when is it time to call off the dogs?

[Killer Rabbit]

I was watching a game right before DD's team played. A certain team from San Diego (that is no longer together) was beating the other team really bad. The coach from the SD team was still calling timeouts and delaying the game as usual. Coach calls another timeout and talks to his girls. The next play they pull the "Miami Hurricanes" play (or a version of it) where the catcher fakes the throw to first, all the defensive players act like it was a bad throw, runner on second goes to third and gets thrown out by the catcher. The play wasn't bad. It was the fact that they were destroying this team and then rubbed their face in it by even putting that play on. I was ashamed of the SD team and angry for the other team.

On a side note. Last year when DD's team was getting beat really bad in a game and the other team started to leave the bases early, as a coach I had mixed emotions. One that we had reached the point that we were not even considered competitive, and the other of relief.

[Under the Radar]

Funny how everyone is always on the the team that needs to call off the dogs...nobody is ever comments about the dogs being or not being called off of them...

Sam you are right. My DD team has been rolled on a couple times when they 1st started TB in 10u. The Raiders had our # and they would never let up even for a minute so it seemed. We acullay thought that they would request to play us. We hated them and thought they were nasty but after awhile we realized that it made us tougher and stronger, so we came to respect Phil. For the most part we could hang with any team for 3 innings then the door would come off(most games are 4 innings). So we never really had too many blow outs from start to finish. The Crunch did it to us & after they were up by 7 they had the entire team slap. We thought that was cocky but I understand it now.

[3'sDad]

10 runs and then shut it down to get the game over and the kids off the field as quickly as possible....leave early, have the girls play different positions to keep them involved....

[Sam]

The tough part for me was trying to find out exactly how to Call ON the Dogs....Calling them off is easy.

Friendlies are for working on stuff....so you work on stuff you normally might not do, but you might need to do it in a tournament. We were getting killed by the Trailblazers a few years ago ....a couple of weeks before ASA Nationals....they were going....we weren't ...and Coach Sisk approached me and said that they were going to work on hit and runs...I said no problem...and then the final inning we worked on ITB...mission accomplished for both teams. My teams work on a lot of pick plays....as apparently does SD Thunder.

Tournament games: Try to run rule every team you can....if you mess around, you risk losing the game or worse...pissing off the umpiring crew who don't get paid by the inning.

If you are stuck playing a team that just shouldn't be there and you are up by 15 after two innings:

1) Bat out of order (bring it to everyone's attention after the base hit)
2) Leave base early (after telling the BU that you are going to do so)

Don't pile on...even if the other coach is a complete moron and is asking that you go all out to destroy his team. Just because he asks for it doesn't mean his players deserve it.

[dittoz]

In my opinion, players should never ever reduce their level of intensity, no matter what the score. Suppose you put in your subs to give them their due, only to be told to step off a base? That just doesn't seem to help out anyone. What about the hitters? Ask them to swing softer or something? No, I just can't see that happening...

Now that being said, you have your girls up by 15 runs and you keep legging out hits to make doubles and triples? Even worse juju if you ask me. As Ace said, station to station only and let the other team keep working.

A year or so ago in 1st year 12's, we played against a team that was clearly better and it was only a scrimmage game, but they would hit a ball to the outfield and just keep on running. Sure, our girls should have made the play, but the fact is they didn't and the more times this happened, the more flustered and upset they became and the more unable to make plays. By the end of time, it was about 25-0 and they were still dropping bunts, pushing singles to doubles (and beyond) and everyone including their own parents were pretty upset.

For my teams, we never had a clear number to shut it down, but when it's evident that they ain't coming back, we always shut it down to base-base running and the bench mob comes in.

(BTW, this would not include a Nationals-type event. Meaningless tournies, friendlies and scrimmages are what this is aimed at)

[GIMNEPIWO]

Sam sez:
"Funny how everyone is always on the the team that needs to call off the dogs...nobody is ever comments about the dogs being or not being called off of them..."

That makes it official, Im not everyone I must be a nobody ... Few years back we were getting our backsides handed to us ... about the 3rd inning the opposing Coach approaches me to say since they are beating so bad that they are just going to start working on their short game ... I thought geez, I'd rather you just keep hitting it to the fence ... LOL

[OCTravelCoach]

Funny how everyone is always on the the team that needs to call off the dogs...nobody is ever comments about the dogs being or not being called off of them...

Been on both sides of this equation. Have found that having our players step off the base for intentional outs is really 'offensive' to the other team. their reaction to this has been that we're rubbing it in their face and they're not good enough to get legitimate outs.

I think you play your game at all times. If you're on top you go for the mercy rule. It we're on the bottom side of this, you watch what the other team is doing to you and learn from it.

There's no perfect solution.

[Demonboy]

"when is it time to call off the dogs?"

Never. Trample the weak, hurdle the dead.

[Sam]

Funny how everyone is always on the the team that needs to call off the dogs...nobody is ever comments about the dogs being or not being called off of them...

Been on both sides of this equation. Have found that having our players step off the base for intentional outs is really 'offensive' to the other team. their reaction to this has been that we're rubbing it in their face and they're not good enough to get legitimate outs.

I think you play your game at all times. If you're on top you go for the mercy rule. It we're on the bottom side of this, you watch what the other team is doing to you and learn from it.

There's no perfect solution.

Its only offensive to coaches and parents...and they are the least of anyone's worries. Also, you don't have to be obvious about it....and if somebody stepped off against my team, I would use that much more as a motivational tool than the inability to make a physical play on a ball.

Be a bully at all times if you wish...show no compassion for your opponents....karma is a funny thing...

[WHODIS/ITSDAT]

I say beat'em all, let the losers sort'em out...
Once you have the foot on the throat do not take it off... It is a sign of weakness. People will hate this, but a team has to have the character to atleast make the routine plays and get the 3 outs....