Baseball strategy question...........

[Moliere]

I depends on how close the fences are and how much power the kid has. I would never intentionally put the winning run on base unless I thought there was a pretty good chance the guy at the plate was going to jack one out and win the game himself.

The homerun rules also matter. Typically in slow-pitch there is a limit on homeruns (either no more than one home run than the other team or one home run per inning or even no home runs). If the kid isn't allowed a homerun then you back up your outfield and keep anything he hits in front of you with the hope that you get him out on a grounder or pop fly.

[il Padrino Ute]

In a baseball game, I'd walk the kid to get the force at any base for the 3rd out. I suppose I'd do the same in a slow pitch softball game. The problem though, is that slow pitch is just too difficult to have much more defensive strategy than hope the batters mishit the ball because of the consistency of the pitches. Every pitch seems to be the same.

[TripletDaddy]

In a baseball game, I'd walk the kid to get the force at any base for the 3rd out. I suppose I'd do the same in a slow pitch softball game. The problem though, is that slow pitch is just too difficult to have much more defensive strategy than hope the batters mishit the ball because of the consistency of the pitches. Every pitch seems to be the same.

Bingo.

Thanks EPU. Jay Santos is new to the game but your explanation was good.

[il Padrino Ute]

Bingo.

Thanks EPU. Jay Santos is new to the game but your explanation was good.

I was going to say to throw at the batter and try to get the opposing dugout to charge the field, resulting in a mass ejection of the other team so it can't finish the game, but I doubt a bit of chin music in softball is very effective.

[wuapinmon]

I'd pitch to the guy with the outfield deep. If it's baseball, just like IPU said, I'd walk him and force the out. What did yall do?

[filsdepac]

In a baseball game, I'd walk the kid to get the force at any base for the 3rd out. I suppose I'd do the same in a slow pitch softball game. The problem though, is that slow pitch is just too difficult to have much more defensive strategy than hope the batters mishit the ball because of the consistency of the pitches. Every pitch seems to be the same.

Anyone who thinks the pitches are exactly the same hasn't played in a serious league. Certainly not as great a variation as baseball, but there are good and bad pitchers in softball.

[pellegrino]

I would pitch to him. Walking someone in softball is lame. Throw high and inside so he'll hopefully pop it up and work low and away if he pulls the ball trying to get a grounder.

this is what I would do. Especially if you have a good pitcher who can hit the max height allowed and still drop it for a strike on the inside corner.

[Clark Addison]

I can tell you what my team would have done. We would have pitched to him. Of course, we would also probably have been down 36 to 12 at the time, so you may not wat to take our actions as a guide.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Still no report from junkie on the outcome, but it sounds like a walkoff HR to me.

[filsdepac]

I'm sure they walked him and then got burned on a bases clearing double.

[1337coug]

I was in almost this exact situation once. I was 16 and it was my first season playing softball on my dads team. We were in the semi-final game of the tournament, 2 outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd down 3. I hadn't been hitting worth a damn so they walked my dad to get the force everywhere and I hit a walk off grand slam. Long story short, a bunch of words were exchanged after the game and some fights started breaking out on the field but were quickly broken up.

My teams strategy has since been play everyone straight, because in slow pitch softball anyone can get a good shot. Plus, we're just there to have fun. It's not really worth pissing people off to have a better chance at winning a close game that's already pretty heated.

[BlueHair]

I was in almost this exact situation once. I was 16 and it was my first season playing softball on my dads team. We were in the semi-final game of the tournament, 2 outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd down 3. I hadn't been hitting worth a damn so they walked my dad to get the force everywhere and I hit a walk off grand slam. Long story short, a bunch of words were exchanged after the game and some fights started breaking out on the field but were quickly broken up.

My teams strategy has since been play everyone straight, because in slow pitch softball anyone can get a good shot. Plus, we're just there to have fun. It's not really worth pissing people off to have a better chance at winning a close game that's already pretty heated.

Bingo. Walking in recreation softball is lame unless there is a cash prize for the winner. If the pitcher can't pitch strikes, I always take a fake swing to give him another chance. If there's a full count, the only way I'm not swinging is if I literally have no shot at getting the bat on it. I hate playing teams that think it's the World Series and will leave the bat on their shoulders until there is a called strike against them. Lame, lame, lame. Other rules include not sliding under any circumstances and never diving for a ball. You'll look like an idiot if you do those things. Wearing baseball pants, eye black, and stirrup socks are also prohibited.

[il Padrino Ute]

Anyone who thinks the pitches are exactly the same hasn't played in a serious league. Certainly not as great a variation as baseball, but there are good and bad pitchers in softball.

Notice that I said that every pitch seems to be the same. I realize that there are different spins that can be put on the ball in slow pitch, but as you pointed out, the ball isn't going to have the movement that there is in baseball. Because of the velocity of the pitch, it's still more about a hitter not getting the bat on the ball squarely than what the pitcher does.

[Green Monstah]

I object to the title of this thread. I like SP softball as much as the next overweight, young urban professional, but it's not baseball.

Mods!!?

[cougjunkie]

Sorry just got home.

We walked him, next batter doubled off the fence, clearing the bases and we lost. (Fils was right on)

I did not want to walk him I was firmly in the pitch to him camp.

Today we were in the exact same situation. In fact same score, 2nd and 3rd bottom of the last inning and 2 outs. We elected to pitch to the kid (who was 0-4 at that point) and he jacked one out. We lost both of our games in this tournament on walk off hits.