Hitting and Hitters Discussion Intentionally hitting a batter?

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This subject is being kicked around in the "Fair play" thread Johnnies started. I'm just curious what everybody is really thinking. Vote in anonymity without the need to be PC.

 

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I saw it first hand this weekend in the Toledo Tune up. I won't mention the game, but a girl hit a home run in the fourth inning and in the sixth inning on the first pitch to her, she had it buried right in the middle of her back. These girls have far too much control for that to happen. It was definitely a statement pitch.

 

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I did'nt vote in the poll ?but in Jr high I think my kid got plunked . ?I believe it was a 3-0 pitch , the 1st 3 were close or missed up/down ? ball 4 got her . ?This pitcher had pretty good control. ? Was the DD of a coach that I had some verbial sparring with on another web site. ? I hated it because I felt some responsibility for it. Didn't ?hurt my dd any however. ? ? MD

PS I never said a word or jumped off my bucket , she stole 2 and 3rd on the next 2 pitches. Can't remember if she scored or not.

 

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It's not a good part of the game. But it's always going to be part of the game unless hitting a batter is outlawed and results in the pitcher being removed from the game. That would, of course, be ridiculous.

 

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I voted "never."

If intentional ?HBP becomes tolerated your pitcher better be ready to be hit when she comes up to bat. ?That's the logical progression. ?Next comes charging the mound. ?Then comes the moms and dads pounding each other in the stands and on the field. ?It's bad enough as it is - we don't need more drama.

(Having said all that I'm not naive enough to think that it doesn't happen on rare occasion.) ?

 

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One of my DD's was playing at NSA states in 2004 and after hitting a triple in her first AB, was HBP the next 2 AB's. The first time I didn't think much of it, but after the 2nd time I was waiting in the parking lot for the opposing head coach!!!

 

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I personally cannot think of a reason to intentionally hit a batter. Although, to retaliate for our batters being intentionally hit would be tempting, but only against the pitcher that hit the batters to begin with.

 

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Oh, I would love to hear the roundtable discussion between Roger Clemens, Bob Gibson, and Pedro Martinez, moderated by Lucifer (or maybe Chris Rock).

I say no, ... not intetnionally. But if a hitter is taking a 1/3 of the plate away, thinking she will intimidate a "nice" pitcher into reducing the strike zone for her, then she better be prepared for the pitcher to "re-claim" it.

I have seen a few teams that I believe are specifically coached to crowd the plate, forcing the pitcher to pitch to the "reduced" outside half of the plate - reduces the strike zone, gets pitcher behind in the count, and it reduces the variables for the hitter when the strategy works. Aggressively pitching against this strategy (busting in a few FB's or Screw's, or an inside curve) is going to result in a few bruises - acceptable risk, but not truly planned.

 

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Pitching inside to reclaim the plate or make a statement is fine but not to intentionally hit a batter. I have thought about it but generally it is the other coach I have wanted hit not the player and uinfortunatley he doesn't get an AB ;D

 

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Never, ever, can this be condoned. Now if they are over the plate like Pickle states, the plate is the pitchers area and if they get hit, oh well don't crowd the plate. We play a team this weekend that when they were 14's ALL had the full arm padding that bonds used to wear and would do exactly that and stick out over the plate. Now at 18's it will be interesting if they still wear them.

That is different than going out and say to yourself I am going to hit you. If any coach allows that mentality, they should be banned from the game. Remember, this is still kids playing a game, not a player making a living out of it.

 

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I have the "plunk" sign in my arsenal. When my team gets behind by more than 7 runs, I give the sign and my pitcher throws it at my head as hard as she can. ;D By the time I wake up, I have forgotten about the game. A bruised noggin' is easier to deal with than a bruised ego.

Hitting a kid intentionally is absurd behavior.

 

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I have the "plunk" sign in my arsenal. ?When my team gets behind by more than 7 runs, I give the sign and my pitcher throws it at my head as hard as she can. ;D ?By the time I wake up, I have forgotten about the game. ?A bruised noggin' is easier to deal with than a bruised ego.

