Chapter - 04

Coaching And Strategy

School teams have one coach who directs all play, offensively and defensively. He usually sits on the bench and gives signals to the first-base and third-base coaches, who in turn pass them on to the batter or base-runner.

The head coach of a team is responsible for planning all the pre-game strategy and the tactics during the game. He makes up the lineup, placing his hitters in the batting positions he believes will bring the most runs. In planning the lineup, he must also consider which players are hitting the ball well, which players are in a slump and which players do well against the pitcher they will have to face.

Even the batter "on deck" serves as a coach when there's a play at the plate. The batter waiting his turn is in the best position to tell the runner coming to the plate whether to slide or come in standing. No. 1 (here), by holding his left arm high, palm facing the ground, has told his Red Sox

teammate to slide into the plate.

Batting Order

Most coaches stick to the same formula in making up a batting order. The No. 1 hitter is fast afoot, an excellent judge of a ball and a strike, and a player who is hard to pitch to because he is small or has an unusual stance. This player should have the ability to draw a great number of walks, thus getting in position to start his team toward a run.

The No. 2 hitter should have about the same qualifications as the lead-off man, but he should be good as a bunter and a batter who can hit to right field. A single to right field by the No. 2 batter, if the lead-off hitter is on base, most likely will result in a first-and-third situation.

The Nos. 3, 4 and 5 batters should be the power hitters. There is really not much difference in whether the No. 4 hitter should bat third, or vice versa. However, it is good policy to have your strongest batter hit in the No. 3 spot. In this way he is certain of getting up in the first inning, and over the nine innings may get more chances to bat than the Nos. 4 and 5 hitters. It's interesting to note that Babe Ruth, baseball's greatest slugger, batted in the No. 3 spot throughout most of his career.

The No. 6 hitter should be a bit stronger than the No. 7 batter since he may have more opportunities to drive in runs than the No. 7 man. The No. 8 batter is perhaps the weakest hitter in the lineup, with the pitcher following in the No. 9 position.

Many school coaches who have a pitcher who is also a fine hitter, will place the pitcher much higher in the lineup. There is nothing wrong with this strategy, particularly if the pitcher is strong and physically able to carry the hitting, as well as the pitching burden. Signals. — Each hitter should know just when to be alert for a signal. Sometimes the situation is so obvious that the hitter automatically knows he is on his "own" at the plate. With bases empty and one or two strikes on the batter, it's quite obvious that the coach is not going to tell him to "take" a pitch. To take a pitch means to let one go by. This signal is usually given when the batter is ahead of the pitcher in the ball-and-strike count, or if the coach wants the batter to take the first pitch from the pitcher in the hope that it will be a ball.

Don't be discouraged if you are ordered to take a pitch as you get to the plate. There is nothing wrong with this strategy, especially if the pitcher is inclined to have a little control trouble. A pitcher who gets behind in the count constantly is in trouble, and when the count gets two balls and no strikes, or three balls and one strike, you may then get the pitch which you will be able to drive out for a safe hit.

The hit-and-take strategies are very important and the coach who knows just when to apply them will win his share of games.

Many teams have their right-handed batters look to the first-base coach for a signal, and the left-handed batters look to the third-base coach. No matter how a signal is communicated, it is important that all the players know just where to look to receive the signal.

There are many ways in which signals can be flashed. Hand to cap, hand to leg, hand to knee, hand to face, etc. But no matter how they are given, they should be simple. Leave the complicated series of signals to the major leagues. They are forced to change signs constantly throughout the season because players are traded from one team to another and one club plays another twenty-two times during the season, a sufficient number of games in which to steal a tell-tale sign.

The third-base coach (above) has told the runner coming into third base, in no uncertain hand language, that he must "hit the dirt." His palms are outstretched and face the ground, the universal signal to slide.

The third-base coach sometimes tells the incoming runner just where to slide into the bag in order to avoid any possible tag by the third baseman. This runner (below), if he had his eye on the coach's outstretched finger, immediately knew that the coach wanted him to slide toward the outfield side of the bag. An alert coach who flashes signs like this is a valuable asset to his team since such a signal may very easily be the difference between a runner being safe or out.

Signals

Another sign the batter passes on — after receiving it from a coach — is the hit-and-run (below). A simple sign for this play is to have the batter tug at his belt with both hands as he holds the bat in his left hand.

The squeeze, sacrifice and hit-and-run signs can be anything you want them to be. The way a batter holds his bat, the way he tugs at his pants, cap, etc., can also be used to communicate these signs to the runners.

Types of Signs. — These two pages illustrate some of the most commonly-used signals. These signs are simple, easy to follow and should be understandable to all. It is not suggested that these specific signals be used, but the simple hand movements are recommended.

