Stalling in a Showcase Game!

Sorry folks but I have to vent a little...

I would not have believed anyone would actually do it but it happened to us yesterday in our last game at Rising Stars. We were playing a team and it was a good game. They went up 2-0, we came back and tied it 2-2, they went up again 4-2 in the top of the 5th and then it started. Time was running low (all games were 1:30 drop dead) and the coach from the other team starts stalling. Yes, STALLING in a showcase game!!! We came up to bat, got a hit, next batter K's swinging and the coach calls timeout to go talk to the pitcher. He was just standing around the mound until the ump made him break it up. We threatened but couldn't score. Ump tells everyone there is about 7 minutes left when they came up to bat. The coach makes the batter get out of the box so he could give her 100 signals then after the first pitch, he calls time and has the batter come talk to him and stands there talking to her for a minute or so. We get her out. Next batter comes up, starts to dig in and he calls time again and announces a sub for the batter. We finally complain to him (we were on the 3rd base side right next to him) and he acts like he has no idea what we are talking about and said he just wanted to get everyone an at bat (this is showcase and we batted all of our girls every game). Says the games go the full 7 innings, there is no time limit, bs, bs, and more bs. Mind you that this was our 6th game of the weekend and was at least his 4th or 5th so he clearly knows the deal. He then starts putting on a show acting like there is some bug rush and is telling his girls to hurry up but pinch hitter gets on base, he calls time for a runner. Runner is sitting in the dugout without a helmet on and takes her sweet time getting the helmet and getting to 1st. All I can take from that is the girls were stalling as well.

I am not going to tell you how the game ended because this was a SHOWCASE and wins/loses don't really matter. The point is to get the girls as much exposure as possible to the college coaches watching the game(s). All this did was take that away from the girls. Sad, sad, sad...

It also makes me a little upset that the umpires didn't recognize what he was going and stop it.

Thanks for letting me vent. Now for the good part!

Other than that mess above, it was a great weekend! All of the girls had a blast, they played hard all weekend, we had a bunch of coaches watching us play - including the head coach from Florida, had a great team dinner on Friday complete with a minor whip cream fight, and on and on.

There was also a "Hollywood" sighting! He ump'd two of our games. One behind the plate and another in the field. I have to say that he was great! You could barely tell he was there and didn't do anything that we know him for. Just wanted to mention this since there had been several posts for him being, well, lets just call it not invisible.

 

clueless

This is the sign of a coach that is CLUELESS!!!!! Stalling in a drop dead showcase game? If you even know the score of a showcase game, you are clueless!

Ty

 

If you didn't know the score (I'm sure everyone did) you would be clueless! Showcase or not, players want to compete! What a waste if they didn't!!!

Stalling in any time-restricted game is totally tacky!!! Worse than a tie, even!

 

I've Seen This Happen Before !!

Coaches are there to watch the skills of players, they are not interested in wins or losses, or stalling technigues. I agree stalling in ASA State is a lot different than in a Showcase. The coaches want to see the players abilities in a showcase not the coaches ability to stall.

Guru

 

Jav. I agree with you that stalling is not really what it is about. I will say that what gets under my skin more is the games when the teams coaches that are behind starts screaming to hurry up. The game clicks along at its even little pace then all of the sudden I want to bat again so you should adjust your pace for me to have a shot???? We usually see more tempers flare up for the wanted hurry up than the slow down. I think stalling is a huge turn off to a school watching. As I would also think not playing to win would be; that pressure situation where your team needs that run showcase or not, the recruit steps up and performs really looks good for that recruit.

 

SHOW case

Read the title SHOWcase. It is a show. The girls are there to SHOW their talent. If you are worrying about the score, then you are worrying about winning and losing. Competing is showing your talent, you have the talent to compete. But when you play to win(keeping up with the score), you forget why you are there and that is to SHOWcase their talents. Players need to play and be played where they want to be seen. Players need to hit, not stand in the box and take signals. Players need to hit more times than bunt. College coaches want hitters. Their is a different strategy that should be used by a coach in a showcase than in a competitive game and if they allow the score to dictate that strategy, then the girls will lose out. I have heard too many stories of decent players who were on clueless coaches teams that went to showcases and played to win while the other coach was playing to showcase. Then the coach took credit for the win while the other coach takes credit for getting his girls seen and sent off to college. That is why I said if you know the score you are clueless.

Ty

 

Yep !!

EXCELLENT RESPONSE !!


Guru

 

First off the umpires should do a better job of controlling this if it is blatant. Second I do not fault a coach for trying to win. Thats one thing I think is wrong with "showcase tournaments" the mentally has gone to I don't care what happens as long as "I" look good. Players and coaches should play to win period. These could easily be solved as well by playing either 4, 5 or 6 inning games depending on the allotted time the tournaments usually allow, some tourneys are 80 minutes I've seen them up to 105 whatever is appropriate. Just my opinion I'm sure others will disagree.

 

Are you saying that the coaches wouldn't be interested in seeing if the players can and will follow signals from their coaches, including laying down a bunt when required?

 

Game Day

We try not to coach on game day. If the kids aren't having fun they are not going to perform as they have been taught. I have to bring one kid in mind Casey Shue doesn't need a coach, she is self motivated,and will steal on you in a heart beat. You know why she is so successful,because she studies the game ,and looks for weakness in the defense. She is very successful in stealing bases, or she might put down a push bunt when she sees the first baseman back. A very aggressive baserunner ,who will steal home if you turn your back, I've seen it,and she can do it..

Guru