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Online now: 4 members: Doyle3, LTSGOBLU, TABLE SETTER 11, TRosenthal; 124 anonymousDiscussion: Runner on 2nd helping batter with inside/outside pitches.
| Posted | Discussion |
| Aug. 9, 2020 jgoff5113 Men's 60 66 posts | Runner on 2nd helping batter with inside/outside pitches. When I'm a runner on 2nd base, I am looking right down the line of sight from pitcher to strike mat, and I can usually tell even before a pitch reaches the top of its arc, whether the pitch is going to be inside or outside and thus not a strike. I actually have a better view than my teammate at bat as to whether the pitch coming to him is going to be off-target in the inside/outside dimension. Is there any rule against saying in a load voice "inside!" or "outside!" to help my teammate who is at bat? Even if there is no rule against this, any thoughts or opinions on whether this might be considered poor sportsmanship, or not in the spirit of the game? |
| Aug. 9, 2020 Jon44 Men's 55 149 posts | As a hitter, that's the last thing I want to see/hear when trying to focus on the pitch. |
| Aug. 9, 2020 DaveDowell Men's 70 4317 posts | Nothing in the SSUSA Rulebook prohibits that stunt ... As a common sense practical matter, Jon44's observation is probably accurate and reason enough not to do it ... I know, personally, I'd be hollering at you to knock it off, and I wouldn't likely be waiting until we're back in the dugout together! ... |
| Aug. 9, 2020 Dbax Men's 65 2101 posts | Lol! This is slow pitch! |
| Aug. 9, 2020 jgoff5113 Men's 60 66 posts | Fine Jon44; then in your case, you would simply tell your teammates that you don't want that sort of verbal help from your teammate on 2nd base. But assuming there are any players out there who might find it helpful, my question was whether there is any rule against this. It's really no different from someone in the dugout yelling "short!" to try to help their teammate at bat lay off a pitch (teammates in the dugout enjoy a "side view" of the pitch that again, is arguably better than the view that the batter has, in the long/short dimension); haven't we all done this, or heard someone in the dugout yell "long!" or "short!" to their teammate at bat? |
| Aug. 9, 2020 jgoff5113 Men's 60 66 posts | Hmmm...OK DaveD and Jon44, so both of you would find such verbal "help" from your teammate on 2nd base, or from your dugout, too distracting and thus not helpful to you. If that's the case, then might I suggest that each time you step up to bat, you ask the ump not to call out "flat!" or "Illegal!" on pitches that are not within the legal arc? The timing of such a verbal "piece of info" about the pitch coming from the ump or a teammate would be the same, i.e. right around the time the pitch reaches the top of its arc. Tell the ump he can let you know after the pitch has hit the ground, so you don't lose your focus on the pitch. Lol! (Actually I was at a tournament this year run by one of the other sanctioning/governing companies where the umps did not declare the pitch illegal under after it hit the ground, so maybe they have a different rule or practice on declaration of illegal pitches.) I'm not trying to start an argument here, and thanks for letting me know that there's no rule against such verbal "help" from teammates. You've answered my question. |
| Aug. 9, 2020 DaveDowell Men's 70 4317 posts | Oh ... I thought you were seeking counsel on the legality of the verbal "coaching" ... I believe the answer is in the first phrase of my response ... But now it appears you really desire an argument ... No thanks ... But as a Director, I'd probably take it one step further and suggest that the umpire may wish to consider if such verbalizing is an attempt to influence the ball/strike call, and therefore both illegal and grounds for ejection ... As a Director, my reputation is one of being rather persuasive when warranted ... This sort of behavior is really rather foolish in the context of a game that's basically designed for 12-year-old girls ... |