Now that's funny!! ;D

 

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Maybe we should just play wiffle ball. If you follow some of the absurd whiners out there that will be where its going.
Hitting a batter always has and always will happen.

The comments about its ok to make a statement if they are crowding the plate - LOL
News flash most of the interpreted intentional beanings are probably just "statements" gone awry. If you start kicking out pitchers for that why dont you let the batter stand on the plate and hit with a fred flintstone sized bat.

I would never as a coach tell a player to do something like that but if a player is acting like a tool the whole game and one of my pitchers drills them in the thigh that little devil inside of me cracks a little smile.

I will say that hitting a batter because that player did something good and you dont like it is just plain ridiculous. I dont understand it in the major leagues and never will. Hitting a batter that took a cheap shot at on of your players - no problem.

 

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A coach instructing a player (kid) to intentionally plunk another player (kid) is absurd, and borderline criminal. It never was or never will be "part of the game" when it comes to Youth Sports. What the players do on their own accord is for their conscience to decipher, but if I find out one of my players intentionally hit another kid, they will never, ever, play for me again. I don't care what convoluted reason they think they may have.

Getting hit by pitches (accidentally) is part of the game. It should never, ever be used as a strategy.

 

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wether it happens for stealing signs, baiting the pitcher or pointing a bat, it does happen, especialy in the more aggressive tournaments, is it done on purpose, i would say no, its more out of desperation and anger by the pitcher for what ever reason at the moment, and may be nothnig more than her trying to push an aggressive batter off her plate, but ive seen vengence hits before, my dd gets plunked at least a few times a year, so its no big deal, just a part of the game,

 

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Maybe we should just play wiffle ball. If you follow some of the absurd whiners out there that will be where its going.
Hitting a batter always has and always will happen.

The comments about its ok to make a statement if they are crowding the plate - LOL
News flash most of the interpreted intentional beanings are probably just "statements" gone awry. If you start kicking out pitchers for that why dont you let the batter stand on the plate and hit with a fred flintstone sized bat.

I would never as a coach tell a player to do something like that but if a player is acting like a tool the whole game and one of my pitchers drills them in the thigh that little devil inside of me cracks a little smile.

I will say that hitting a batter because that player did something good and you dont like it is just plain ridiculous. I dont understand it in the major leagues and never will. Hitting a batter that took a cheap shot at on of your players - no problem.

Thanks for the newsflash - that was what I just said, uh, I believe?!? It is okay to throw inside (off the plate, inside) regardlewss of where the hitter chooses to stand, and bruises will result if the hitter will not give some space to the pitcher. That is still different from deciding you are going to "plunk" the hitter, wherever they stand and whatever they do.

If you decide to intentionally hit a girl at the "low" amateur level (youth travel & below), and cause damage, then I hope that little devil inside you can help you live with that. I am as competitive as the next guy, but there is a line to be drawn. Agree to disagree, I guess. :-?

 

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I got no problem with a little bit of chin music to back someone off the plate but never have instructed a player to intentionally hit a batter because I don't like putting a runner on base, it seems like that always comes back to hurt you

 

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its part of the game. if you're the batter, so what? shake it off and you get a free base if you're the pitcher, you just put more pressure on yourself by putting probably one of the better ballplayers on the other team on base.

 

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Interesting poll when you figure only coaches and pitchers could answer Did It or Thought About It. Parents and non-pitchers would just be Yes or No. So the Thought About It among those that could actually do it is probably over 50%. Out of that over 50% that Thought About It how many coaches would actually put the hit on if they thought a girl could keep a secret!

Or maybe I am just thinking too much :-/

 

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Instructing kids or even young adults to throw at other kids and young adults is irresponsible and just plain wrong. This is not MLB and it astounds me that "macho" coaches think that it is OK to do this. One of the factors for our leaving a team a few years back was that the coach had no trouble going out and telling the pitcher to hit someone because they other team was stealing his pitch calling signs. Throwing inside to a batter crowding the plate is another matter altogether.