stealing home.....safety concern!

[Shane]

My apology in advance, but I realize many of us have sons who play baseball. Looking to pick your brains a little bit. My son is at the 13U level and I was watching one of his games recently. The head coach, who is also the 3rd base coach, decides to have his runner on third attempt a steal of home. At this level in baseball there are lead-offs. My son was not the runner. What causes me concern is the batter is in the box with 2 strikes. My son was not the batter. The runner comes barreling into home with no advance warning to the hitter. The hitter could of easily swung and caused great harm to our runner. I worry that at some point my son will either be the batter or runner. I have tried to justify this course of action, the coach sending the runner and putting him in great danger, and I have not come up with any legitimate explanation. Thoughts? Am I missing something? Should I check with the runners family and find out if they spoke with the coach?

 

[Hilliarddad3]

Just my own opinion, but at 13 they should have an understanding of signs and the batter should be aware of what's coming.....

 

[Pacerdad57]

i agree with Hilliarddad3, at 13u, if the signs are being thrown the hitter is responsible for picking it up and doing what needs done. i would think that at that level they would have an acknowledgement sign from the batter to the 3B coach between every pitch.

 

[SMc4SMc]

Earlier this season at a varsity baseball game R3 took out batter attributed to a missed sign. R3 had an excellent lead and rocketed towards home and upended the batter. R3 safe, batter bewildered (uninjured), fans gasping, coach pissed, parents pissed.

It happens. No one's happy. Faded but not forgotten, and possibly not fully forgiven.

A shared responsibility but I 'd say coach should take that one because supposedly "we play the way we practice", "go hard... play hard".

Pray. Sign the waiver. Lace 'em.

Pray.

 

[MD 20/20]

Hilliard and Pacer, I don't know if you breezed over it (I do all the time) but I agree with you, but the batter had 2 strikes. If he turns on something inside hard, it could be lights out for that runner. I'm guessing or hoping rather that the coach lost track of the hitters count and did not realize that he had 2 strikes.

 

[Shane]

coach just worked it out with the base runner and never gave notice of the upcoming attempt to the hitter

 

[Shane]

Hilliard and Pacer, I don't know if you breezed over it (I do all the time) but I agree with you, but the batter had 2 strikes. If he turns on something inside hard, it could be lights out for that runner. I'm guessing or hoping rather that the coach lost track of the hitters count and did not realize that he had 2 strikes.

Right, batter is in defense mode, behind in the count.....coach gives the batter absolutely no indication of the plan with the base runner. Then again, even if the coach last track of the count, sending a base runner home on an attempted steal without coordinating this plan with the batter, is reckless.

 

[Hilliarddad3]

coach just worked it out with the base runner and never gave notice of the upcoming attempt to the hitter

If true, then coach is foolish, and why not steal with two strikes? Could be strike three and dropped third, How many outs? Maybe catcher couldn't stop a ball all day, maybe pitcher was wild, maybe kid up next can't hit a broad side of the barn......the element of surprise is the key, but if coach didn't then it is on him .....

 

[ech92]

I think they are trying to point out that with 2 strikes the batter would possibly be swinging! That is why not to steal with 2 strikes. This decision is not made with the players safety in mind!

 

[Pacerdad57]

I totally missed the two strike wording. Does change things
Somewhat, but if the coach is making calls and not making sure the batter is fully aware of the situation, like Hilliard said,'it is ALL on the coach. His job is to make sure he has signaled everything to everyone involved, if not( and I've seen it happen a lot, coaches throwing signs at parents when he's yakking it up and the batters cannot even see signs because his back is turned to them) it is definitely NOT on the batter, you cannot be aware of something you weren't told

 

[Shane]

I think they are trying to point out that with 2 strikes the batter would possibly be swinging! That is why not to steal with 2 strikes. This decision is not made with the players safety in mind!

That is my thought ech92.

