Outs on Purpose: Mercy or Insult?
I recently had an article come to my attention via Twitter about softball teams resorting to making outs on purpose to shorten games.
I was asked about my thoughts on the situation. Strangely enough, even though I hadn’t been involved in a game like this for a while (as a player, coach, or parent), it came up not long after I was asked the question. After my experience in that game particular game, I stand even more firmly in my original answer.
I believe in respecting your opponent and feel that this is done by giving them your best effort in what you are doing. Not by making “mistakes” you wouldn’t want to make against a better team on purpose so that you can “help” them out.
Maybe I’m just ultra-competitive, but I find it insulting when a team does things they normally wouldn’t do to try to “give” my team outs. I’m not going to learn anything and my team is not going to get better by standing on the field while your team makes a mockery of the game (in my opinion) and gets “careless” on purpose to give away outs. Of course, like anything else, there are probably exceptions to the rule every now and then, but in generally speaking, these are my thoughts.
Having said that, I know that this is a completely personal view on the matter, so I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on this topic. You can leave a comment here, or join the discussion we’re having about this over at Fastpitch World.
How would YOU feel if you were on the losing end of the lopsided score and your opponent did things like this?
I agree. If I’m on the short end of the score – I don’t want the other team to give up. Just bat through the order and we’ll take our lumps. On the other hand, I think there are a few things you can do to ease the pressure. For instance, the girls don’t have to steal. Taking good leads but staying on base until the ball is hit gives the other team an opportunity to make outs but not be totally overwhelmed by runs scoring. Also, a great opportunity to get innings in for pitchers who need work.
I have been involved in it, and I have observed it. I think at some point you need to stop the pain. After a while, the team isn’t learning anything. It’s just getting humiliated.
I notice the people over on Fastpitch World who are talking about how you keep playing hard or keep playing like you’re behind don’t seem to have been on the losing end of these games. Perhaps if they had seen their kids totally overmatched and discouraged they’d feel differently.
Unfortunate that sometimes these mismatches come up, but they do. When I’ve been on the high end of the score I’ve had my runners leave the base early to get an inning over with. Opposing coaches have thanked me. Doesn’t mean I’ll automatically do it the next inning, but if your team just can’t compete I will.
Actually Ken, both people who responded to the discussion at Fastpitch World said that they had been on both sides of the coin, granted one said most of the time on the winning end. However, they both have been on the losing end of the game at one point or another.
I don’t know if I agree with playing as if you are behind, but generally, I’d rather not have my players do things that would be absolute no-no’s in “regular” games.