Slow pitch whining

[Ran.D]

Lately in our league, it seems the losing team in every close game whines about the strike zone. Doesn't really matter who's behind the plate, they whine. My partner the other night was a 30 year vet with a very consistent zone. Forget they made 5 errrors in an inning, or the SS had too many beers....his zone cost them the game.

I'm beginning to lose patience.....it's slow pitch! Why not just put the ball on a tee and hit it with the $ 300 bat.

Any slow pitch pros out there? How do you deal with it?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ran.D

Lately in our league, it seems the losing team in every close game whines about the strike zone. Doesn't really matter who's behind the plate, they whine. My partner the other night was a 30 year vet with a very consistent zone. Forget they made 5 errrors in an inning, or the SS had too many beers....his zone cost them the game.

I'm beginning to lose patience.....it's slow pitch! Why not just put the ball on a tee and hit it with the $ 300 bat.

Any slow pitch pros out there? How do you deal with it?

I tell them to "shut the ____ up and go sit down!", just not aloud.

Speaking ASA

I inform the manager of the warning his team just received concerning arguing balls and strikes (4.8.C). I then inform this individual that if I am forced to get rid of someone because the manager cannot control his players, there is no need to keep the manager there.

[waltjp]

The whining is exactly why I don't do much men's slow pitch anymore. I've seen too many situations where a team will have runners on base and the batter will take a close 3-0 pitch and then complain about it. Once in that situation I told the batter that he must have been the only kid who played whiffle ball in his back yard and dreamed about walking with the bases loaded.

[gdc25]

In my pre-game meeting...

"balls and strikes are non-netotiable (sp?). If I call it a ball it's a ball, if I call it a strike, it's a strike. The pitcher, hitter or one of you 2 (one from each side atttending the plate meeting) may ask me where its at, my answer will be the end of the discussion."

This has worked very well for me.


However, threatening "Mr. Beer League all-star" to eject him if he doesn't start running to the orange bag seems to have no effect.

[blueskysblue]

Yep !

One of the differences I've noticed between Slow Pitch and others levels of baseball and softball is that in Adult Slow Pitch, everyone on the team thinks they are a coach and able to argue about anything / everything!

Last season, during one men's game, after enforcing several rules, I was told by a player "We're not Little League, for Christ's sake"! My reply was "I know, Little Leaguers try to follow the rules"!

Seriously, I have noticed that, especially in city league level of play, the manager / coach in Adult Slow Pitch is usually also a player, and has little, if any "control" over the rest of the team. That's just "the nature of the beast" around here.

At higher levels of competition, i.e., Championship Play, major tournaments, etc., I would guess things are much more organized and traditional roles more easily identified.

[Rattlehead]

There is a reason its called "PITCH AND *****".

I just ask them "Do you really want to argue a judgement call?" Usually they get the point and mellow out.

If they continue I just show them the parking lot.