Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

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Opinions please ! If anyone has ever seen our team and seen our ace pitcher , you would know she averages atleast 1 hit batter per game . She never intentionally does this she just gets a little wild at times . Today we were playing a fellow local travel team and of course our pitcher hits their pitcher on her elbow ( not her throwing arm & not intentionally ). When we come up to hit ( up 7-1 , 6th inning , 9th batter up ) first pitch nails our batter directly in the mid section ( girl is in major pain ) ! Their coach never flinches , never ask if shes ok never uncrosses his arms . Both teams are familiar with each other , so I asked a player from their team whom I know and she confirmed to me that coach ordered his pitcher to hit our first batter ! I think thats B S ! The girl on our team is still having pain in her stomach tonight , Is this really necessary ? If we are going to stoop to this level should the umps start tossing the pitchers out for retalliation ? I guess I believe as a coach you also need to be teaching the girls to have a little class !

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

I know this isn't baseball, but ... There is an unwritten rule, call it a "code", in that sport that says when you hit one of us - we hit one one of you. So, unless your pitch bounced twice before hitting the batter, some people take it as a sign that it was intentional, therefore they must retaliate.

And what sport did a lot of coaches grow up playing? Baseball. Agree or disagree with the concept, but that's they way some people think. And always will.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

No idea what happened here, but in my opinion it is always, always wrong for an adult coach to tell a youth athlete to purposely hit a player. Period.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Well, if your ace pitcher has a tendancy to hit batters it's a bit hard to be sympathetic if retaliation occurrs. Your coach does not appear to worry about the other teams' hitters if he continues to send your ace in the circle knowing the chances that at least one batter per game is going to get plunked, so in all honesty your coach should expect something to happen in return. If a retaliation pitch was called, which truly is unknown at this point, the pitch was thrown in the correct area. The bigger question is, how did the young lady get hit in the mid section? Turn away from the pitch and take it in the back. Was she bunting? Anyway, we're talking 16U here. She should know how turn her back to the ball. I do hope the young lady is okay and feels better today.

Len

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Lenski ... what do you mean by "the coach should expect something to happen in return" and "if a retaliation pitch was called, the pitch was thrown in the correct area"?

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Well, if your ace pitcher has a tendancy to hit batters it's a bit hard to be sympathetic if retaliation occurrs. Your coach does not appear to worry about the other teams' hitters if he continues to send your ace in the circle knowing the chances that at least one batter per game is going to get plunked, so in all honesty your coach should expect something to happen in return. If a retaliation pitch was called, which truly is unknown at this point, the pitch was thrown in the correct area. The bigger question is, how did the young lady get hit in the mid section? Turn away from the pitch and take it in the back. Was she bunting? Anyway, we're talking 16U here. She should know how turn her back to the ball. I do hope the young lady is okay and feels better today.Len

Sorry, Lenski; I couldn't disagree more. Even if the first girl was hit intentionally, that isn't justification for putting yet another player in jeopardy. Intentionally hitting batters is unacceptable in my book. Pitchers accidentaly hitting batters is going to happen, it's part of the game. I know a respected pitching coach in Central Ohio that says, "If you are not hitting at least one batter per game, you aren't throwing hard enough." Not saying I necessarily agree, however, this ace pitcher hitting one per game isn't all that uncommon and I disagree with the suggestion that her coach is doing something "wrong" by pitching her. He certainly shouldn't "expect something to happen in return". JMHO

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Take the information from BARTS reply, saying that some coaches feel retaliation is needed. That's what the coach might "expect" the right place, means hitting the girl in the midsection. She can turn away from it and take it in the back. Not above the shoulders as to injure the head. Not below the waist as to stay away from the joints.

Just sayin....

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

If one player intentionally tries to hit or injure another player that crosses the line. Heck if I get mad at my wife and hit her with a softball the police would surely call that an assault. What's different in a game if it is done intentionally?

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Again, 25's dad, there is no/zero/nil reason to do this, and any coach who orders this is an *** in my opinion. To imply that it's OK to do in the midsection or somewhere it's not going to hurt is just plain wrong. And besides, does the ball always go the heighth that a pitcher wants it do? What if it does go a little high and hit the head or the elbow? How would you feel if it's your daughter who gets retaliated on?

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

The batter/pitcher confrontation is inevitable in this game. The batters push the inside and the pitcher takes it back in order to be able to work entire plate. The batters are going to get hit, intentional or not. If the pitcher gives up the inside of the plate she will then give up to many fat doubles. A pitcher has to learn to come inside and deal with hitting batters.

These are not professional ballplayers and no one is perfect, batters will be hit. A kid that works the inside will hit more batters than a kid that works away. The first part of your story is all in days work. So what if your pitcher hits a batter a game.