 

[Shane]

I totally missed the two strike wording. Does change things
Somewhat, but if the coach is making calls and not making sure the batter is fully aware of the situation, like Hilliard said,'it is ALL on the coach. His job is to make sure he has signaled everything to everyone involved, if not( and I've seen it happen a lot, coaches throwing signs at parents when he's yakking it up and the batters cannot even see signs because his back is turned to them) it is definitely NOT on the batter, you cannot be aware of something you weren't told

Right Pacerdad57, I would have felt so extremely sad for the batter if he would have swung the bat and hit the runner with his swing. Everyone in the ballpark would have assumed the batter missed a sign.

 

[Dougk30]

What is the distance on the bases? Isn't 13u 54-80. Was the coach trying to make the pitcher balk. I have seen it where we get our runners to leave third early in the wind up to get the pitcher messed up and confused and either throw a ball to the catcher or not step off properly and get called for the balk.

 

[daboss]

A safety squeeze or suicide squeeze is a part of the offense that has been around since the beginning of time. By high school level bith girls and boys should be aware and have practical knowledge of how to execute each play. It is a high risk way of scoring and can be extremely effective, especially when you catch the defense by surprise. Things can go wrong. Neither baseball or fastpitch are without risks. They are classic "no contact" sports that have plenty of contact. Just a part of this exciting game. I know this doesn't make the parent feel any better but don't expect a rule change. Not going to happen.

In fastpitch we watch girls take home on passed balls that involve batters still standing in a batter's box, with a catcher fielding the loose ball near a short backstop, and feeding it back to a pitcher with her back at times facing the runner coming home. I don't know how you can get things anymore congested and yet we watch it with high expectation that everyone will get up unharmed. Just another part of our game allowed by the rules. don't expect that rule to change either.

 

[Pacerdad57]

A safety squeeze or suicide squeeze is a part of the offense that has been around since the beginning of time. By high school level bith girls and boys should be aware and have practical knowledge of how to execute each play. It is a high risk way of scoring and can be extremely effective, especially when you catch the defense by surprise. Things can go wrong. Neither baseball or fastpitch are without risks. They are classic "no contact" sports that have plenty of contact. Just a part of this exciting game. I know this doesn't make the parent feel any better but don't expect a rule change. Not going to happen.

In fastpitch we watch girls take home on passed balls that involve batters still standing in a batter's box, with a catcher fielding the loose ball near a short backstop, and feeding it back to a pitcher with her back at times facing the runner coming home. I don't know how you can get things anymore congested and yet we watch it with high expectation that everyone will get up unharmed. Just another part of our game allowed by the rules. don't expect that rule to change either.

and don't forget there is ALWAYS seems to be a bat left laying in the batters box anytime anyone tries to come home......

 

[backstop09]

What does any of this have to do with softball?

 

[Fairman]

If I understand this right (even for softball) If I call a suicide squeeze (at 60')

I am supposed to....
1. Notify the runner to take of on the pitch.
2. Notify the batter to hit the ball on the right side or not to swing at all.
3. Get an acknowledgment from both the hitter and runner that they understand the full ramifications of the play.
4. Get a written release from the players involved.
5. Get a written release form the parents of said players for this specific play.
6. Probably should check with my AD and then send a letter notifying the opposing coach so he can safely adjust his defense.

We can take all danger out of softball by playing it on a Nintendo.

 

[backstop09]

If I understand this right (even for softball) If I call a suicide squeeze (at 60')

I am supposed to....
1. Notify the runner to take of on the pitch.
2. Notify the batter to hit the ball on the right side or not to swing at all.
3. Get an acknowledgment from both the hitter and runner that they understand the full ramifications of the play.
4. Get a written release from the players involved.
5. Get a written release form the parents of said players for this specific play.
6. Probably should check with my AD and then send a letter notifying the opposing coach so he can safely adjust his defense.

We can take all danger out of softball by playing it on a Nintendo.

7. Holler up into the stands and ask mom if she minds if you ask her little angel to bunt instead of swinging away.

 

[coachjwb]

I am pleased to announce that I have added a new sign to my wristband systems called "WAIVER" that will address this concern, and that extra wristbands for parents will be available at a special price.

I have also added 2 other signs ... "HR" and "HR, no 2B", so that there can be no confusion as to what coach wants.

 

[poden-smoden]

We can take all danger out of softball by playing it on a Nintendo.

Most of our kids wouldn't know what this is!