| Aug. 9, 2020 jgoff5113 Men's 60 66 posts | Thanks Dave. Really, no argument desired. As I wrote in my previous post, you've answered my legality question, and now in your latest post, you've also answered my call for opinions on the sportsmanship or spirit-of-the-game aspect. Much appreciated. |
| Aug. 10, 2020 titanhd Men's 60 639 posts | WOW! I guess you CAN just make this stuff up!! What next "banging on trash cans?? lol!! |
| Aug. 10, 2020 Benji4 Men's 55 289 posts | Man I have seen some bizarre stuff posted on this website but yelling to your teammate from second base whether the pitch is inside or outside takes the cake. REALLY ????????. If you are that bad of a hitter that you can't tell whether a pitch is inside or outside when it is coming in underhand you should quit softball and find another hobby. I now believe that the person who said there are no stupid questions was really STUPID. Benji |
| Aug. 10, 2020 ju25 Men's 60 236 posts | What if the pitcher throws a curve and you yell inside and it ends up outside! If the batter can't see where the ball is heading he needs to have his eyes checked |
| Aug. 10, 2020 Mikelmart 152 posts | If the pitcher was throwing a curve and you yelled out "inside" and I struck out looking you'd be the one buying a 12 pack for the team. |
| Aug. 10, 2020 ju25 Men's 60 236 posts | K's cost you a case in Metro Detroit |
| Aug. 10, 2020 DaveDowell Men's 70 4317 posts | ju25 is closer to the real market conditions here in NorCal ... Last time I saw it paid off live, the tariff was a 30-pack box of Bud Light cans ... Ha! |
| Aug. 10, 2020 lowprofile 65 posts | I think we've all played against...that guy behind the plate in our years of playing, the one that say's something right when your about to swing! it always screwed me up lol, but the batter may be looking for that outside pitch to go oppo or inside pitch to pull, but my teammate on second base is yelling something....wait what?...strike 3...looking! haha It might be strange having someone yelling from the field of play JMO. |
| Aug. 10, 2020 jgoff5113 Men's 60 66 posts | So it seems like we can all agree that, for better or worse, it is rather common for someone to say something while the pitch is in the air: 1. The umpire, calling "Flat" or "Illegal" (as a batter, I find the "Illegal" call quite helpful, because a high arc pitch is in the air long enough for me to check my swing after the "Illegal" or "Too high" call is made). 2. The catcher, saying something like "Great pitch!" (annoying and potentially distracting to the batter, but not against the rules, I assume, since at least a few catchers do this, as lowprofile points out). 3. The "helpful" teammate in the dugout yelling "Short!" or "Deep!" So my question was really just an extension of #3; namely, What if a teammate on 2nd base decided to "help" the batter? To be clear, I wasn't advocating for this at all; I was just curious whether it would be against the rules (Answer: No), and if not, opinions on how such behavior would be received (Answer: Not well). |
| Aug. 12, 2020 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Dave, Is a team allowed to set up a camera in centerfield, use a monitor in the dugout to monitor the camera and pass signals to the batter as to what pitch is coming by banging on a trash can with a bat ? Asking for a friend who wishes to remain anonymous but his initials are Dbax. |
| Aug. 12, 2020 B.J. 1107 posts | FOFO.. this is only allowed if you are playing in Houston |
| Aug. 12, 2020 Dbax Men's 65 2101 posts | Thanks FOFO! Lol. |
| Aug. 12, 2020 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Any time Dbax |
| Aug. 13, 2020 Wayne 37 Men's 65 773 posts | jgoff, I have a radar gun if you want to use it |
| Aug. 13, 2020 ju25 Men's 60 236 posts | Loved it when Greinke was yelling out the signals. |
| Aug. 13, 2020 ju25 Men's 60 236 posts | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BagwHv7sVo |
| Aug. 13, 2020 AJC Men's 60 218 posts | Greinke actually yells out what pitch is coming when Pablo, the Brandons & Pence are up. The world series years in SF are definitely over for a while. Not complaing tho, i would have been happy to see 1 in my lifetime, instead got to see 3 in 5 years ! |
