I have a question regarding pulling a kid when he is in the batters box versus the on-deck circle. Is there a legitimate baseball reason for doing this? I understand game situations and a kids performance sometimes dictates that a switch be made. In most instances this switch happens with the kid in the on-deck circle. Why would a coach wait for a kid to get in the box on a regular basis?

Well, for higher levels (and I think this should apply to the not-so-high levels as well)

You don't want to pull a kid as he's getting into the box, mainly because the kid who you'll be putting in there might not have sufficent time prepping himself mentally, timing the pitcher with his swings on deck (because he won't have any if you wait until the kid you're going to pull to get to the box)

What's best is to let the kid you want in the game, let him know that he'll be going in, then let the kid who you'll be removing know. That will allow the kid time to time the pitcher and get himself ready while in the hole and on deck.

I have only seen this done once when a team from China was playing Team USA. Team USA pitcher was thowing gas and the kid from China was big time behind on every pitch and now had an 0-2 count. Switched the kid out and the next gut swung and missed for the K.

PS: I think most kids would be upset for being pulled, the kid from China looked relieved lol

like you said .. if the coach usually does this, chances are the kid entering the box already knows about the switch & the PH is getting extra warm up while the coach buys him extra time

and .. he's messing w/ the other team who's thinking

"why does he always do that??"

At lower levels don't make sense to take a kid from the batting box. At high level baseball all players know that this could happen any time, especially when, after the hitter is in the box the other team make a pitcher change and the coach want other batter to hit.

I have never pulled a kid from an ab or from the field during an inning. It just aint right. Yes you make moves between innings and you pinch hit etc. But do it before the guy gets in the box. Once a kid gets in the box come on. Its his ab and leave him alone. It is not a very classy move to take a kid out once he is in the box.

Coach May

I am with you all the way

Good coaches think ahead and have their players prepared


Just an aside: last year our starting SS made three errors in a game , the kid is college scholarship player and a possible draft pick, and a parent asked me why I didn't yank him--- simple answer---if it were your son who made the errors how would you feel if I yanked your son? By the way he got the hit to win the game

I believe in confident players and trust me our bench is deeper than most HS teams---I do not like them looking over their shoulders on every play or at bat

quote:

Originally posted by JUST_LEARNING:
Why would a coach wait for a kid to get in the box on a regular basis?

I don't know what the cause would be. The result I know. Humiliation.

POPTIME


I agree that creative thought matters ==but it truly matters who is doing the thinking

What could possibly be on the line at lower levels that would cause a coach to pull a kid from the batters box. You let him get up there, you go with him. Thats ludicrous. The only time I've seen it is at higher levels when a pitching change is made and that is rare in itself.

I was talking about this just the other day with some other dads. I guess coach Casey at OSU pulled a guy last year because he missed the take sign.

I will say this. I was not there. There could be something that happened that Im not aware of. Maybe the kid refused to bunt? Maybe the kid had previously not looked for signals and did it again? I dont know. I guess there could be a situation that would warrant it. I hate to second guess anyone without knowing all the facts.

The only situation where I could see pulling a kid during an at bat is if he has CONSISTENTLY missed signs or doesn't do what you want him to AND he has been warned it won't be tolerated anymore. Even then I would probably still wait until the at bat was over before removing him.

Baseball is a different sport - you have to watch how you sub your players. You can't just shuffle them in and out. If you are always pulling guys then you are going to run out of players on the bench.

quote:

Originally posted by coach2709:
The only situation where I could see pulling a kid during an at bat is if he has CONSISTENTLY missed signs or doesn't do what you want him to AND he has been warned it won't be tolerated anymore.

Agree. Sit the kid down between AB's, not during. This action also makes the coach look like he's losing, or lost control of the present situation.