Parents calling pitche locations?

[Honor&Glory]

I think this may have been a topic in the past but I am not sure. Players and coaches yelling out or stealing signs is part of the game. I get that and I honestly have no problem with it.

But yesterday I experienced for the first time parents sitting behind a backstop and yelling 'inside' or 'outside' no matter how late the catcher set up. Thinking this would be more of a distraction to the hitter. I'm curious what you guys think and I'm even more curious how a college coach watching a game would think. This team will play in a showcase next weekend and I'm wondering how that would be received.

 

[The3dm]

I would simply call time, walk to the backstop and as loudly as I could say "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! YOUR DD IS PLAYING JUST FINE, WHY DO YOU HAVE SO LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN HER ABILITY AND FEEL THE NEED TO CHEAT ON HER BEHALF. CAN'T YOU SEE YOU ARE EMBARRASSING HER".

I would then thank the ump for time and tell him you just can't stand when parents put down their own kids (loud enough for the batter to her). I might even apologize to the batter for her parent's behavior too.

 

[coachjwb]

I love Doug's answer, though I can't see doing that myself!

If the catcher isn't giving away the location too early, I agree it would be more of a distraction to the batter for someone to yell it last second like that. I'm a strong believer in the catcher signalling the location to the pitcher and not just showing it. Another possible solution might be for the catcher to go out and tell the pitcher that the next 3 times she shows location that it's going to be the opposite of what she signalled, and that should help send the message ... no different than if someone is actually stealing the number signs and changing those around.

 

[Westler33]

We had this happen to us this year and it drives me crazy for a parent to sit there and call out the location of the catcher. I could deal with it if it was the players on the field but not some kids mom or dad from the stands or from behind the backstop. Like I said before it is hard for the younger girls to be moving when the pitcher is starting to throw the ball because if they are going to set up on the outside and the pitcher throws it back to the inside it is hard for the young catchers to change direction to stop the ball. I would think you would want to see the kids play the game on the field not from the stands.

 

[fpitchdad]

Tell your kids to focus on what is going on inside the fence..... I have seen this happen so much over the years and I have never seen it make much of a difference on the outcome of an at bat and I've seen more games then most on here. If it did make a difference on at bats and my DD was pitching (old school thinking), then the next couple batters better have quick reflexes if the parent continues there clueless gestures........

 

[SoCal_Dad]

... I'm even more curious how a college coach watching a game would think. This team will play in a showcase next weekend and I'm wondering how that would be received.

Any type of coaching from the stands is a red flag to some/many college coaches. Spectators can discuss things among themselves as long as they're not negative towards a player or coach.

The college coaches should be interested in seeing how the other team handles it regardless of whether it's coming from the spectators or the participants. Ideally, they maintain their composure and make necessary adjustments.

 

[The3dm]

Tell your kids to focus on what is going on inside the fence..... I have seen this happen so much over the years and I have never seen it make much of a difference on the outcome of an at bat and I've seen more games then most on here. If it did make a difference on at bats and my DD was pitching (old school thinking), then the next couple batters better have quick reflexes if the parent continues there clueless gestures........

Can't say I would ever support holding the batter responsible for a classless parent. Some parents just have no clue about the spirit of competition, they think it is all about winning.

 

[Westler33]

Tell your kids to focus on what is going on inside the fence..... I have seen this happen so much over the years and I have never seen it make much of a difference on the outcome of an at bat and I've seen more games then most on here. If it did make a difference on at bats and my DD was pitching (old school thinking), then the next couple batters better have quick reflexes if the parent continues there clueless gestures........

I know that this is how it is handled in baseball if one team thinks you are stealing signs then the next hitter might just catch one in the ear hole but I could never tell a kid to hit another kid I mean in mlb they are grown men not kids.

 

[CARDS]

SoCal Dad and 3DM nailed it.
At 14U we had one of those parents. I had to send him to the OF to watch the games or give him a job like take pictures or hold the hit stick.
However; At 6.3" 280lbs he was very useful in these situations described in this thread.

There was several times where he would act like he was with the opposing team and start crap or, in a case like this pull up his chair right next to mommy and daddy and when they would say one thing he would say the opposite. Yes, he was kind of a head case but; given the situation sometimes having one available is not a bad thing…

 

[FastBat]

Shame on that parent. If that parent would put that energy towards working with their kid, imagine how good that kid would be. Seems like the parent had perfected the trick.

 

[wow]

We had this happen last year... It was actually pretty funny because our coach starting calling out the location verbally, to the catcher, so everyone could hear... The batters still could not make solid contact..

The other teams parents were stunned!

 

[Fairman]

The problem for the batter is that the pitchers are not that good and can't hit location 3 out of 5 times.

On top of that the in/out doesn't tell you if the pitch is a breaking ball, a heater or a change-up or even up or down. It only tells you where the coach, the catcher and the pitcher hopes to throw the pitch.

I love WOW's response. I'll definitely put that in my bag of tricks. I'd let it go and play with them especially if my pitcher had the stuff. After a few innings of zero success the batters will be telling the parent to shut up and move.