Intentional Walks
Why do all Little League parents and some coaches have so much trouble with the intentional walk? They usually start yelling things like “unsportsmanlike”, “all you want to do is win”, etc. It confuses me greatly. Would they say the same thing about the bunt? The intentional walk is a strategy employed by the coach just as bunting, stealing, hit and run, are employed. So why the hubbub?
A lot of Little League teams have that one stud. The kid that is 10 times better than anyone else on the team. He bats about .750 and hits home runs regularly. The odds are, he is going to hit the ball. Everyone worth their salt knows that in baseball you don’t let the other team’s best player beat you. No way, no how. So, if the situation arises, you have to walk them.
Lets take a situation I had the other night. The team we were playing has a stud that crushes the ball. We were tied in the bottom of the last inning with two outs and they had the winning run on 2nd. A single scores the kid from second, and the batter’s run really means nothing. He has at least a 75% chance of hitting a single. Why would any coach put his team in the position of having a 3-in-4 chance they are going to lose the game?
Here is what happens if you walk the kid:
1. You reduce the chances that the ball will be hit because the next kid has only a .400 average if that. So a 40% chance of a hit.
2. You create a force situation at every base except home.
3. You can back your infielders up and even if the ball is hit, it will only result in an infield single at most and the runs won’t score. You will only have bases loaded and now a force at every base including home.
If you don’t walk him, you have a 75% hitter up there w/ your infield having to play mid-level so they can make the throw to first in time, their only play for the most part, and if they throw it away the run is likely to score. Pitching to this batter makes absolutely no sense under any circumstances.
So, back to my original question, why do the parents lose their mind? Because, again, they are reacting to the situation with a very limited knowledge of the situation. They are passing judgment without fully educating themselves. In this situation, there is usually the educated dad or coach in the stands speaking loudly saying something like “smart move” or “he has to do it” to try and quell the protesters. But for the most part, intentional walks in Little League are met with disdain.
Do you intentionally walk batters in Little League? If so, under what circumstances?
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The problem I have with intentionally walking the “stud” is; There is a lot of variety in LL and the next batter is likely to be younger, possibly first year kid. So, not only are you possibly killing the younger kids confidence when he does get out, you are taking the possibilty of a memorable moment from the “stud” for hitting a game winning hit. The reason he is a stud is because he probably practices all the time. I am a little biased right not because the other team walked my son twice last night and my nephew right before him the second time. Maybe there should be a limit to the # of times you can intentionally walk. I just don’t think it’s fair to walk the same kid more than once and you shouldn’t be able to walk two in a row. just my opinion.
Brian,
Thanks for your comments, but I beg to respectfully disagree. You can’t let the best player on the other team beat you in a key situation, I’m sorry. You are assuming the trailing kid will fail! My son was that trailing kid and smacked a double down the line. He is 26 today and still remembers the whole scenario in vivid detail! If the kid does fail, the coach can pick him back up, but nothing tops success, nothing ever.
You sound like an idiot. You cry “It’s about competition, it’s about performing”. Then you say, let the on-deck kid come through and get a hit. BS. If you really cared about true competition at this level, you’d let the pitcher pitch and raise his game. You’d let the hitter hit and raise his game. THAT’S TRUE COMPETITION. This is little league. My best player against your best player, let them decide not some beer league Manager who thinks he’s being strategic and smart. Get off the field and let the kids play.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your comment! Actually, we walked a kid the other day to set up bases loaded and got a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning. The kids understand it and they get it. Part of our job as managers is to teach baseball at the next level. Those kids will remember that move for the rest of their life. It’s not about winning, it’s about playing good baseball. Thank you again for commenting and good luck on the fields!
Rick
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Let the kids play. It’s not about you coach. What if the “stud” gets that clutch hit? Good for him and his team, but what if your pitcher gets that game winning strike out or maybe on a hit, one of your fielders makes that big play! I have coached for years and I can be very competitive and understand there is strategy involved, but I will let my kids play the game they have been coached to play. We all want to win,…I just like it better when the kids play determines their fate. Not your ability as a coach to take an opportunity away from what you consider to be a better player. When facing that “stud” maybe you should coach your pitchers to deal with the situation rather than just going around it.
Now, while the intentional walk might be a good game tactic, it does nothing for the development of either the pitcher nor the hitter.
In order to develop mental toughness as either a pitcher or a hitter, both must learn to deal with the stress that is associated with a batter coming to the plate in a key situation. If an intentional walk is issued, then neither get to “live the moment” when everything is on the line. In effect, by focusing on winning the game, the manager has denied that unique opportunity to both players. If you don’t let them work through those situations now while they are young, how will they deal with those issues as they get older.
Jball,
Thank you for your comment! Some very good insight here. On one thing we agree, It is not about us as coaches, it is about strategy and the game. I ask you, 1 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd, you lead by 1 run, other team’s best batter, or a very good batter, or a batter that you know is likely to put the ball in play up. What do you do? I walk them and set up the double play.
