Offensive Bench

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Offensive Bench

     Being on the bench is part of the game of baseball. Even if you are a player who never "sits" an inning, you still come in the dug out while waiting to bat. You need to stay focused on the game. Any time you are on the bench you are still in the game. Stay into it.
     When our team is at bat, it's a great time for high fives, pats on the back, and constructive criticism for each other. There are many things you can do to help your team focus on the game. On the defensive bench watching runners, of course, is one thing you could do. Making sure they tag the bases when they have to, watching to see if they go so you could shout it to your battery who might be able to make the pitch out and the throw out. Looking for signs is another good one. When you're on the defensive bench you could watch for signals from the third base coach or opposing dugout. On the offensive bench you could still watch the dugout for signs to the pitcher. You could also watch for other signs the pitcher may give to let you know when it's going to be a breaking ball, for instance. Share this information with your team, and watch the team's batting average rise.
     A notebook could be kept by the defensive bench. If you've been keeping track of the pitch pattern, have someone continue for you when you're at bat. It would be very useful info for the team to know that the pitcher never throws a breaking ball when she has three balls in the count, that she always tries to throw the curve over the top, or that she always telegraphs her move to first. So watch pitchers for telltale signs of the pickoff move, or of a particular pitch.
     Watching the other pitcher for a balk is another way that can help the team.*

The Defensive Bench page is suggested reading since much of what is said there applies here.

*Back Fire - Here's a sad story of how an all-star team's aggressive offensive bench once had our intentions backfire, We noticed the pitcher, who was currently over-powering us, was balking on every pitch. After pointing it out to the ump, sure enough we ended up with bases loaded and the pitcher was rattled as (s)he had to be conscious of mechanics. Our youngest player was at the plate. Everyone was routing for him because he was playing second base with a broken thumb! Sure enough, Nate connects with the fastball and blasts a grand slam over the left-center wall. I'm sure the first base umpire wished he had something better to do that day as he walked toward the plate waving his arms high in the air yelling "Balk!"

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Offensive Bench

Send mail to martyATlearningbaseball.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 1999-2005 LearningBaseball.com Last modified: December 05, 2002

Send mail to martyATlearningbaseball.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1999-2005 LearningBaseball.com
Last modified: December 05, 2002