Game Strategy -> What would you do???

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If she hasn't had a hit all year, and I can't sub for her, she's getting the bunt sign for all 3 strikes. Force the defense to make a play, and I'll take the sacrifice to move the lead runner...especially with the top of the order coming up.

If she reaches first successfully, bonus! Now it's easy to get her to 2 and in scoring position. Sitting pretty with runners at 2 and 3 with no outs.

Even if she strikes out, failed bunt attempts can often lead to passed balls on the catcher. That moves the runner to 3rd before the conclusion of her at-bat.

 

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pinch hit with a lefty drag or slap specialist (if one exists) or a batter that can bunt the lines 12' out with great control. Apply pressure and the pinch hitter to have great speed. Possibly use a freshman that has yet to see the field or batter's box on a regular basis and take a small chance. If I have to, call time, talk to the freshman or young player, give them encouragement to lay a ball in play with pressure being the goal. Also have signals for the assistant coaches that allow me to say "talk with her" before she leaves the duggout. This should be simple since all coaches should know that "certain players" are due for a shot a play like this and the staff should know what to say and when. I'd also consider challenging the #8 batter with a quick conference if my dugout is on the third base side if she isn't up yet with intentions of not using up a defensive conference. All depends upon what I can get away with and where "we are". Possibly due this with the #9 batter as well. Goal is to produce runs and providing words of "feel" good to the batters just might be needed. Can't do all the time, but, it just may help knock the edge off the nerves. If the #7 batter is not the "top speed" on base, pinch run for her too, again if it exists on the bench. If not, let her role on.

 

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My first thought is can I straight steal on the first pitch. I don't want to bunt or fake bunt because that may lead to the SS leaning towards 3rd to make the play. This thinking could change if the catcher is a stud and the pitcher can throw heat but I am leaning towards a straight steal.

I have some questions about #8. Is she a K machine or has she been making good contact and not making it on base? If she is K'ing or slow I defiantely try to make a move, In general though I do not think a PH has a high % to have a good at bat unless my team has the luxury of sitting some pretty good players but if that is the case why is #8 in the game anyways. We have scored 4 runs and if we have been doing that by hitting or small ball I stay with what has been working.

We have given up 6 runs so I am probably looking at a pitching change for the last inning also.

 

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Depends on pitcher. Is she still strong, getting better, or tired, rattled. What is the flow of the game. With what we know give the take sign till first strike hope for 4 balls or hbp. With weak hitter and strong pitcher I would bunt after first strike. You said 8 batter no hits so swinging away and asking her to direct to right side is not realistic. Bunt puts ball in play. If catcher or 3rd base is weak stealing is an option if 7 has any speed, that way pass ball or infield out or outfield fly scores 1. Also depends what I have on bench. If I have 2 decent hitters to work with I use lefty now and save 1 for last inning.

 

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I'm not tellin when we play and I am in the situation you'll find out... LOL ;&

 

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This thread is cracking me up.....:lmao::lmao:

 

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As others have said, we need to know just how bad the #8 hitter is. Is she 0-50 on the season, or maybe 0-6 and just returned from an injury? If she has played a lot, why is she batting eighth and not ninth? Why is she in the lineup at all, unless you only have nine players available.

Spirit posted the chart (probably taken from MLB, I would guess) that shows the odds of scoring from second with one out go up only 3% from the odds of scoring from first with no outs. If that holds for softball, then there is almost never a reason to sac bunt with a runner on first and no outs, as you greatly reduce the odds of scoring two more runs in the inning, while barely moving the needle on the odds of scoring exactly one run.

 

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And the odds of scoring from 3rd with 1 out is the same as from 2nd with 0 outs...

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

 

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Joe ... those stats do make one think, though as you note that doesn't mean they hold true for softball (would love to compare some stats like that because I'm not sure what they would tell us). But the other factor to consider is that the defense doesn't always get the out at first ... sometimes the bunt is for a base hit and sometimes the defense bobbles it or throws it away. And in this particular case, we're assuming we have a very weak hitter up who has a much better chance of at least getting a bunt down than otherwise advancing the runner.

As others have noted, it makes a difference if we're talking about say college ball vs. 10-U ...

 

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My first thought was to bunt the runner over and hope we could score the run with the next two batters coming up. If we don't score anymore that inning, and shut them down in the bottom of the 6th, I like my chances of scoring a run with the top of my order coming up.

But after further thought, I think I would have faked the bunt to get the corners moving, stole the runner from 2nd to 3rd, then had the batter pull back and try to slap the ball through a hole. Second best scenario the batter misses the ball, but keeps the catcher back and off balance, allowing my runner to steal third cleanly. Whether the batter grounded out or she has a 0-1 count, she moved the runner and improves our chances of scoring.

Don't like the idea of pinch hitting as the batter has to come off the bench cold, and in all likelihood her head is not in the game.