Runner on 2nd signaling pitches

[Gone in 2.6]

Its part of the game.

Its only bush when yelled out loud, especially by a fan(poser).

It should be done inconspicuously. And yes its easy to defend simply by the catcher moving late or not at all.
Good pitchers know their spots in their sleep...ie don't need a target.

And good hitters don't need some freak on 2nd doing the macarena and risking her getting dotted.

[GIMNEPIWO]

When a football defense is playing 'run' and someone realizes that offense is going pass ... Is it bush league to alert your team ? ... Quit whinning and play the game ... Most batters don't want to know what "is supposed to be coming" anyway ....

[Sid Barrett]

I think it is perfectly acceptable for a runner on second to tip a pitch to the batter or for a batter to peak back and see where the catcher is setting up. I also believe that it is a perfectly acceptable response for A) the catcher to set up late or B) have the pitcher plunk the batter.

Don't teach or allow your players to do one unless you are willing for them to accept the other. JMO

[GO REBS]

DD said most of the time she just looks at the catcher while she is giving signals. She said alot of them dont even pay attention to the batter.
She said if she gets caught and plunked its all part of the experience.
Because if you ain't cheating you ain't trying.

GO REBS

[jonriv]

Never considered it bush, it has been part of baseball and softball for decades- I just question the use of critical practice time to teach it? Especially at younger ages. Could the time not be spent better?

[Sid Barrett]

I agree with jonriv and with squirrel. Stealing signs, plunking the batter etc. all have a legitimate place in the game. With that being said, those types of actions probably are better suited for older and upper level travel ball and not wreck ball. Unfortunately, I have known wreck ball coaches who have taught their players to do do both.

[AlwaysImprove]

Things happen for a reason and the lessons come when they come. Kid standing on second picking your pitch location is telling you one thing. You, the coach, are already a dolt and you are behind. You should have already taken valuable practice time and got your catcher to move late.

Now everyone knows it, your parents, their parents. First reaction would be to get pissed at her, her coach, etc. Better response is to give them a high five, they have done you a huge favor. Like walking around with your fly down. Strangers say nothing, acquaintance make fun of you behind your back, good friends let you know.

I am not sure how declaring something bush is never going to accomplish anything. Ok, so it is bush. you travel around the country and you will see all sorts of crazy stuff. What is bush to you, is game on to others.

[DonnieS]

Things happen for a reason and the lessons come when they come. Kid standing on second picking your pitch location is telling you one thing. You, the coach, are already a dolt and you are behind. You should have already taken valuable practice time and got your catcher to move late.

Now everyone knows it, your parents, their parents. First reaction would be to get pissed at her, her coach, etc. Better response is to give them a high five, they have done you a huge favor. Like walking around with your fly down. Strangers say nothing, acquaintance make fun of you behind your back, good friends let you know.

I am not sure how declaring something bush is never going to accomplish anything. Ok, so it is bush. you travel around the country and you will see all sorts of crazy stuff. What is bush to you, is game on to others.

Exactly AI. For those of you saying this is bush, my suggestion is that you make use of your incredible softball knowledge and experience and go around to the top D1 programs and impart your knowledge to them. Thats the first place I saw it being done - and that was a while back. I saw it as recent as last years WCWS.

If you have smart players, mess with them, invert your signals reverse your directions, we never thought of whining about this practice, my girls did what the military calls signal jamming. If thats over your head, there is alway kickball.

[bruisedshin]

While it is possible to deal with this, and even take advantage of it, it's still bush.

Teach the kids to hit the ball. Teach them to anticipate pitches by the way the pitcher steps, or the grip (a lot of pitchers show it).

Teaching your kids to look down while the catcher gives signals, or kids on 2nd waving their hands around is poor sportsmanship. Having dads sit in center field and flash signs is bush. Shouting "Go with it" or "Turn on it" to signal the catcher's position is bush.

Complaining about that type of behavior may not do any good, but I don't want my kid playing for a coach like that.

Same goes for stalling during time limit games. Either your team is good enough to win the game, or they're not. You may think you're clever with your 3 pitching changes in the last inning, but you're really showing eveyone what type of person you are, and you're teaching the kids the wrong way to compete.

[exD1dad]

Corona Angels 98 had a player signaling her teammate this past weekend against my DD's team & like the board... parents were mixed on the topic with the veteran TB'ers saying that just like coaches stealing signs it's all part of the game. Meanwhile others saw it as "bush" "cheap" "if you gotta do that to win it's cheating"etc.. especially @ this level.

IMHO @ 14U they gonna see it sooner or later sooo ?

But it is NOT like that great coach's quote that once said "there's 1 thing we practice for & that's to win, & there's 1 thing we live for & that's to win ,& there's 1 thing we do to win & that's EVERYTHING !" cause if it ain't FUN while you compete to win why do it? Therefore I say it's still gotta be fun 1st. Granted it is way more fun to win than lose but it is in the end... just a game.