wrong if they said take the one run at bottom and hope your top produces one or two??? Any decision anyone makes is great if works if doesn't then well was coaches fault lol

 

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As a coach, you ask "What would I do?" The answer is simple. The #8 hole hitter would be on the bench, if not off the team. Every hitter needs to produce for a team to have success.

 

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A really good question for the coach is why is #8 batting ahead of #9 with that much of a difference in batting stats? One approach to putting together a lineup is if it comes down to the last out of the game and the winning or tying run is on base, which of these 2 players do I want up most in that situation? With that obviously being water over the dam at this point, I would consider a surprise bunt to move the baserunner up and put her in a better chance to score one of the two runs you need, and at least putting a little pressure on the defense to make a play to prevent the tying run from getting on base.

 

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well, if #8 hasn't hit the ball all year... there is a problem but too late to worry about it now in the middle of a game! Might want to work on more hitting or find a new 8th spot for future play. lol But for the sake of argument here goes. a lot depends on what has happened so far in the game... are there any holes in their Defense? Is their pitcher struggling? Does she struggle when you show bunt etc... does 1st base stay back on bunts, is 3rd having a solid game or has she made some errors? is the pitcher slow or lazy? ok a lot of unknowns but my 1st thought is bunt 3rd base side hoping for a bad throw or no throw to 1st moving runners around. Keep working with what you have staying aggressive making the defense beat you. we cant have #8 K - so VIP to put the ball in play and make something happen. i might call time out and challenge the batter or promise her 5 walking tacos if she gets a hit!! HEY! Its worked before! lol

 

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With top of the order coming I bunt the girl to 3rd. Then have #9 play for the contact hit to right side.....you still have 1 more inning. And needing 1 run is a lot easier to get than 2.

I am not sure why you sell out so soon. Also, if pinch hitter is an option, but if she is having that bad of the year why would she be in the line up in the first place unless you have no other options. I would have #8 bunt all 3 times.....no doubt.

Now you have a girl on 3rd and 1 out. And also, I do not think girl on second is an automatic score if the ball is hit right at an OF. So you might need 2 hits to score regardless. By moving her to 3rd you are at least creating pressure and can score on 1 more hit. Pass ball....bobbled play in field. Girl on 3rd creates tons of pressure and things tend to "happen".

 

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A really good question for the coach is why is #8 batting ahead of #9 with that much of a difference in batting stats?

... because #8's dad is the coach.

 

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Lol at Louuuu ... then of course you let her hit away ... she is due for a bomb!

 

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I am bunting. Just making sure that #8 is up on the plate and in front of box to give us the best chance of getting anything on the ground.

 

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Interesting chart that may be of use to your strategy.

Chance of scoring from each base and out situation.

Base 0 outs 1 out 2 outs
1B .38 .25 .12
2B .61 .41 .21
3B .86 .61 .29