Quote:
Originally posted by Carl Childress
Quote:
Originally posted by LMan
Quote:
|
[Amazing: If I worked where you work, the on-deck batter would retrieve the ball. It's a courtesy ever present - when I'm behind the mask.
|
*shrug* I only relate the situation as it is. Where I work, F2 jumps up the instant a ball goes to the backstop (even fouled off), so they are obviously taught to do that at their level (for whatever reason, I don't know). There's almost never a F2 to hand a ball to, if I were so inclined.
If the ball is obviously 'out', F2 will stand and put his mitt out to me for a ball. If he isn't sure its 'out', then he's off to the races, and I'm tossing a ball to F1 (who's walked toward me to ~ 45 feet). I haven't missed a toss yet, although there's always a first time.
I will have to try calling 'on-deck!' sometime to see if the ODB reacts. Might be entertaining.
|
|
Here's some advice that will speed up your games immensely. First:
At the pre-game meeting, "remind" the coaches that the on-deck batter should retrieve all loose balls when the bases are empty: wild pitch, passed ball, foul: "Coach, don't forget to let them know that's their job."
Second:
The first time the catcher starts for a ball that the on-deck batter should get, say: "Wait up, Hoss!"
Finally:
Before your post, I had never heard of an "area" where the catchers chased free balls. Amazing!
How about letting us know what part of the country that is?
Added: My conscience reminded me that the on-deck batter CANNOT get the loose ball after a wild pitch/passed ball because that never occurs unless a runner moves up a base. What I
meant to say was: "The on-deck batter should retrieve loose balls, i.e, foul balls or pitches not controlled by the catcher."
[Edited by Carl Childress on Mar 13th, 2006 at 02:43 PM]