Game Nine - Too Much Drama

This game was the final straw. This is my last year unless league "leadership" changes. Sushi is ready to quit now. What was a good game, ended up in an ugly manner.

We were the home team against our nemesis team, game tied at 5 in the bottom of the 6th. Got the lead runner on, but the next two batters got out. Batter hits the ball to left and I'm calling the lead runner to third and the left fielder futzes the ball and so I send the runner home. He beats the throw, game over, we win. Except: runner missed both second and third.

During the game, the umpire's strike zone changed and not in our favor. One of my parents told us that the ump was friends with the opposing coach. So, after the winning run scored, the other coach ran out to talk to the ump (suspicious) and then they appealed at second. The ump called the runner out. I wouldn't have said anything except for the little talk before the appeal. So, I went and asked the ump if he had actually seen the runner miss second. He said no and I said that he couldn't call the runner out if he didn't see him miss the base. (The idiot league prez hollered something stupid, which I just ignored.) The ump called him safe, they then appealed at third, the ump called him out after he told me that he saw the runner miss third. At this point, I'm fine and am getting the kids ready to go another inning.

One of my parents (he helps coach too) got involved, stating that the appeal was not done correctly. So, several minutes were spent on deciding what to do. A parent from the other team that I really like, was in agreement about the incorrect appeals, but he wasn't sure what to do. I completely sat this out, letting everyone else freak out. I was talking to the ump and realized that he did not see the runner miss either second or third. He thought the appeal at third was on the batter, who didn't bother to touch third because the game was over. Since he didn't see the runner miss either base, he couldn't call him out. Since he couldn't call him out, the run had to count and we won the game.

I'm not sure why this year has been so much trouble, but the combination of having to work so hard to get my schedule reorganized and having so many stupid problems with the league add up to be too much.

Game Eight

Another missed game. I missed a great comeback. They were down by seven and ended up winning by six.

Game Seven

Non-league game. Lost by 4, but played well. Just didn't hit worth beans. A disturbing problem that keeps coming up is an inability of our best two pitchers to get outs.

Wooden Bat Tournament

We went 1-2, which wasn't good enough to make it to the second day. I missed the first two games (losses), but the third game started late and I was able to get there for that one. Nothing exciting to report, except that Sushi is not having too much fun. Have not figured out what his problem is yet.

Game Six - Good and Bad

First,the bad - this is the first game I have ever missed in the five years I have been coaching. Work is not working too easily with me on scheduling around baseball. Other people get their schedules manipulated, but not me so much. I could go on, but I digress.

Now, the good - another league win! Got ahead early and held on for a one run win. Too bad I missed it!

Game Five- Fantastic

This is the game I was most looking forward to. As you know by my previous posts, we had three kids taken off our team. Well, this is the team that got said kids. The coach of this team is a kinda weird story: he doesn't have a kid in the league, the claim is his brother plays catcher in the MLB (I have yet to find any proof) and the league prez has a serious jones for this guy. Anyway, I was really ready for this one.

They started one of the kids from last years team and I reminded our kids to be patient at the plate. Sure enough, he was kinda wild. We were the visitors and immediately went to work. The first two batters got on base and scored on a hit by number 3. He ended up at third and then stole home. I was coaching third, right in front of the opposing dugout. They were mad and thought it was "bush league" that we stole home. It was at this point I knew that this guy didn't have a clue and I was in his head.

The kids have pitch counts that they have to abide by. Their pitcher hit 85, which is the limit. I waited to see if they were going to change pitchers and they didn't move. I reminded them that that was 85. They were surprised and tried to say, no it was 70. I said that it was 85 and they needed to change, which they did. An inning later, they told the ump our pitcher was at 89 pitches. The ump told me and I said he was actually at 69. They insisted and I said, "Give me a break. They aren't even keeping track of their own pitcher and I'm supposed to believe they are keeping track of mine? No way." I showed the ump my book and he agree with me.

Then they tried to say that there was a weekly cumulative pitch count, which is bull. Anyway, we got up 13-3 on them and then gave up 4 runs and won 13-7. The custom is after each game, everybody (coaches too) lines up and shakes hands. The other coaches didn't. Real classy. I told my assistant that I won't let up on them next time. I figure that I held up about 4 runs by not running as much once we got our big lead.

Game Three - My Bad

Lost our third game (actually our first game) 6-2. Had some positive things:

• Our top two pitchers are going to be very good.
• We found two more kids that can pitch.
• Had a sweet 2-6-2 putout. Runners on 2nd and 3rd. Catcher threw to Sushi at short to pick off the runner, who went to third. Runner on third runs home and Sushi gunned him. Freaking sweet!
• Sushi hurt his thumb, but can still hit like a machine.
  

