Based on national averages, if your team can achieve this goal, it will win 85% of its baseball games and have a chance to win the other 15%. What is this magic formula? Preventing the grand entrance!
I once saw Adam Wainwright, the ace pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinal, display the exuberance of a child when he allowed the San Diego Padres to score a run. Why be happy to allow a run? Because with runners on first and third with no outs, there was a distinct possibility that the Padres could have scored much more than one run. By the way, the Cardinals won that game 10-1.
Preventing or minimizing the number of high-scoring tackles from your opponents is the best way to not only win ballgames, but also give yourself a chance to win every game. So how do you accomplish this seemingly simple, but not so simple task?
Let me start by saying that all coaches need to listen because these rules apply to all baseball teams in the world, amateur and professional.
Rule One: There is a saying in baseball “Make ’em earn the drive” which means to make batters hit the ball to get to base safely. Walks are every pitcher’s nightmare and the number one reason great innings happen.
When teaching your players to pitch, always emphasize throwing strikes. Most young pitchers, and some older ones, feel they have to strike out everyone to be effective. That train of thought should be strongly discouraged. There are times when a pitcher needs a strikeout, but in reality those times are rare.
Explain to your players that most major league pitchers, all starting pitchers, are taught to “pitch for contact,” which simply means to force the batter to make contact, putting the ball in play so that the defense handles it.
In short, teaching pitchers how to throw strikes and minimize walks is the number one priority for the coach.
Rule Two: Another saying in baseball is “Never give a team more than three outs.” This simply means that if a ball is put into play that should normally result in an out, make sure you get the out. Eliminating and/or minimizing errors in the field will stop the big entries.
If you stop and think about it, an example of most great innings are the result of a walk, an error, another walk, a hit, another error, another walk, etc. etc and before you know it, the opposition has scored 5 runs on 1 hit.
How is this attack prevented? Practice, practice and more practice. Basic I know, but essential to make the automatic play. I guarantee you that the chances of a shortstop letting a ball go between his legs or making a bad throw to first base are much less for the infielder who has fielded 200 ground balls vs. the player who has been hit with 25 ground balls.
Rule three: Think, think, think! Players should always be aware of the game situation and should know when to take insurance. For example, a runner on third with no outs and a ground ball is hit hard by the third baseman. The runner is out of contact and the infielder has a chance to throw him out at the plate, but should he?
If it’s the second inning of a scoreless ball game, the best play is most likely to let the run score and get the out at first base. If the play is home and the runner is safe, the opposition has scored 1 run and now has a runner on second base with another potential run and the creation of a big inning.
However, if it’s the top half of the final inning of a scoreless pitching duel, the home play makes more sense since it has a bigger impact than another runner on second.
In short, the best way to eliminate big innings is to throw strikes, eliminate mistakes, and make the right play.
I know you’re thinking “Oh, that’s it.” Remember, after doing all of this, you’ll still get your ass kicked 10-0 from time to time. That’s baseball and that’s why you play.