A retaliation pitch ordered by the coach.... I do have trouble with that especeilly at the younger age groups. At the 18U level you don't have to order it, these kids will put a screw ball in on the hands and twist a girl into the ground without any help from a coach.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Heck if I get mad at my wife and hit her with a softball the police would surely call that an assault. What's different in a game if it is done intentionally?

'Not exactly the same.

Why doesn't a MLB pitcher get charged with assualt?
Why doesn't an infantryman get charged with homicide?
Why doesn't a demo-derby driver get charged with reckless op?

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

'Not exactly the same.

Why doesn't a MLB pitcher get charged with assualt?

He probably would if the DA fealt he could prove "intent" which is what we are talking about here.

Why doesn't an infantryman get charged with homicide?

Talk about being "Not exactly the same"; however, they actually DO get charged with homicide if they kill someone outside of their "order of justification".

Why doesn't a demo-derby driver get charged with reckless op?

They would if they performed their derby on the city streets instead of in an organized event held specifically for that purpose.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Sally ... not exactly the same ...

1) Kids vs. adults
2) It is not the purpose of a ball player to "retaliate" ... it is the purpose of a demo driver to crash into other cars, and I am not even going to get into the soldier thing ... really?

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

Never ever intentionally hit another player. No matter what. Never. If a coach tells you to do it, don't. Baseball, softball, golf, whatever it is, don't do it.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

TR & JWB,

That's my point. It was stated that if he hit his wife with a softball, that could be assault. . . . Because it's off the playing field.

My examples are actions that are "accepted" because it's what expected in that venue...

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

This is a situation where it helps to know your opponent. When I was 16 were were beating a team from Indiana and I was pitching a gem. I was coming up to bat in the 5th and my coach told me to "stay loose" in the box because had he been pitching against me that day, I would have got plunked. Right or wrong (ok, IT'S WRONG!) it happens and you're best off teaching your kids how to deal with it; especially if you think it's a situation where it could happen. There are a couple coaches out there I would be on the lookout for personally.

I do however tend to agree with the pitching coach who says if you aren't hitting a batter once in a while, you aren't throwing hard enough. Pitchers can't pitch tentatively or scared. I hit my share of batters, but my grandpa used to tell me, "it's the batter's fault for not getting out of the way". Might not be practical for FP when someone it throwing heat but that phrase helped me never worry about a hit batter back when I was pitching.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

This is a situation where it helps to know your opponent. When I was 16 were were beating a team from Indiana and I was pitching a gem. I was coming up to bat in the 5th and my coach told me to "stay loose" in the box because had he been pitching against me that day, I would have got plunked. Right or wrong (ok, IT'S WRONG!) it happens and you're best off teaching your kids how to deal with it; especially if you think it's a situation where it could happen. There are a couple coaches out there I would be on the lookout for personally.

I do however tend to agree with the pitching coach who says if you aren't hitting a batter once in a while, you aren't throwing hard enough. Pitchers can't pitch tentatively or scared. I hit my share of batters, but my grandpa used to tell me, "it's the batter's fault for not getting out of the way". Might not be practical for FP when someone is throwing heat but that phrase helped me never worry about a hit batter back when I was pitching.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

I've played and coached for a long time and batters are going to get intentionally hit no matter what anyone thinks is politically correct or uncalled for. I have been drilled by some of the hardest throwing pitchers on just about every part of my body. Coaches should be teaching the girls how to avoid injury from an errant pitch by turning their body back toward the catcher and not by a hop out of the box....that never works.

Younger batters usually get drilled due to lack of control. Older batters usually get drilled because of some altercation between players. I must say, 9 times out of 10 when a pitcher intentionally hits a batter, it isn't the coach who calls it. Our pitchers always did it on their own when they felt a teammate was tagged hard, collided with intentionally or harassed by the other players or parents. I never minded it because it is part of the game.....and I got a free base. I've seen games where so many batters on both teams were hit that the pitchers where both ejected. When emotions run high and the game is on the line, be prepared for anything...some of these girls are diehards who DO NOT take losing lightly. Fastpitch softball is a rough game and the tougher players will be the ones who rise to the top....and will do whatever is necessary to get there.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

I can honestly say that I've never intentionally hit another player. I've been given the signal to do so and didn't. If the coach wanted to take me out of the game and never pitch me again that is his choice. I also instructed my son to never hit another player on purpose and he was given the sign to do so he is to not follow the order. It isn't baseball or softball no matter what anybody says. No going in spikes high, no hitting another player, no leading with the elbow if you fall on another player during a double play, etc. Don't do it. If anybody else wants to be class-less it doesn't mean we are as well. It is as simple and black & white as that.

 

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Re: Retalliation coach ordered pitcher to hit our first batter

True dat!

Just because "we've always done it like that" doesn't mean it's right. And it doesn't mean we can't change it.