Using your reasoning, what if that pitcher throws a perfect change up on the outside corner, off the end of the bat, back to the pitcher, to home, then to first, double play, game over. How is that any different than any of your scenarios?
Jball,
I disagree w/ you on the development of the pitcher and hitter. It actually teaches them the “next level” of the game. They get 100 at bats during the year, so 1 at bat is not that big a deal. What better mental toughness than having to force a play at home and not throw a walk! Every player is in, the infield is in, the outfield is in, everyone is focused. The batter is trying to put the ball in play, the infield must go home. Now that is teaching the game and building character! Not having a ground out that scores the run. Anyone can coach that.
The issue was in the first paragraph……
“The intentional walk is a strategy employed by the coach just as bunting, stealing, hit and run, are employed. So why the hubbub?”
Here’s the hubbub.
A Little League game isn’t the place for a parent to show off his managing skills. What’s next? Putting a lefty pitcher in to face a lefty batter? This isn’t the MLB.
To me, the coach’s job in little league is to teach the kids to play the game right and teach them the fundamentals of the game. But in the end, let the kids decide the outcome of the game.
You use examples like bunting and stealing but in the end, those plays must be made by the kids. When you walk someone, you take the game out of the pitcher’s and batter’s hands.
Greg,
Thank you for the great insight! You make a great point, however, have you ever watched an intentional walk in Little League? It is quite the adventure! There is a skill to it and you are never too young to learn this skill. I also ask you, if we are not there to win, why do we have scoreboards? BTW, the Lefty vs. Lefty strategy is employed much more than the intentional walk. I challenge you that you take the game out of the pitchers and batters hands. In fact, just the opposite, you put more pressure on the pitcher w/ runners on and the next batter is directly challenged! Whether either succeeds or fails is irrelevant, everyone has learned greatly from this experience.
The Little League Coach
In our league, there is AA, AAA and Majors. The studs in AAA are often kids that refuse a call up to Majors (so that they can win in a lower skill bracket vs sit the bench sometimes in an upper skill bracket) or are the coach’s sons who are waived from being called up. If I am a weaker team in a close single elimination playoff game and there are runners on base, as manager, I am walking the stud rather than give up a run scoring hit. If I don’t make the call and we lose by the run that is scored by the stud’s hit, it nullifies what would be a stellar on-field performance by a weaker team. I want to make it clear that intentionally walking every time is, in my opinion, not appropriate. But, in the above situation, I would find it tough to justify playing “straight-up” baseball when that concept was violated the day that the stud-coach decision to play down in the lower league was made.
Mike,
Thank you for commenting on my link! I agree 100% w/ your position, though I must question your board if what you state is actually true, and I have no reason to think it is or isn’t. Please note #5 on the Little League application found here http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/Player_RegistrationForm.pdf. It specifically states if drafted into Majors you have to play. We strictly enforce this policy here as we consider it a safety issue. A player with the talent for majors shouldn’t be playing down. It does the player no good and puts the other players in danger.
As far as coach’s kids. We have them try out just like any other kid and force them into the division where they belong. It can be frustrating, but in the end, it all works out.
We had this situation come up last night. The coach on our team walked the other team’s best hitters. We were called chickens and cheaters by the other team. No one has beat this team until last night because of these players. The other coach said he was offended by the walks. Was our coach right in this call or was he playing unfairly to win ? I am torn but our boys were very excited about the win. We have to play again tonight for the league championship and I am not sure what our coach plans to do . Thoughts please ?
Bobby,
Sounds to me like your coach is a very smart manager! Obviously, you were coming out of the loser’s bracket based on the playback game, so I would definitely do it again if the situation arises. You shouldn’t walk them just to walk them, but you can NEVER let a team’s best player beat you if they are put in the situation to do so. That is baseball 101. Please let me know how it goes!
The Little League Coach.
I know this post is old, but I am going to comment anyway. I stopped to watch a game last night on my way home from work, in part to scout one of the teams which we play tomorrow. The team we will play tomorrow has a number 4 hitter who is about 5′-8″ at 12 yrs old and crushed a 3 run homer in his first at bat. The other team battled back from an 8-0 hole to make it 8-7 going into the bottom of the 5th. With runners on 2nd & 3rd with 2 outs, he pitched to the kid and he hit another monster shot over the fence. The pitcher struck out the number 5 hitter and the inning was over, now down 11-7. They managed to score 1 run in the top of the 6th, which would have tied the game. Instead they lost 11-8. I don’t like the idea of walking 11 & 12 year olds, but in that situation I would have definitely walked him. That kid is probably always the hero. There were parents on the losing sideline asking why the coach didn’t walk the kid. It is a fine line and I wouldn’t walk him in the first inning, but in that situation I would definitely walk him and give my kids a chance to win the game. They keep score for a reason, it is something they will see as they get older and it is part of the game. Something like a player “baiting” a bad throw or run-down situation when leading off at third base (usually see this with 9 & 10 yr olds) is bush league. I have seen coaches teach their players this and beat other teams without a base hit. That stuff goes away real quick and doesn’t work with most 11 & 12 year old teams, so why do it or teach it?
