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Online now: 1 member: 9 ball; 7 anonymousDiscussion: Is this the most brain dead player in the world????
| Posted | Discussion |
| Nov. 19 Gary Heifner 248 posts | At the winter worlds in Ft. Meyers, I talked to a guy who said a 3rd baseman was playing 15 feet + in FRONT of 3rd base. To me, he was obviously trying to intimidate you to hit somewhere else. Would you hit somewhere else or would you take that inside pitch and drive one through his sternum????? |
| Nov. 19 the wood Men's 65 1123 posts | I would look to hit the ball past him. Why try to hurt him? Hitting an infielder/pitcher with the ball has 2 problems. It could injure him and you could be thrown out. On the other side of the coin... if this guy does get hurt, he's asking for it. There are pitchers that charge the plate (1-2 steps) and they are in the same boat... but I don't want to hurt them. BW |
| Nov. 19 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | Hey Woodman and Gary, What an interesting question for me as I made my bones in senior ball playing thiird base and I've always played even with the bag. My high school baseball coach said that's where a third baseman should play so I always took his word for it. "Even with the bag" which is closer than most play requires confidence in ones reflexes and instincts to play well and avoid being hurt. But there are plusses to being so close. You have more time to knock down or bobble a ball before you have to throw a runner out. With men on first and second it can be quite intimidating to the batter who loves to pull the ball because it's not impossible to start a doulbe or triple play on a hard hit ground ball. Also, from being so close there are fewer bad hops and the angle of the ball can be cut off just like a hockey goalie who comes out of the crease and actually get to balls one could never get to playing deep. But to play 15 feet in front of third base which either 45 feet away or 55 feet away is asking for it in Major plus and the player deserves no consideration for playing so close. It's only a matter of time before he gets a ball he can't handle either because he's not ready or finds a weakness in his defense. I will say that this move is tantamount to suicide and like Tim Millett told me if a guy knowlingly puts himself in a more vulnerable position on the field that what is necessary he deserves whatever he gets. Gary, you didn't say if the guy was playing major, AAA or AA. This would have something to do with the equation for me but if it was in Major plus with the likes of Mike Burbank, Clatterbaugh, Rick Perez, Sal and Mike Walker I will safely say playing 15 feet in front of the bag is akin to suicide and something I would never do. |
| Nov. 20 DoubleL10 Men's 70 907 posts | Joe, WOW! With all that typing it looks like your arm is all healed up! Glad to see you are back in "typing form"! Seriously, when I read Gary's post, the first person I thought of is you. I've seen you play third enough with the Old A's to know - even in Major Plus - you don't mind playing even with the bag even though guys on other teams play deep. I've played some third myself - not my best position by any means - and I made sure I was deep! That's why I usually play the outfield - more time to react to the shots hit at our level. |
| Nov. 20 AlleninGa Men's 60 113 posts | Playing that close is a direct challenge to the batter and makes the statement " you can't get it past me". I say go with the pitch and if it ends up a laser to him, it's his to make the play. More power to him (EGO and all). |
| Nov. 20 audieh Men's 60 249 posts | I like Einstein's thoughts on why he plays where he does. I wonder if this "new" guy is new to slow pitch and maybe cut his teeth in fast pitch where it is not uncomon for the third baseman and first baseman to be half way to the plate. In major plus ball though I do not really worry who I hit it to on the defensive team as I assume they are all of excellent caliber. However, in local senior league play when I see a weak defensive pitcher, or third or first I will do my best not to hit their way. Now if the guy is purposely playing in the challenge me to hit to him, I will just take my normal swing and he should not be a factor at all. Why play his game? |
| Nov. 20 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | About ten years ago I had a similar thing happen to me in our open league game. Big Jim Mitchell, former line backer for the Falcons was playing first and taunted me saying, "get it by me". He was playing up on the line and kept slapping his glove. I did my best to ignore him. Never play someone esle's game. |
