Hi Coaches,

I was just wondering who you would play in the playoffs. The position is second base.

A) A kid who has a .480 OBP and a .275 AVG who can make all the routine plays and can make many amazing plays. Great Defense.

B) A kid who has .450 OBP and a .325 AVg who has let the routine ground ball go through his legs more then once and isn't to sure-handed. But gets the big hits.

Thanks for any advice.

What does the rest of your lineup look like? Would you say you are a defensive minded team or an offensive minded team? Is there a chance to move the lineup around to possibly open up a position for the better hitter - like RF?

There are a lot of factors involved, and I'm sure others can put more than I have, but based on what info you have put I would say play the defensive kid especially at 2nd base.

Thanks coach2709.

To answer some of your questions we have some big hitters in our 4,5, and 6 spots. Batters 1-3 are fast contact guys who can cause problems with their speed. 7-9 are contact guys who can get on base most of the time but don't run to fast. I'd say that we are an offensive minded team but we need our middle positions to be strong. (c,ss,2b,cf).
The only problem is if we were to put the better hitter at a corner outfield spot we would lose 2 valuable assests to our lineup. I was thinking of letting the situation decide whos playing i.e. up 2 runs in the last 2 innings (defense) or down 2 runs in last 2 innings (offense) think this would work?
Thanks.

I always built my team around pitching and defense. Of course it was before they had all the new rules DH rentry etc etc. Many times I agonized about pinch hitting for my light hitting ss late in close games. Now it is a no brainer pinch hit then re enter him (not really baseball is it) Also tell a kid to play a position and DH for him is not baseball. who knows maybe they will legislate rules where you can dh for multiple players. But getting back to Hitting or defense It seemed that if their was a weak fielder the ball always seemed to find him.

To me, kid one sounds better defensively and offensively, so I don't see the dilemma.

pretty easy pick....A.

Higher OBP and the difference in BA over 100 at bats is only 5 hits. Superior defense over the course of the season will make up for any offensive loss. Gotta make the routine plays to win...also helps the pitching staff.

B may be on the team...just not at 2nd base.

Thanks everyone. Kid A is going to get the start.

I agree. Got to be strong up the middle. Bat the kid 9th or if he can handle the bat (hit and run/bunts well) bat him 2nd.

Good luck coach!

it can get crazy with re-enter. I had a similar situation. I would start the stronger defender and pinch hit..re enter when needed and even do it again and insert another infielder all the time.. You can really maximize a bench with the rules like they are, but it does seem wrong sometimes.

I have to agree that the re-enter rule doesn't feel like real baseball but I will be sure to use it to my advantage.
Thanks to everyone for their replys and best of luck to all of you.

quote:

I have to agree that the re-enter rule doesn't feel like real baseball

it is not but sooner or later if they progress to college they have to become complete players.

This one's easy. In kid ball the difference between a .275 and .325 average might just be a few hits since they don't play 162 games like major leaguers. I throw out batting avarages in youth ball and go purely by hitting ability anyway.

Kid A plays. Kid B comes in a pinch hiter. You want defense up the middle.