Since when did DH-ing become "Not Playing"?

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Parent complaining because his kids "not playing". Has started 4 games in the field(and the lineup) plus 3 at DH. That's EVERY game this year. Complaining constantly that she's "not playing", wants to know what she did wrong. Also, she's a freshman and it appears the coach is working a rotation of kids in and out of the DH spot. But really, when did playing at DH become not playing?

 

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Re: Since when did DH-ing become "Not Playing?

If you're batting, you're playing!!

 

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Nothing surprises me when it comes to things a parent might find to complain about when it involves their "little darlings". I've heard some doosies!

A few from when I coached...

One league had a rule about the minimum number of innings a player had to play and I was rotating kids in and out the whole game. One kid had started, got in his minimum, then sat out a couple of innings. When I went to put him back in the game, he tells me his knee is sore and he doesn't want to play, so I left him out.

The next day, his dad calls and gets my voicemail. The guy just literally rips into me me with a five minute message about how unfair it was that his kid only played three innings, how he expected that things had better change and how my priorities as a coach must be out of whack because it was obvious that I was more concerned about winning that letting as many kids as possible play.

I called the guy back the first chance I got. I let him know that I got his message and before he had a chance to start in on me again, asked him if he was aware that his son specifically requested not to go back in the game. He wasn't, sputtered some excuse and offered a weak apology. The guy never said one more word to me the rest of the entire season.

Another guy fancied his kid as the the second coming of Johnny Bench and wanted her as our catcher. One game, his daughter caught the first three innings, then played another position. The guy reams me for taking his kid out "too soon".

A few games later, his kid caught five innings. She made a few errors in her fifth inning. After the game, the guy reams me for "leaving her in too long"!

I guess the magic number of inning for this kid was exactly four...

The worst may have been the parent (mom) that had two brothers playing for me. The lady was friendly all year and I never had a problem with her. Her kids were enthusiastic and talented and they were rewarded by playing every inning of every game up until that point of the season. Toward the end of one game, I finally had her sons sit out a couple of innings to get some other players in.

This lady immediately pulled her kids from the bench and just left! She didn't even say a word to any of the coaches. I had to call her the next day to find out what was going on. She was mad that her kids had to sit two innings and informed me that they had quit the team- and they never came back!

 

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Don't start a post of unreasonable demands that parents make of their kids coaches. That might bring the entire internet down.

 

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I have the same problem. I always thought that DH-ing was playing as well but maybe we coaches should not think that way- NOT. Most kids I know would love to just bat. Parents need to let the kids play and stay out of the game. Just my thoughts

 

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I had a girl who was my starting shortstop, she played every inning there and she loved it. Never a complaint. At the end of the year, the parents freaked out and told everyone that I never played her because I didn't put her on the mound, which is where THEY wanted her to play. She never complained and had a great time every tournament, you could barely pry her off of my hip. Although they told everyone she was miserable and cried after every game. I think sometimes parents forget to listen to what the kids want. The complaints stem more from what the parents want. Parental craziness knows no bounds.

 

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Lol snocatzdad ...

 

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I always get pretty mad at a parent or player who considers DHing not playing. I have heard that several times over the years.

My answer is usually something like, "Ok then, if you don't think you're in the lineup, I'll just remove you as the DH and now you definitely won't be playing."

Having said that, the majority of girls accept roles - even if they don't agree with them - and do everything they can to be team players.

 

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I understand the tough choices a coach has to make, but I also understand a kid not being happy with just batting.

For a kid who really loves the game, it can feel like she's not as valued as others who field and bat...just sayin'.

 

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I would tend to agree Kat, especially if it's a non league game, who cares about the record? Get kids in some spots to get some reps at different positions. But the child should be asking, not Mom or Dad.

 

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I understand the tough choices a coach has to make, but I also understand a kid not being happy with just batting.

For a kid who really loves the game, it can feel like she's not as valued as others who field and bat...just sayin'.

Kat: At the risk of being labeled mean, when I'm making out a lineup, I am not the slighest bit concerned with how a girl might feel. Once I go down that road, I'm being unfair to the girls who deserve to be in the lineup and to the team as a whole.