The batter sometimes flashes a signal to the base-runners. He gets the sign from one of the coaches and in turn flashes it to his teammate (s) on base. The squeeze, or the sacrifice, is flashed by this batter (above) who has clasped his left hand over his belt buckle.

Some more simple signs, all flashed by the coach, are (above, left to right) double steal, hand to side of face; pitchout, arm upraised; play infield back, first finger pointing toward infield; come in standing up, palms facing base-runner coming in to third base.

More signals (below, left to right) also flashed by the coach are the sacrifice bunt, both index fingers hooked inside the belt; take the pitch, fingers tucked inside the uniform collar; steal, tug at right side of cap; sign is off, fingers under chin. This indicates to batter and runner that the sign flashed on the previous play is now cancelled.

Strategy

Just when to do what on the field of play comes under the heading of "Strategy." Some coaches, or managers, play the game "according to the book." This means that they bunt when a bunt is in order; they have the batter take a pitch when he's ahead of the pitcher; they flash the steal sign with a runner on first, two out, score tied and a weak hitter at the plate; they play "hit-and-run" with a man on first base and a 3-1 count on the batter.

To stay with the book is not wrong, but the alert coach, or manager, is the one who throws away the book on certain occasions and surprises the opposition with something new, something different — but always based on sound thinking.

To watch two opposing coaches in a battle of wits, let's assume that the two teams out on the field are the Panthers and the Angels. The Panthers are the visitors and the Angels are the home club. Now we'll set up certain situations which demand some heavy thinking by either coach.

In the first inning, the Panthers fail to score but the Angels start a mild rally in the bottom half of the inning. The first man strikes out but the next two batters single, putting runners on first and second. A wild pitch advances both runners, and now the Angels have men on second and third, one out, and their No. 4 batter at the plate. What to do? The decision is up to the Panther coach.

If the Panther coach tells his infield to play in and cut the run off at the plate, he is playing by the book. But is this sound reasoning?

By playing the infield in, with a power-hitter at the plate, the Panthers are giving the batter more territory to hit at. Also, a sharply hit ground ball with the runners playing in may go through the infield a bit easier than if the infielders were playing at normal depth. Any time the infield plays in it gives the batter a better chance to drive a ground ball between them and also a better opportunity to lift a short fly over their heads and into the short outfield. A blooper which might have been caught with the infield playing back will now drop safely when an infield is pulled in.

Since it's the first inning, how important can the run be? It seems better to play the infield back, allow the runner on third to score on a ground ball, and protect as much of the playing area as possible. Remember, if that No. 4 batter hits safely, the Angels may be in for a "big" inning. So why give him more of the field in which to hit safely than necessary?

Now we're in the sixth inning, the score is 3-3 and the Angels are again making threatening gestures. The No. 1 batter walks, the No. 2 batter beats out a bunt, and there are runners on first and second, nobody out, and the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 batters —the strength of the Angels — due to hit. What to do? The decision is up to the Angel coach.

Perhaps eight to ten coaches would bunt, moving the runners to second and third with one out, and leaving it up to the Nos. 4 and 5 batters to drive them home. This is a book decision and cannot be criticized.

Okay, so the No. 3 batter bunts them along, and there is now one out, runners on second and third and the No. 4 batter stepping to the plate. Now it's time £or the Panther coach to start thinking, and if he's alert, and if his pitcher has good control, he'll have the No. 4 purposely passed to fill the bases and bring up the No. 5 batter. One hard ground ball straight at an infielder will take the Panthers out of the inning and kill the rally. Perhaps it's best not to bunt in this situation. Why should the Angel coach "sacrifice" his No. 3 batter and then run the risk of having his No. 4 batter passed purposely? If he does this, he has just eliminated the potential strength of two of his best batters. And why bunt at all? It's the sixth inning —not the eighth or ninth — and the score is tied. One more base hit and the Angels may come up with three or four runs instead of just one.

Into the bottom of the eighth the two teams struggle, and the Panthers have taken a 4-3 lead. The No. 8 batter for the Angels leads off and he quickly goes ahead of the pitcher, two balls and no strikes. He looks for the hit or take sign from the third-base coach. What to do?

Bring out the book right here and play accordingly. The No. 8 hitter represents the tying run. He's not considered a good hitter or he wouldn't be batting in the eighth spot. Since he's ahead, 2 and o, he must be given the take sign. As long as he stays ahead of the pitcher, 1 and o, 2 and o, 3 and 1, he must be taking in this situation.

It's the same inning, Angels trail by one run and there are two out. The No. 3 batter singles to center and now the big slugger is at the plate. He works the count to 2 and o, takes a strike, and then the next pitch is a ball, making the count 3 and 1. What to do as he looks to his coach for a sign?

