Matt’s Unwritten Baseball Rules (now written down)
A few weeks ago, I came across an article entitled “21 unwritten rules of baseball” (or something like that – I’ll try to find the link) and it had your standard rules: Don’t step on the pitcher’s mound, don’t bunt on a pitcher throwing a no-hitter, etc.
Okay, I didn't find the one I reference above, but I did find this:
As the Mariner’s season becomes more and more awash in wasted plays and wasted moments – I’m reminded of some of MY unwritten rules of baseball.
Now, case in point, I’ve never played baseball. I couldn’t hit a ball if my life depended on it. The one time I tried out for my firm’s softball team I beyond sucked at it. So, yes, it’s easy for me in the comfort of my chair, to judge what is going on within the confines of a baseball team but – for what seems so completely obvious to ME – I just don’t understand how it’s not completely obvious to THEM.
The first rule I’m going to talk about is “play for that one run.” In the previous it article the unwritten rule is to NOT play for that one run as, most likely, that’s all you’ll get. I could care less. You win games by...scoring runs. And I’ve seen many a game won on one run (or lost on one run). The other aspect of scoring a run on someone is that you’ve now put them in a bit of a corner, a chink in their armor and to do so, maybe you forced that pitcher to throw stress pitches, get out of his rhythm, make a mistake. So what does this mean for all you non-baseball people? What it simply means is moving the runners up. You got a runner on first with no outs – bunt him to second. Runners on first and second with no outs – bunt them over. It’s very simple (well, to say at least). I don’t care if you’ve got Mr. Home Run Hitter out there swinging the bat – he needs to get the runners over to scoring position. He’s got three strikes to play with. Try it with the first two, swing away for the last one. Move the runners over and play for that one run. As announcer Ron Fairly once said: “You play for that one run, you might just get more.” Hell, I’d be happy with one.
Also note: If you don’t have a solid power hitter on your team – you’ll have to manufacture runs. That means more stolen bases, more bunts, more contact plays, etc. Too often I see teams that seem to believe, somehow, that on that particular day – Babe Ruth himself is going to inhabit one of your players. It ain’t gonna happen.
Second rule; force the pitcher to play out of his element. In other words, you as a batter have a certain amount of control when it comes to the game. When a pitcher is “on his game” it usually means he’s got a good rhythm going, he’s hitting his spots, he gets the ball and he pitches it. Slow the game down. Step out, step in, call time-out, step out, step in, look around. Get the pitcher out of his game and into his head. It seems, especially with the Mariners, that they don’t do this. It’s as if they’ve given the game over to the pitcher to let him do what he wants.
Third rule; do not, do not, DO NOT, DO NOT swing at the first pitch when a runner is on 3rd base. Especially if they’re on 3rd base with less than two outs. As a rule, I would say never ever ever never swing at the first pitch but I understand that players want to “be aggressive” or “look for a pitch to drive” and pitchers usually like to start off with a fast ball....but...if they know that you’re aggressive, they know they can throw it outside or low and you’ll most likely swing at it. But back to the guy on third base.... There are a number of ways that guy can score. Wild pitch, pass ball, balk, base hit, error, steal. Plus HE’S ON THIRD BASE, he had to get there somehow. Most likely a hit, most likely another hit or error moved the runner along, in other words – the pitcher’s mind isn’t solely on the pitch he’s throwing to you – his mind is on a number of things (see balk, wild pitch, pass ball). Too many times I have seen players get up to bat – the crowd is going crazy, the runner is off the bag on third, the pitcher is sweating bullets, the tying run (possibly the WINNING run) is just itching to go those 90 feet home, the announcer’s voice is catching with ever anticipated movement and the batter swings at the first pitch and out and game over.
On May 15th, the Mariners were playing Boston. Late in the game the M’s had a bit of a situation going on. Runners at first and third, two outs. The pitcher was into the 80’s on his pitches (and this is Josh Beckett – sporting a whopping 2-4 record and a 5.50 era). He’s on the ropes. M’s down by 4 runs. So, yeah, a home run and you’re right back in it. A good solid base hit and maybe Beckett is pulled from the game – what happens? Seager, who is actually probably the best Mariner playing at this point in the season, swings at the first pitch. Pop up. Inning over. WHY?