But, there were some negatives:

• The games being close together is going to be a problem with the pitch count.
• Our lack of practice and experience was glaring.
• Our hitting is very suspect past the top three hitters.
• Sushi hurt his thumb and may not be able to catch for a week.
• I coached the game like a drunk moron.
  

Game Four - Rock On

League play began tonight. The winner of the league is the All-star manager, which has been me for the last two years. It didn't start well, down three before we even came to bat. We have a lot of kids that have never really played, so we are teaching on the fly. The first two innings were cut short by growing pains. Our pitching wasn't as consistent, but we made some good defensive plays that kept the score at 3-0.

In the bottom of the third, we finally got it together and put 4 on the board. At this point, Sushi was pitching. He gave up a lead off triple in the top of the 4th. The next batter he put on a clinic in pitching. After getting two strikes on fast balls, he threw a perfect circle change. The kid was so far in front of it, that it wasn't funny. The runner was stranded and we put 9 up in the bottom of the fourth, ending the game due to the 10-run rule. And, it wasn't just walks and errors. We hit the ball.

I'm not sure what to think: every year, pitching has been a problem, with only two or three kids that could throw the ball over the plate. This year, I may have six kids that are capable of throwing strikes. Do I dare dream?

Second Game Canceled - Due to Weather

I'm not as mad about this cancellation. It snowed and rained today, but by 3:00, it was sunny, very windy and 42 degrees. I would have played, but we weren't the home team. Saturday is next. I ain't holding my breath.

First Game Canceled - Without Notice

There's nothing like the first game of the season. So much promise, so many unanswered questions, sunflower seeds. I got to the field early to get it chalked and raked to perfection. One of our other teams was practicing, so it was quite pleasurable to kick them off the field (Yeah, I've got a mean streak when it comes to baseball. I was a pitcher and was not afraid to pitch inside.). So, I'm raking away, working out my lineup in my mind, getting that baseball high, when a kid tells me, "The game has been canceled." "What?" "My mom said the game was canceled and moved to Friday." I swore under my breath. "Fine."

At this point it's too late to call everyone and tell them not to show up. I got a hold of the league prez and he says, "I thought I sent you and email." "No. And you can call the other team and tell them not to bother showing up Friday." "Why?" "Because I have to work. I told you I can't screw with the schedule because of work." Then I hung up and verbally swore.

So, we had a practice after a few tears were shed because we couldn't play. It is a good sign that the kids were ready to play. Well, we'll give her the Ginsu Wednesday.

We're Going to be Fine

Had a couple practices over the weekend (and a date!). If the kids progress as expected, we'll have seven players that are as good as any others in the league. Our pitching will be an issue, but isn't that always the case? Even in MLB, pitching is always an issue. The biggest surprise is a returning player from last year. He just didn't seem to have a clue last year, but he's been very good in practice thus far.

The only disappointment at this point is my own son. I thought I had his pitching figured out, but he can't find the strike zone. I'm hoping it corrects itself. It's a minor thing, as he still hits like Ichiro. My new nickname for the boy is Sushi. He likes it.

First Practice and Some Justice

Only about half of the kids showed up for practice, but we picked up two really promising kids. The biggest thing was that we completed the trade for the kid we wanted.

We told the league that we would trade the third kid for a specific player on the other team. As expected, they said no and that we could have a different kid who was wheelchair bound and couldn't see out of his left eye (yes, I'm joking). My assistant and I talked about it and both agree that we were getting jobbed, and he was thinking about moving his son up to the next league. I ran into the league prez at practice and told him that we did not agree with their proposed trade. I explained our case and, by the time the practice was over, we had the player we wanted.

Baby steps. Baby steps.

Draft Night - Not All It's Cracked Up To Be

Well, the draft occurred tonight without me. Thank the good Lord above for my assistant coach. He just happened to show up, and that may have saved the season. I did not tell him about not letting them tear up our team because I was under the assumption that the issue was settled. My bad.

The first act, was to take two brothers whose dad does not approve of me and move them to another team. The LL guidelines state that kids can be traded, not taken, and that can be done after the draft. These two were basically replace with two kids with no experience.

A third kid (a relative of the brothers) wants to be on the same team as the brothers. We'll see what happens because we won't let him go for nothing.

There are a few kids that my assistant really likes, so we shall see what happens. Hopefully the weather will give us some time to practice.

