How much green light for players?

hit & run

coach 27,
are there a good # of HS hitters that can consistently execute the hit & run as intended?

 

There are exceptions to every rule. Baserunning usually reflects the coaches personality. Some like to be very aggressive, others would rather sit back and wait for the long ball, and then you have some that don't mind playing base to base. It all comes down to coaches preference. What works for some will never work for others.

 

Aggressive Baserunning

To me whether or not to be aggressive on the bases has a lot to do with my own pitching. If I have a strong pitching staff running and small ball have more value than if I know I have to outscore you 10-9.

 

Aggressive Baserunning

I'll take a good, instinctive baserunner...this is the guy that's get the good "dirt read" or picks up on the pitcher or catcher "sleeping" and takes 2nd or 3rd.

But, when you talk about playing against "quality" teams you better be sure if you try to take 3rd...as Coach 27 says, I would rather take my chances driving in my good baserunner from 2nd base than taking the chance of getting thrown out at 3rd and running myself out of an inning....against the "quality" teams you might not get another chance.

 

My opinion to the question about Hit and Run

You know I have always said the more we work on bunting the better we are at bunting. It kind of works the same way with the hit and run. I feel too many times players are singled out as the culprit when they dont get down bunts or execute on the hit and run. But how often is it worked on in practice? How much time is really spent on the little things? The answer to your question in my opinion is no. Just like you do not see alot of kids that can effectively lay down a sac bunt on the first "strike" they see. A couple of years ago we ripped a kid for not getting down a sac bunt and eventually striking out. Then we sat down as coaches after the game and talked about it and realized that we had not worked on it nearly enough in practice. I dont want to upset any of my fellow coaches but this is what I believe. When you go watch a team play and "Guys cant bunt or dont know how - cuts are routinely missed or overthrown - first and third situations are botched - there are constant baserunning miscues - players get poor leads - pitchers dont hold runners or dont know how - this is not a reflection on the players. This is a direct reflection on the coaching staff. I cant do anything about wether we have a kid that can throw 90 or we have a kid throwing 70. But these types of things anyone can execute if properly coached. It does not take alot of talent to learn to properly run the bases - hit cut offs - bunt strikes etc etc. JMHO

 

maybe its me, i just always love aggressive ball.....get every inch you can man