Rule number 3: Never ever ever EVER swing at the first pitch after a pitcher has just walked a batter OR has thrown more than 8 pitches to a batter. In other words, let’s say the pitcher just battled with a batter for 12 pitches before either walking him and/or striking him out. STAND THERE. The guy has GOT to be tired, arm sore, beat. Why make it easy on him to swing at the first pitch...especially if he walked the guy. If he walked the guy the pressure is on the pitcher to keep him from scoring, keep him on first base, is he going to steal?, etc. Swinging at the first pitch is stupid.
Rule number 4: Know when to be aggressive. Again, this reiterates what I’ve been writing. It’s one thing to be aggressive early on in the game. 1st, 2nd, 3rd inning – yeah, swing at the first pitch (unless the pitcher just walked a batter or there’s a man on third). But after that – slow the game down – force the pitcher to play YOUR game – not their game. And this gets me to another point...you ever watch football? Basketball? Coaches are constantly coaching. It’s not uncommon to see football coaches getting in the faces of their players, most of the time it’s a position coach (defensive coach, special teams, etc.) or late in a game you’ll see a basketball coach call a time-out and write up a play on a board and coach his players. I understand that baseball is a vastly different game than those – but I never see a coach talking to the players in the dugout. You know, why not a reminder to the guys going up to bat to maybe take a pitch or two? Why not sit down with the 7, 8, 9 hitters and give them some tips on maybe shortening their swing – or talk about how the pitcher seems to be getting in a rhythm and to throw him off a bit. What do I see? I see managers (and assistant managers) watching the game, giving off signals and moving players with hand motions. THAT’S IT. Then, after the game, I have to listen to the coach say: “Well, so-and-so, just wasn’t on his game today.” Why don’t you, I don’t know, talk to so-and-so DURING the game and tell him that he needs to do this or that? In the Mariner’s game it would have been great to see Wedge pull Seager aside before that late inning at bat and remind him: “Hey, two on base, pitcher is getting tired. Take a pitch or two.” But we never see it. It may happen, certainly, but...
Rule number 5: This is for the managers. Get thrown out of the game once-in-a-while. A few seasons ago it was abundantly clear when the umpire’s strike zone was all over the place that the Mariner batters weren’t getting any good calls. Time and again they were being called out on pitches way outside the zone. I’m yelling at the TV and there’s the Manager just standing there spitting sunflower seeds. Show some passion. Take some risks. Piss someone off. I’m not saying you have to go all “Lou Piniella” on the base paths – but get a little worked up. Show you’ve got your players’ backs.
Rule number 6: This is for the pitchers. Pitch to contact. I know this sounds kind of crazy and this is one of those rules that is probably the hardest to get across, but pitchers have to learn to pitch to contact. Too many times I see pitchers who think they’re Roger Clemens (before the steroids) or Randy Johnson who think they have to strike out every batter. Pitchers have seven players playing behind them. If you allow the player to hit the ball into play, chances are it’s going to find someone.
Rule number 7: Put the ball into play with a runner on 3rd with less than two outs. There’s an old style swing called “butcher block” swing. What this is – is the batter swings down as if taking a cleaver to a slab of beef. The whole point is to just put the ball into play. With the downward motion – it should be easier to get the bat on the ball and it’s like a bunt except it’s more unpredictable. This is a skill that was used for years and I don’t see it any more.
Rule number 8: EVERYONE bunts. And I mean EVERYONE.
Rule number 9: Think outside the box. There was a time when the Mariners faced a Red Sox pitcher who OWNED them (can’t remember the name). He was something like 12-1 against the Mariners. If you know this guy owns you and that the chances of getting a win are slim...I would start the game as I normally would and see if he’s on his game. If he is...I’d change it up. Have all your batters to bunt – force the pitcher off the mound. If you get men on base and you’re losing badly, steal bases. Just go crazy. It’s one game out of a162.
I fully understand that one of the beauties of Baseball is that it is a game that has hardly changed in 150 years. That’s great. But that doesn’t mean you have to continue to do the same damn thing you’ve been doing for 150 and expect different results.
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