throws to home

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Figured I'd get some opinions here. How often do you want your 13u outfielders to attempt to throw a runner out at home, who was on 2nd base when a single was hit? Obviously the situation would change your opinion. Outfielders arm strength. Score. Point in the game you are. Runner. How hard the single is. How your pitcher matches up with the upcoming hitters. Etc, etc. So lets use this as an example:

1. tie game, opposing team has average speed runner on 2nd, no outs, and their #2 batter up. #3 and #4 are on deck and in the hole. Your outfielders are playing respectful depth, and have equal average arm strength. Batter hits routine, no doubt, basic base hit to centerfield.

A. late in the game, last, or next to last inning, do you want them to throw home?

B. early in the game, 1st thru 3rd inning or so, do you want them to throw home?

2. you're up 4 runs, opposing team has runner on 2nd, no outs, and their #2 batter up. #3 and #4 are on deck and in the hole. Your outfielders are playing respectful depth, and have equal average arm strength. Batter hits routine, no doubt, basic base hit to centerfield.

A. late in the game, last, or next to last inning, do you want them to throw home?

B. early in the game, 1st thru 3rd inning or so, do you want them to throw home?


I know there is no short answer to either of the above. But both of these situations occurred and me and a coach or 2 have a friendly disagreement on the issue. I specifically told our outfielders to hit the cutoff, in effect telling them not to throw home. Idea being make the other team get the maximum hits needed to score runs. One of the times our leftfielder threw home anyways. We were up by 4, 4th inning, runner on 2nd with 2 outs. She made a nice throw, got the runner out. Great job, and hard for me to argue her choice as the result proved me wrong this time. But I still think it was the wrong play to try and make in that situation. Other situation was runner on 2nd, tie game with us being the home team. 4th inning. Base hit to center, our centerfielder did not throw home as they were told not to try and do. Runner of course scored so now we're down one. Idea was, to not allow the batter to advance to 2nd and concede the run which could be knocked in by their middle of their lineup anyways It just seems like such a low percentage play. Being down 1 run at that point in the game didn't seem like the end of the world. If we try and throw her out and don't execute it, or the proper cutoff, then the batter is standing on 2nd now and we're in the same situation all over again and now down by 1 run.

I know there is no cut and dry answer here. Just curious if you had to make the call, one way or the other, what would you want to happen.

 

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There's many variables here, but lets just take the simple questions you gave with no variables.

#1 - a ...you have to throw home. Throws should always be hard and low enough for the cutoff to cut if needed.
#1-b ...No, hit the cutoff, only one may score but now you can get a double play with next batter

#2-a ....No, sacrifce a run or two for outs.
#2-b...Yes, make them respect your arms, for you might need respect in late game innings, but again hard throw so cutoff can cut if needed.

 

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Interesting topic! The key is communication, some of which happens BEFORE the play, some DURING the play - usually in "bang-bang" fashion. Very often the difference between a pitcher's duel, low score ball game comes down to solid QUICK communication and decision making.

IMO, CF is the "General" in the outfield, unless she's fielding, in which case the closest OF communicates to her. Infield "General" should always be the catcher.

Deep flies leave the outfielder with their back to the runners, so SOMEONE needs to be telling her where to make the throw. As the play is developing, and the throw is coming from the OF, the catcher can see if the throw needs cut, and should be yelling commands.

A high school baseball coach once told me he was extremely frustrated because "no one teaches kids how to play the game anymore". And he was right! Along with learning how to hit, pitch, throw and catch, kids MUST be taught communication skills, strategy, and good decision making. Far too many kids get clear into high school ball without these basic "game skills". On that topic, I've seen 16u (and above) coaches try to run a game like they have a joystick controller, and the players are robots! The most exciting games are when the PLAYERS are in control, making split second decisions. For instance, how many coaches teach their players to "pick up the ball" after a hit, and decide FOR THEMSELVES if they can gut out a double? Too many first base coaches make that decision FOR them - and the result is softball players with no decision making skills. The PLAYER should know how fast she can run on any given day!

At the higher levels, it's not so much if the kid has the arm or physical skills, it's more of a decision making thing - game strategy skills.

 

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interesting topic! The key is communication, some of which happens before the play, some during the play - usually in "bang-bang" fashion. Very often the difference between a pitcher's duel, low score ball game comes down to solid quick communication and decision making.

Imo, cf is the "general" in the outfield, unless she's fielding, in which case the closest of communicates to her. Infield "general" should always be the catcher.

Deep flies leave the outfielder with their back to the runners, so someone needs to be telling her where to make the throw. As the play is developing, and the throw is coming from the of, the catcher can see if the throw needs cut, and should be yelling commands.

A high school baseball coach once told me he was extremely frustrated because "no one teaches kids how to play the game anymore". And he was right! Along with learning how to hit, pitch, throw and catch, kids must be taught communication skills, strategy, and good decision making. Far too many kids get clear into high school ball without these basic "game skills". On that topic, i've seen 16u (and above) coaches try to run a game like they have a joystick controller, and the players are robots! The most exciting games are when the players are in control, making split second decisions. For instance, how many coaches teach their players to "pick up the ball" after a hit, and decide for themselves if they can gut out a double? Too many first base coaches make that decision for them - and the result is softball players with no decision making skills. The player should know how fast she can run on any given day!

At the higher levels, it's not so much if the kid has the arm or physical skills, it's more of a decision making thing - game strategy skills.

amen