Oakland Park Baseball

OK. We have three options for when we play on a larger field. I think that we need lead-offs of some sort, simply so evey ground ball isn't a force out! Sunday, I had a base hit to CF, and the baserunner was nearly out at 2B! Not OK!

I advocate for a simple line... maybe 4 feet, or a tad more, where normal a player would not get picked off from (making it fair). This would allow the baserunners some more freedom to not be out on each play, and add a few more runs to the game totals.

Ken told me he thinks that we should have the defense pitch (following the same strikeout rules, to keep the game going) and this would allow pickoffs. (personaly, i think it would be far too tempting to make life difficult for the hitters. Remeber, this is not a normal basebal group. I like feeling that 3 for 6 is a bad day )

The last option is no leads....

Well, there is one more option... we don't need the bases at a full 90 feet. We could have them at say 80', like in high school. But I feel that this is another discussion.

I see what you mean with all the points you're making....

I voted for allowing leadoffs with a marker.

Here's my viewpoint....

From umpiring for 7 years, at age levels from 3rd grade to Adult leagues, I've been responsible for enforcing various lead-off rules, some similar to what's being proposed here.

It's tough to keep people accountable to the limited leadoff rule, because everyone's looking at the pitcher or hitter during the time that enforcement is needed. And taking that extra step (or going beyond the marker too early, ie before contact) could frequently make the difference at the next base.

While I think it could be difficult to enforce, I'm certainly willing to give it a try.

And, to reiterate, this would only apply to larger fields, and the larger basepaths they bring with them.

Regarding having the defense pitch, I concur with Peter that it's just too difficult to ensure that the defending team would give the batters the types of pitches they want, especially in crucial situations. There's also the issue of balks. While the standard reason for having balk rules (giving the runner a fair chance to know when the pitcher's going home and thus when to break for the steal) doesn't exist since we have no steals, there would still be trouble. For instance, the pitcher could make any number of movements to get the runner to dive back to the bag, but then deliver a pitch home instead. If that ball was put in play, it's even worse than with no leadoffs because the runner is on the ground at the time of contact. So I'm definitely opposed to that option of having the defense pitch.

There seems to be no point in leadoffs if you can't steal or pick off and I agree with Scott that we are not rreally set up for that so I go with no leadoffs. Just shorten the bases if it's a problem (which I oppose)

...and I'm the biggest dude out there...meaning if I can get on my horse...and try to make down down the line... albeit at the speed of an ass sometimes, I know the rest of ya'll can get tdown the line

Do you guys really think pitchers whould have that hard of a time serving it up to the other team? I really don't. The pitcher knows he's not trying to strike the batter out and if he still insists on throwing junk/heat, the batter NEVER has to swing. I know that if I were pitching I would serve 'em up nice and juicy just to keep the game moving.

Allowing the defense to pitch would also remove an unneccisary body from the field, and would insure that the defensive pitcher is positioned where he is supposed to be. A few times I've seen the offensive pitcher field a ball in self-defense turning what should've been a basehit into an out against his own team. You guys don't find that annoying?

The measured lead
How can you say that it is too tempting for a pitcher to try to get a batter out, but it's not too tempting to take a few extra inches when leading off first? Especially since everyone will be watching the pitcher and will know if they are throwing too much junk or too much heat. As Scott pointed out, no one is really watching the runners to see whether or not they are taking that extra step off first.


I would really like to at least try one game where the defense pitches. I sincerely doubt that it will cause a problem and think it is neccisary if we are going to allow leads.

There are other reasons that I would like to see the defense pitch, but they are not related to leads / no leads- so I'll save those ideas for another day.

Baseball=Life wrote: There's also the issue of balks.

If you think balks is going to be a problem then we should call balks, but I really don't see why you assume that the pitcher won't be willing to play fair.

While the standard reason for having balk rules (giving the runner a fair chance to know when the pitcher's going home and thus when to break for the steal) doesn't exist since we have no steals, there would still be trouble. For instance, the pitcher could make any number of movements to get the runner to dive back to the bag, but then deliver a pitch home instead. If that ball was put in play, it's even worse than with no leadoffs because the runner is on the ground at the time of contact. So I'm definitely opposed to that option of having the defense pitch.

a. quick pitching is a balk
b. If the baserunner is diving back to the base, the batter has no obligation to swing at the pitch.

I think no lead-off's just for the fact that the pitcher is on the batting team. If the defense pitches, their motive is trying to get the batter out, if we don't have strikes and balls then the batter can wait all day for his pitch, plus i thought everyone gets the pitch they want so the game keeps moving.

I don't think it would be that hard to enforce... we can clarly see when a person takes an extra lead on our current system (I play 1B... I see it! I don't say anything the majority of the time, since there aren't way too many close plays)

I think if eveyone was clear on where this marker is, everyone could chip in and enforce the rule.. especily the people who play at the base (i.e 1B, 2B/SS, and 3B)