The Plot Sickens

It's always a good thing to know that one is not truly paranoid. I ran into a coach from another league at work and we were talking about the upcoming season. I told him about our socialistic approach to the upcoming season and he almost shouted, "They can't do that!" We talked about it some more and it got me to thinking (danger, danger!!!!). I did some research on the subject and, while I can't prove it with ironclad certainty, it looks like the coach may be right.

So, I called the other member of the LL board that I know doesn't hold any grudges about whatever happened last year. I told him my thoughts and he agreed that it all seemed a bit off. He's going to look into it and see what can be done. I ran a lot of ideas around this fertile playground I call my brain and realized that there are probably only two kids returning that were capable pitchers. One I already have and I may get the second one because he wants to play on my team and his dad can probably make that happen.

Over the weekend, I revamped my son's pitching mechanics and he's now quite good. Plus, I can probably talk my neighbors into moving their son up and he needs a little work but throws hard. So, if my scheming hard work and dedication pays off, I'll end up with the four best pitchers in the league. That's right, the Hammer is on the loose! Don't piss me off!!!

Now They Are Out To Get Me

Had our first Little League meeting last night. Was moderately interesting. I didn't mention this before, but there was an unknown incident that occurred last summer that got several members of the board mad at me. I still don't know what happened, but I guess that they're still mad because the first topic was our draft. This is a direct quote, aimed at me: "It's not fair that you have so many kids returning, so everyone is going into a pool for a new draft." Fortunately, I've matured as I have gotten older and didn't immediately throttle the geniuses whose idea this is. I did manage to salvage one of my kids because his dad helps me a lot. So, I start out with the best kid in the league, plus my number 2 son, who is very good.

The tragic part of this is that all of my statistical research is mostly for naught because it was based on having the same seven kids back. O well, I will make it work somehow and I vow to win the league again, somehow, someway.

Statistics That Confuse

Well, maybe not confuse. As I told you a couple weeks ago, I am doing research on baseball statistics for my team. It always seems like you get to the 6th inning and you have the bottom of the order leading off. So, I wanted to know what our actual numbers were. Interestingly, when removing the 1st inning, position 6 leads off 18% of the time, position 1 leads off 16% of the time, position 7 leads off 14% of the time and positions 5 and 9 lead off 13% of the time.

So, that didn't help too much. Let's look further. Leading off the 5th inning 26% of the time is position 5 and position 9 18% of the time. The bottom third of the order leads off the 5th 41% of the time, the middle third leads off the 5th 31% of the time and the top third of the order leads off the 5th 28% of the time. The 6th inning? Well, position 6 is 30% and positions 1 and 8 are 20%. So, the bottom third leads off the 6th 35% of the time, the middle third leads off the 6th 40% of the time and the top third leads off the 6th 25% of the time.

The feeling that the bottom of the order leads off the 6th all the time isn't true. But, what do I do with these stats? Hmmmm. I'll let you know!

Little League Baseball Makes Me Happy

I have been teaching baseball since my oldest boy could walk. I've coached 3 different teams with my boys: machine pitch, Minors and Majors. My teams have won the league each year and this year shouldn't be much different. This will be the first time I have not had both boys on the same team. Son number 2, while not saying so, is ready to be out from under the shadow of his brother.

Last year was a rough year. It was the first year that I had a parent whine to me about playing time and I had two complain. I offered to let them coach, but they walked away. It's never the parents of the good players that complain. Anyway, we won the league on the last night of the season, in the last inning. It was awesome! Since we won the league, I got the honor of being the all-star manager for the second year. We almost beat the defending regional champs, losing 3-2. When it was all over, I didn't think about baseball for months.

Then, in January, I saw a parent of one of my players. He greeted me, "Hey, Coach." That was it, I was ready for baseball. (NOTE: If you are a baseball parent, either help or support the coaches. Most of them work like mad and don't need people whining. Either help or get out of the way. Oh - teach your kids how to play; coach them at home.) What am I to do to fill the months before the season? Statistics!!!! Baseball is a statistic lovers dream.

So, I am on a quest to find the following: which position in the batting order leads off an inning the most and bats with runners in scoring position the most. I'm curious to see if there is a pattern that can be exploited to our benefit.

Spring Is Almost Here!!!

Pitchers and catchers starting reporting today and that means that baseball is back and that means that I now have a reason to get up in the morning!!

Just for fun, I'll post about my season coaching this year. I know nobody reads this, but my words be surfing the 'net, so that's cool.