Chad,
Great comment! And great demonstration of when it is RIGHT to intentionally walk a player. I would submit that the losing team could have scored 2 that inning if they didn’t need to score 4 by bunting or other strategic moves.
Thank you for your comment!
The Little League Coach
Make no mistake that 10 year old boys know that intentionally walking the other teams best hitter in the right situation is the best thing to do. If the situation arises I fully intend to use that tactic in the All Star tournament.
I’ve seen the big hitter come to bat in first inning and no body on base with no score in game and intentionaly walked. Next batter hits home run. Very same thing happened the next at bat for big hitter,no outs no body on base, intentionaly walked and again next hitter hits home run. I don’t think the intentional walk in this situation is correct even if the next batter made an out.
They should do away with the intentional walk rule in little league. Or even in big league too. And if they do keep the rule, then how does that count as an “at bat” in little league? And if they keep the rule then they should charge the pitcher with 4 pitches if he throws them or not!
Funny. This came up in our game tonight….hence why I googled the situation and came across this feed.
In competitive baseball….with full rules…I would probably agree with the IBB….But……..
Tonight in our IN HOUSE. Game..yes….in house…not travel…not competitive in nature….”everyone makes the playoffs” in house league we had a situation. ( for the record…my son also plays on the 9 year old travel team for this program, and playing on the in house team is also required) .
5 inning game. We are the home team. Tied it up in the bottom of the 5th. 2 outs. 1 man on third base. Next kid up to the plate plays travel ball as well (and is 2 for 3, two 1B, & HBP) .
The opposing ” manager / dad” decides he is going to IW not only this kid, but the next kid…to load the bases….and the kid at bat with the bases jammed is a sure out….can’t hit the ball at all….strikes out allll the time.
His plan was announced to the ump, so he could get direction on what to do………the assistant coach on our team questioned the “managerial decision” to IW a kid who has a chance (with 2 outs mind you) have a walk off hit…..who also has a chance to be HBP again..or BB…..or strike out, or ground out….or whatever…these kids are 8-9 in an in house league….a league that has no real steals (you can ‘steal’ after the ball crosses the plate…usually on a past ball because 50% of the kids ca not catch a ball still)…..no leads….no in field fly rule…..no anything…
This “manager” is going to walk a kid……when, seriously, every team makes the playoffs…and his team WAS WINNING going into this inning…..
This…this is not good managing…
And I thoroughly applaud our assistant coach who decided to step up to the plate…literally….and straighten this out.
Footnote: the opposing coach reluctantly pulled back the IW. And the boy that was scheduled to be walked, ended up fouling of the first two pitches of the AB, then CRUSHED. A line drive into center field for a walk off base hit……..and his team mates ran out and jumped on him……..
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm………..
Tooooooooo many idiots in the world today……..
Bulldog,
Thank you for your comments! Quick question, is this official Little League? I ask because you say you have to play to get on the league’s travel team and you have no infield fly?
Looking forward to your reply.
The Little League Coach
Bulldog,
I am going to assume that you are not in a sanctioned Little League as you did not reply. I may be wrong, but either way, here is my reply from a Little League Coach’s perspective. First, you state that “in house” ball is not competitive. The spring season is meant to be competititve, if you have 7 teams then there is a huge advantage to being a top seed.
Also, you state that your “son also plays on the 9 year old travel team for this program.” Little League has no such program. 5 inning game???? I have never heard of such a thing. Walking 2 kids if you trust your pitcher w/ the game on the line is great stategy. It sets up a force at each base. Why can’t you steal? There are numerous ways to steal a base in a closed base environment.
Most disturbing is the no infield fly rule? Little League allows you to make more rules, but not ignore the ones that are in the book. For instance, you could say minimum play is 9 outs but not make it 3 outs instead of the 6 outs in the book. Elinating the infield fly rule would be akin to calling a caught fly ball not an out. It can’t be taken out of the rules.
Finally, you call a kid a sure out and rob him from the possibility he may put it in play, draw a walk, get hit by a pitch and instead give the glory to a player who gets it always? I submit to you that the kid w/ less chance of succeeding will remember this date much more vividly than the player who repeated does this. A real Little League coach makes EVERY player the best they can be for situations JUST like this. Anyone can coach a star, make a star out of a player who is struggling and you are a true manager/coach.
Calling anyone who volunteers their time for the good of our children and community an “idiot” speaks volumes and clearly identifies the position from which your opinions originate.
Thank you for your comment.
The Little League Coach