When watching a game....

What "tool" do you most admire? Power, speed, arm strength, glove or something else? (baseball instinct)

I love power....but I admire a kid with heart

 

I always watch the pitchers. Baseball is unique in that the defense has control of the ball. It makes it completely different from any other sport. The offense is reacting to what the defense is doing instead of the other way around.

Mound-presence, movement, the battle from pitch to pitch. The hitter trying to out-think the pitcher ... the pitcher out-thinking himself.

It's a game that lives on mistakes. A 2-0 fastball that gets too much of the plate. A risky breaking ball in the dirt with runners in scoring position, tying a guy up inside after throwing 6 pitches on the outside half of the plate ...

I don't care which tool you prefer ... the intense battle between the pitcher-hitter is what I care about ... and that battle is played "in the head".

... so, if I have to pick a tool, it would be "Intangibles" ....

Mental toughness, composure, control, act and react.

...... what a great game !!!!!!!!!

 

"Tools"---I'd say Speed.

Other qualities---Hustle/Aggressiveness

 

Strategy....
Nothing like the battles between a pitcher & batter or pitcher & runner or both at the same time.... you can also throw the catcher and runner battles in the same pile... i always try guessing what the catcher will call next..
Even though a coach doesnt actually play a position or hit in the lineup.. he or she is the leader of the team and i like watching the 2 coaching staffs compete ...

 

heart, competiveness, self control

i usually look at the catcher first. then pitcher, short stop etc. i like to see a team by the 3rd inning where there uniforms are dirty. i like to see that competitve drive to beat you, no matter what it takes. but they stay under control (don't panick) in adverse situations. they don't get that dazed and confused look (golden retriever on crack look) when something doesn't go their way.
what tool awes me the most is the speed and power combo.

 

Old School

Study the game... Look for the intangibles.

Study the defensive positioning as each hitter approaches. Is the hitter fast?
Can we bunt for a hit? Where is the third baseman? Can this kid drive the ball through that huge hole on the right side? Does he have a plan?

Runners on 1st & 2nd- No outs....
Are we bunting, Hit & Run, hitting behind the runners?
Or do we have a brain lapse & try to pull the outside pitch.....

Is the runner getting a good secondary?
Did the runner get the extra base on the base hit? or did he look confused?
Does the runner know that the center fielder has a weak arm?
If he was watching the other team take infield, he may have picked up on that. OOOPS!... Guess not.

How can my team manufacture a run, or two..?

Defensively, we may give up a few hits, but we do not give them an extra base. Control the game. Hit the cut off man, throw to the appropriate base to keep a runner out of scoring position. Make them hit the ball to beat you. Good damage control will almost always keep you in the game.

If I could borrow a quotes from my middle school coach.....
"It is the little things that win ball games"

Question: Why is it that most coaches only resport to small ball when trailing by 2-3 runs in the sixth inning ? The art of the bunt and hit & run seem to have faded away if not disappeared. IMHO

 

I guess what every one has said so far is that they appreciate the game itself over the tools of any single player ...

... and that's the way baseball was meant to be.

Play for the name on the front of the Jersey, not the one on the back.

 

As much as I like all the answers, especially "Golden Retriver on crack look", I was asking about tools, not the way the game should be played. But that's alright, I like the answers better.

 

braves,
as far as tools, i like speed (especially since i never had any) it puts pressure on the other teams defense, and will usually add to your defense.

 

I too look at speed and baserunning skills of the teams. IC mentioned the coaching strategies, reminding me of one of my battles during summer ball with Danny Hignite when our players were 14 YO. We had a running team (averaged maybe 6 steals a game), lots of team speed but not much power. We stole with everyone in the lineup, so we have a runner on 1st with 2 outs. I wanted to steal the runner but suspected pitchout and Danny called one. On 1-0 I expected him to pitch out again. This time he didn't but the pitch was a ball. 2-0, now I'm definitely running and decided to straight steal. Danny pitched out again and threw out my runner. I looked over at him and he had a big smile on his face. I tipped my hat, called him some names and changed my signs the next inning.
Great fun from a coaching perspective.