progapanda wrote:Why did the 3rd base coach, base runners and batter all talk during the defensive conference? Did they know what was coming?
Why didn't the batter swing at that pitch?
What if the coach tried to talk the pitcher and catcher out of what happened?
The pitcher gave him 4 batters to find his zone. She gave him one pitch to show him hers.
You pose some interesting/deep questions but I'll take a stab answering..
Why did the 3rd base coach, base runners and batter all talk during the defensive conference?
Many times in sports like softball, during defensive conferences the offense will also take the opportunity to conference and talk about their strategy.
Did they know what was coming?
If you mean that the next pitch would be a ball, probably since pitcher had just walked several batters. If you mean that the catcher was going to duck the pitch and allow the umpire to get hit in the facemask. Doubtful.
Why didn't the batter swing at that pitch?
Because the team at bat had just observed this pitcher walk 4 previous batters including a run scored, therefore using deductive reasoning the odds that the next pitch would also be a ball are high. So, not swinging until you are high in the count makes good sense now doesn't it? AND the next pitch was a ball.
What if the coach tried to talk the pitcher and catcher out of what happened? Doubtful but possible. Then you are saying that the catcher ducked this pitch on her own or in collusion with the pitcher. Possible but unlikely and unwise if you are looking to be recruited.
The pitcher gave him 4 batters to find his zone. She gave him one pitch to show him hers.
True in more ways than one.
The folks that said that they would pull their DD from a team that allowed/taught this are the ones that have a clue. IMHO Shunning is the only way to combat this sort of coaching. These types of coaches don't have a team if no one plays for them.
~PEACE