If a girl doesn't feel good about being a DH, then I assume she is spending a ton of time on her own getting in defensive work. If she does that, then I'll work with her and she will receive empathy from me. If not, then she gets no empathy and likely no time in the field.

 

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No, I'm not gonna call you a big meany, Joe, lol.

A hard-nosed realist, perhaps, but I don't think you would consider that a put-down anyway, would you?

No, just tryin' to put the girls' side of it out there.

And you're right. After, say 10u, their feelings shouldn't figure into the line up anymore.

 

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Kat: At the risk of being labeled mean, when I'm making out a lineup, I am not the slighest bit concerned with how a girl might feel. Once I go down that road, I'm being unfair to the girls who deserve to be in the lineup and to the team as a whole.

If a girl doesn't feel good about being a DH, then I assume she is spending a ton of time on her own getting in defensive work. If she does that, then I'll work with her and she will receive empathy from me. If not, then she gets no empathy and likely no time in the field.

The way it should be in travel and school ball. Maybe rec should have playing time that doesn't depend on talent and stated that way up front.

 

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I never minded being the DH, I liked hitting. Not to mention if I would ever say I didn't want to DH, my coaches would have found a nice new spot for me on the pine!! I say quit complaining and start playing. If the girl really loves the game she will be happy just to play. DH, pinch running, or just playing defense...it is all playing.

 

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I would tend to agree Kat, especially if it's a non league game, who cares about the record? Get kids in some spots to get some reps at different positions. But the child should be asking, not Mom or Dad.

Hey, that's a great idea. Apparently you skipped the part in the original post that stated she had played 4 out of 7 games in the field AND in the lineup and the other 3 at DH.

 

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Yeah I do have a short attention span, that's why I don't read....

No other kids can take a turn there rather than one being pigeon holed into it 3 of 4 games? That's 5 hrs of bench sitting.... maybe not enough players on the roster could be the issue too?

 

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a little off topic but I guess r team right now is lucky....we decided to not pitch r #1 in the final of a tourn as she had just pitched the semi, talked to her and her parents explaining that if we were going to advance as a team our #2 needed some pressure games as well. Everything went great r #1 was a great teammate the entire game until we warmed her up and asked her to come into the game for the save, she turned into a beast and did her job....it was great for all of girls to see her take her role for that game and then perform, parents seen the big picture too....again we won so it was all good, everyone needs to realize that these teams belong to the athletes, not the coaches or the parents....................if ur in a place that is not challenging ur daughter, then move....if ur daughter isnt playing as much as u like and u move what r u teaching her.....................the cream rises to the top

 

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Over the years, you see a DD that can crush a ball, always got a bat on it, high OBP.... but the fielding is a little off. That's what the DH covers.

In non-league contests, it one thing to put her in the game as a position player to get some reps. It one thing to give that DD some time in practice to work on her defensive skills. As a coach, after pracice if she wants some extra time for some grounders and come ask me to do so... I'm all in as a coach !!!! That's my job as a coach to be "all in" for these girls.

As a coach, if I am showing the girl that I am 110% percent behind you and the work you want to do..... then she will work harder to make herself a better defensive player. Teach attitude... but teach yourself the same as coaches. Reach down in your gut and give that extra for the girls.

P>S> Mom or Dad should be on first catching the throws so the girl knows there are behind her as well at that "after" practice session.

 

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A hard-nosed realist, perhaps, but I don't think you would consider that a put-down anyway, would you?

No, I wouldn't, as it's definitely true. Having said that, we have something like 15 girls who have 20 or more plate appearances in 23 games. So when it comes to lineups, I think I give girls on the bubble many more chances than most coaches. We are over halfway through our season and we just now more or less have a set lineup.

 

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No, I wouldn't, as it's definitely true. Having said that, we have something like 15 girls who have 20 or more plate appearances in 23 games. So when it comes to lineups, I think I give girls on the bubble many more chances than most coaches. We are over halfway through our season and we just now more or less have a set lineup.

Glad you took the comment in the spirit it was intended, Joe *smiles*

I think you are a firm but fair guy and I'm pleased to see you admit to at times giving some girls a little more of a chance to prove themselves.

Probably explains why you have advanced so far in the sport.