Again, use the book. The No. 4 batter is a long ball hitter. Since he's behind in the count, the pitcher will try to get the ball over the plate because he does not want to move the tying run into scoring position. Let the No. 4 batter hit away here. One long drive may tie the game, and here's the hitter who has the power to do it.

Now we go into the bottom of the ninth, score tied, and the Angels have their No. 5 batter at the plate. He drives the first pitch down the right-field line, slides into second with a double and now represents the winning run. The No. 6 batter is left-handed and is batting .285, the No. 7 batter is weak as is the No. 8 batter. What to do?

Before the Angel coach can even form his strategy, the Panther coach should act first. Since the only run that matters is perched on second, he should immediately order the No. 6 batter purposely walked. If not, he's inviting trouble.

According to the book, a bunt is in order. But the chances are not too bright for either the No. 7 batter or the No. 8 hitter to drive in the run. If the Panther coach doesn't order the batter passed, the Angel coach would be smart to allow the No. 6 batter, who is left-handed, to hit away. A ground ball to the right side of the infield will get the base-runner to third, and a reasonably deep fly hit to center or right may also move the runner to third. Also, it's possible that the No. 6 hitter will strike out or pop up, but it's also possible that he may hit safely, sending home the winning run. But it's doubtful whether the No. 6 batter will even get a chance to swing, providing the Panther coach has his thinking cap on tight.

Rules

The rules of baseball are based on cold logic. Study them. Get familiar with their terminology. Re-read them.

Umpires admit that they constantly read the rules. Tricky rulings often occur which may be covered by an obscure line or paragraph in the rules. They must be ruled on —and interpreted — and the rule book is the best source of information.

Difficult situations always seem to pop up in sandlot and high school games. This is because the players are still learning and they will get involved in peculiar situations which are almost impossible under major league supervision.

Common, and complicated, situations in sandlot and high school games are players not batting in turn; runners failing to touch all bases in order; batters getting hit by pitched balls which are over the plate; catchers missing third strikes with men on base; two base-runners occupying the same base at the same time, and many, many others which help to confuse the umpire and make the coach's dinner indigestible.

It's doubtful whether every umpire, manager and player in the major leagues knows how to rule on every tricky play that might crop up.

Take the case of what happened a few years ago in a major-league game. The team at bat had runners on first and second base. The batter hit a sharp grounder at the shortstop — or maybe it was the second baseman. Anyway, only an error would have prevented a double play. What happened?

One of the base-runners deliberately got in front of the infielder set to make the stop and was hit by the batted ball. The rules were specific at the time. The runner was called out for interference and the batter was given credit for a base hit. However, the team at bat still had another out left and could have scored some runs, all because it had a smart base-runner who purposely prevented a double play.

The rule covering such a situation has since been changed, but such a play makes baseball rules an interesting and argumentative subject.

Not all base-runners who get hit by batted balls are out. If a batted ball is first touched, or goes by an infielder, and then hits the base-runner, the ball is not dead and the runner is not out. Play continues and the runners can advance at their own risk.

Also, a runner who gets hit by an infield fly after it has been so called by the umpire, is not out if he is standing on his base. Although the batter is automatically out on an infield fly call (with first and second, or first, second and third occupied with less than two out), it's a double play i£ a runner is hit by a ball ruled an infield fly while off his base.

There are many rules which, at first glance, make you think. For instance, a catcher can use any glove he wants when behind the plate, but the first baseman and other players must use gloves o£ specific dimensions.

We all know that throwing a glove or cap at a batted ball is not right. The batter is entitled to three bases but only i£ the cap or glove strikes the ball.

Although this was covered in the chapter on Playing Techniques, you are perfectly within the rules if you do not tag a base-runner with the ball. This does not mean that you can hold the ball in your left hand and tag him with the right hand. As long as the tag is made with the hand which holds the ball, it is a legal tag. Too many young fielders think they have to tag the runner with the ball and very often lose control of the ball while making the tag.

Did you know that any fielder — but the pitcher or catcher — can station himself in any part of the field as long as he's in fair territory? This means that all four infielders can be placed between first and second, all three outfielders can be pulled in to plug up the infield holes, or some of the infielders can be placed in the outfield to make a five- or six-man outfield. Looks silly but it's perfectly legal.

A balk by a pitcher stops the game and base-runners advance one base. Sometimes a balk is called as the pitch is on its way to the plate. The batter — whether he hits a home run or into a double play —has struck at an illegal pitch and all he has to show for his effort is a good swing. The balk call by the umpire has "killed" further play.

Although the biggest violators are the major-leaguers, the rules are specific about hitting with one or both feet out of the batter's box. The batter's box is 4 feet by 6 feet, certainly large enough for any batter with the largest of feet. But some major-leaguers sometimes have their front foot out of the box, hoping to nail the curve ball before it breaks. Observe this rule, keep both feet in the batter's box.

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