Why?

 

And then how was you comment about 18 vs 35 connected to your opinion on "creating outs"??

 

From post 71 the discussion of previous games and win margin began, simply pointing out that 18 (in multiple threads) was acceptable to most.

Nice attempt...you do know that getting to 15 and killing the game is what happened, right ?

 

Nothing to see here....move along....

 

See post 106.

There's no easy way to go about helping a bad team but you still have to do something.

 

Some teams do not mind the opponent doing the "step off" method. I did work one game this year where the losing coach was mad that the winning team took this approach. No guarantees.

 

My solution:

 

Obviously you have the reserves in as far down the roster as you can go.

You tell them to run until they either score or until they are tagged out. That way the defense is not as embarrassed as the step method. They will have earned the out. If they can't stop a runner from scoring when the runner is essentially saying "tag me" then that's on them. IMO it's better than the "only go one base" approach. That just prolongs the agony and you still do not get to the third out.

 

I can't see any losing coach being upset with this approach. If this approach is a problem then you need consider disbanding the program.

 

Your solution is what should be done IMO.

There's no easy way to go about helping a bad team but you still have to do something.

 

Some teams do not mind the opponent doing the "step off" method. I did work one game this year where the losing coach was mad that the winning team took this approach. No guarantees.

 

My solution:

 

Obviously you have the reserves in as far down the roster as you can go.

You tell them to run until they either score or until they are tagged out. That way the defense is not as embarrassed as the step method. They will have earned the out. If they can't stop a runner from scoring when the runner is essentially saying "tag me" then that's on them. IMO it's better than the "only go one base" approach. That just prolongs the agony and you still do not get to the third out.

 

I can't see any losing coach being upset with this approach. If this approach is a problem then you need consider disbanding the program.

 

That's not a bad idea either. But I could see some things come up there about a perception of trying to run up the school if the team literally would keep throwing the ball around and missing catches, creating more opportunity to not get the out. If you keep sending them (unfortunately without the team being able to get the out you seek), then it could appear worse when you're trying to make it better! But I do like that idea if you feel they would tag you out!

 

I hate the step off rule option because the last thing I ever want to do is embarrass any high school kid or program. It's just been the accepted universal way to minimize damage between programs that have been around the game. That's why everyone goes to it.

 

But I like your suggestion and will give that a shot.

From post 71 the discussion of previous games and win margin began, simply pointing out that 18 (in multiple threads) was acceptable to most.

 

That's because the run rule is 15. If you're close to the run rule, most have no issue with it. We tried to minimize by sending in subs. But they ended up getting hits (or errors) too. So we stepped off to end the inning before it got any higher.

That's because the run rule is 15. If you're close to the run rule, most have no issue with it. We tried to minimize by sending in subs. But they ended up getting hits (or errors) too. So we stepped off to end the inning before it got any higher.

 

Subs in = good thing.

Havening subs step off = bad thing

There's no easy way to go about helping a bad team but you still have to do something.

 

Some teams do not mind the opponent doing the "step off" method. I did work one game this year where the losing coach was mad that the winning team took this approach. No guarantees.

 

My solution:

 

Obviously you have the reserves in as far down the roster as you can go.

You tell them to run until they either score or until they are tagged out. That way the defense is not as embarrassed as the step method. They will have earned the out. If they can't stop a runner from scoring when the runner is essentially saying "tag me" then that's on them. IMO it's better than the "only go one base" approach. That just prolongs the agony and you still do not get to the third out.

 

I can't see any losing coach being upset with this approach. If this approach is a problem then you need consider disbanding the program.

 

This is the kind of post I was looking for in this thread. Gotta be some way(s) to address issues of extreme competitive imbalance on the field/court.

Subs in = good thing.

Havening subs step off = bad thing

 

Many people in the softball world would not agree with you. As I mentioned, it's typically accepted in the softball world as damage control. It's what everyone does. I don't like it, but it seems to be the universal way to do it.

 

So in Bball, are you opposed to teams up 50 changing their defense, slowing the ball down when they had wide open fast breaks, putting in rules to make 5 passes before shooting, not pressing if that's the way you play. On football, do you stop passing and run the ball up the gut and then punt, when you clearly could have gotten a first down, even when your subs are in. Doesn't anything that you do different in any sport that clearly shows you are not trying to run up the score have the same effect or perception on the other team? All these are adjustments made in the game to minimize scoring and blowouts. Stepping off in softball is viewed as the equivalent of those things in other sports.

 

Even in Clydes solution. If we have a kid on first base and a girl hits a routine ball to the SS and the girl just keeps running until she is tagged out, isn't that creating an out? We would never do that in a normal circumstance. Wouldn't that become a mockery too. If you try to score a kid from first with a routine hit to SS? Because for some of the teams to get the outs, they cannot be close plays. You would obviously be sending them to get the out. What is the difference? It may be a little better Clydes way of you could disguise it as not being intentional. But heck, trying to do that could cause several more runs to score before you get the right scenario to disguise it.

 

There is no perfect solution, but I am going to try Clydes idea if we are ever in that situation again.

That's not a bad idea either. But I could see some things come up there about a perception of trying to run up the school if the team literally would keep throwing the ball around and missing catches' date=' creating more opportunity to not get the out. If you keep sending them (unfortunately without the team being able to get the out you seek), then it could appear worse when you're trying to make it better! But I do like that idea if you feel they would tag you out! I hate the step off rule option because the last thing I ever want to do is embarrass any high school kid or program. It's just been the accepted universal way to minimize damage between programs that have been around the game. That's why everyone goes to it. But I like your suggestion and will give that a shot.[/quote']

 

No good solution. Stinks for both teams.

So why can't there be a rule if both coaches agree, they concede the game after 1 or 2 innings if it is ugly instead of stepping off. You could then either scrimmage or let the other team bat or just go home. That way the score isn't ugly or embarrassing and they still get to "play" so it doesn't seem like a wasted trip.

edit

Edited May 25, 201610 yr by CougarParent

Oh my, can we please just step off & close this thing before a player, poster or coach gets their feelings hurt?

18-0 says: "we are way better than you."

 

35-0 says: "we are way better than you, we hate you, and we hope your parents cry uncontrollably before they sleep tonight."

 

35-0 is shameful and embarrassing

In a game such as last night, there are also reasons for the winning team to wan to end it. Maybe you want your hitters to see as few pitches as possible from a particular type of pitcher that you know you won't see for the rest of the season. The interesting part is, HHS did not wait until 15 to start trying to end it. JV hitters were starting to come in before then. As stated, they just hit the ball. Just as you would want any kid to do. Tried it that way. Didn't end anything and stepped off. Nothing embarrassing about it at all. Ten pitches later... Ballgame.

Seeing as though I've seen the step-off method happen at the college level, in a game between SEC teams, I think that's generally accepted as the preferred, quick method of ending the agony.