Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pulling a Pittcher?

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You are in the first inning of a 14U game on Sunday. The first batter hits a dinker to third base and it is over thrown at first. The second batter hits a dinker to short, the short freezes and the player is safe on first and second. The third batter gets a full count, but walks on close pitches. The pitcher is pitching hard and hitting her spots. Bases on now loaded. Do you pull her or do you let her have the next batter?

 

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Each team is going to be different.
Do you have a better pitcher ? One that is able to come in and strike out the side.
The pitcher that you have in. Is she shaken by what is going on? Do you as a coach think she can work out of it?
Do you have the offence to score runs if you give up runs ?
Like I said each team and each pitcher is different.
Do what you think is best for the team.

 

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Call time and go to the mound and ask her what her favorite ice cream is. Anything to relax her and let her know you are behind her. All she has done is walk a batter on 6 pitches...Leave her in and play for the force at home. Gather the infield an make it appear as if you have a play on and tell 'em one pitch at a time. PLAY BALL!

 

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Pitcher is not shaken up - very calm. ?Matter of fact pitcher gets better with pressure and is a progessive pitcher. Everyone thought that the coach was just going to talk to the team and tell them the play is at home. ?Coach puts daughter in she walks the fourth batter 1-0 and the team gets the next two outs. ?In the fourth inning simialr situation daughter doesn't get pullled the score is now 4-0. ? ?

 

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Have faith that the Team Management will do what's best for the TEAM.. It's easy to say (and I have done this for my own daughter) that kids really step up when the pressure's on - but at the end of the day when the pressure's gone - how well do they REALLY handle it?
It's a team sport - every pitcher, under pressure or the best of circumstances needs a good defense who has faith in them.. Pulling a pitcher isn't ALWAYS the answer..

 

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Thanks Thunderbolt Mom - I guess the reason why I am questioning this management call this late in the season is due to my lack of faith in management. It's probably best for us to look for a new team next year.

 

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I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD GIVE THE PITCHER ANOTHER CHANCE BY CALLING TIME AND TALKING TO HER TO CALM HER DOWN! YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT YOUR TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING THAT THE OTHER TEAM HAS DONE.

 

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The first pitcher didn't really have a chance to make mistakes, so probably give her the benefit of the doubt.

It would depend on the pitcher's experience and how important the game is also. Does the pitcher have a record of giving up hits during pressure situations? Does the pitcher give up hits on a regular basis, or is she one that you can depend on? If the game is less critical (if there is such a thing), it is a good time to give a chance for a pitcher to show what she can do.

It also depends on how good the coaches daughter is who replaced the pitcher and whether the coaches daughter can handle pressure situations.

 

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Keep #6 on the mound, she deserves to be there, PERIOD.

 

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I would love to hear from coaches as to how they think pitchers should be used in a game. For instance, how do you know when to pull a pitcher? I have seen several different strategies, and I am curious to know what type of strategies coaches use and the thinking behind it.

 

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A few years back when I started out as the JV coach, I had no pitcher. ?A girl started coming in during the fall for conditioning and stated she would like to try and pitch. ?I said ok lets throw a little, first pitch went straight up into the air. ?We kept throwing through the winter months and come spring I felt we were ready for our first game.
Boy were my eyes opened, I believe that first game she walked 20-30 batters and we lost 30 something to nothing. ?Second game she pitched wasn't much better, but I wasn't giving up on her because she was the only one that came in and tried. ?By the third game of multiple walks my coaching assistant finally approached me about trying someone else. ?Being a stubborn first year coach I said "I'm sticking with her no matter how many she walks because she put in the time!!"
Well after a few more games of this I finally gave in and made the change, this girl only walked eight.
The next year this girl that had walked so many the previous year came back to become our starting varsity pitcher and win three games for us. ?
As far as pulling out your pitcher-Depends on how thick you skin is!! ;D