yeah i realize this, but this had the MLB logo on the chest pocket and back of the neck. i like black myself, but not a real, seemingly authentic MLB shirt. especially when your partner is wearing all navy, and your own hat and ball bags are navy as well.

i just think its trying to be someone you arent by wearing that shirt on the field. others may disagree, but that was really my only problem with the shirt itself.

[Edited by briancurtin on Mar 13th, 2006 at 09:39 AM]

*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.

Change not a bad thing~
 

It shouldn't matter what everyone else does, you are in charge of your game and its very easy to fix.

Simply tell F2, "we'll let the ondeck guys to the chasing tonight, give them something to do".

F2 will love you for it, and the time saved in a three hour game ....

Might take a few reminders, but after a couple of innings everyone should be on board.

thanks
David

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 <i>meant</i> 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]

Thanks for the good input, I will try your methods and see how it goes.



Would "Aler-bamer" surprise you? :D

It might also depend on the level of ball. Around here, for example, HS and up the on-deck batter retrieves; lower, F2 usually retrieves.

Carl's suggestions work for the Frosh ball -- where they are "learning" the ropes. They are genererally ineffective for the lower level stuff. Above Frosh, the players generally have learned what to do.

And
 

The level of ball often dictates the layout of the field: if all you've got is 10 feet between F2 and the backstop, it's not much of a burden for F2 to fetch. At higher levels, where there's 60 feet, it makes more sense for someone else to do it.

In my part of Aler-bamer, the ODB runs those
down, not F2.

You are fortunate, then.

In my part of Alabama (Morgan, Cullman, and Lawrence Counties) the ODB always goes after foul balls at the backstop.
Tighten them up LMan!!

uh huh, that will happen :rolleyes:


......We'll see Mideast peace before 'traditions' change around here! :D