Squeeze Play

we were involved in a game last year where the opposing team had a man on third with less than two outs and the game tied in the bottom of the 6th and 7th innings. i had this gut feeling each time that the coach was going to squeeze so i called for a curve ball. both times the kid missed the ball and my catcher tagged the runner out. just got lucky i guess. i usually tell my kids to hit the batter

 

Why

would you hit the batter? How does that help you win? The next guy can squeeze are you going to hit him too? I guess you could keep hitting guys until the opposing coach stopped trying squeeze. Maybe he will once he is up by three or four runs. I guess thats one way to stop the squeeze play.

 

if there is a man on third with less than two outs hitting the batter will put the double play in order. it doesnt work in every situation. in the game i mentioned above, the opposing team actually had the bases load in one of those innings, so hitting the batter wasnt an option. i just had confidence that my pitcher could throw a good enough pitch that the batter couldnt get the squeeze down. i just happened to get lucky twice that night.

 

Rules and Coaching question

I am a basketball person by heart and the baseball rule book is by far the thickest book in sports to read. So I will ask those that have taken the time to read it.

The batter has done the impossible and put that high and tight pitch down but is off balance as a result. Then:

1. He is slow getting out of the box and the runner is sliding in as he is leaving. Is it interference?? Let's say the bunt was too hard and the fielder makes a play on it tossing it home. What if the two collide on the plate?

2. The effort to put the bunt down knocks him off his feet and he is laying in the batters box while the runner is sliding in and the 3rd baseman has barehanded the bunt and tossed in for a play at the plate. Is there a ruling??

3. What if the RH batter gets it down and just backs away from the plate making no attempt to run to first???

What are the rulings and what do you as a coach instruct your players to do if the above happens.

It's always fun when the "weird" happens on the field and we parents in the stands try to figure it out. Don't even get started on the balk.

 

That all left handed pitchers do. Those are some devious guys

 

Come on Braves....lefties never balk.

 

okay a balk question?

a runner on first and lefty pitcher makes pickoff move to first. Can't fake it and must throw to first. Runners on first and third RHP on hump, makes pickoff move to 3rd and spins back to first. On the move to third he doesn't break contact with the rubber why is this different than the LHP move to first. Why not a balk?

If this be the case and runners on 1B and 3B, why could a LHP not make a move to first and spin and throw to 3B?

You asked for a balk question and I was just curious! You must admit the logic is good!

 

If its not the pitcher then who is it? The guy on the bump is the one in control of the game and if the runner beats the ball to the plate then who's to blame? the left fielder?

 

may need another translator

we were on offense jack

 

So you played a team where your runners have beat the ball to the plate?