Baron’s Corner

Just For Fun….What goes on during mound visits? And why don’t hitting coaches make batter’s box visits?

Mound visits by the pitching coach are a baseball phenomenon. They became so popular in the last 10 years MLB had to restrict them. These visits are limited to five per team per nine innings and a 30-second timer. Baseball is a game that doesn’t end by running out the clock. Yet, there’s a 30-second mound visitation rule. Ever enforced?

Reasons?

**Do pitching coaches get a bonus per visit?

**A chance for far away family to see their dad, son, brother, grandson, uncle on TV?

**Dispatched by an angry manager?

**Needing to buy time for a reliever to get warmed up?

**Why do they cover their mouth went talking? Halitosis? Avoid lip-reading by the enemy of a secret message?

Secret Messages?

“Throw the blankety-blank ball over the blankety-blank plate!”

“This hitter is a first-pitch fastball hunter. So, throw a slow curve that bounces….Oh, you don’t throw a curve ball? Well, then just throw something out of the zone.”

“The skipper is hissed. Get him off my ass and throw strikes.”

“We got this guy out yesterday with a cutter. Analytics says we should not try that again. What do you want to do?”

“Do you want to go at this guy? Walk him and pitch to Harper?”

“We can get out of this jam. So, relax, check out that babe behind home plate.”

“No pressure but a triple play grounder gets us out of this inning.”

“Knock this guy on his ass. You don’t get to hit anymore.”

“This kid is making his big-league debut. We have no scouting report on him. So, throw what you want.”

“I’m here to give the fireworks guy a break. Home runs on three consecutive pitches are stressing him out.”

Just For Fun

What would it be like if hitting coaches visited hitters in the batter’s box? Frightening thought.

“You’ve struck out 3 times on high 4-seamers. You might want to lay off that pitch.”

“Haven’t see my kids in a month so I thought I’d visit you since this game is on national TV. If you get a chance, sneak a waive to them.”

“Our reports say this guy touches the gun at 100 mph, but he has no idea where he’s throwing the ball. Stay loose.”

“The skipper wants you to bunt on the first pitch even though he knows you can’t bunt. Hey, I’m just the messenger.”

“There’s no fielder on the left side of the infield or even in left field. Don’t let it psych you out.”

“Remember keep your head on the ball, don’t stride too quickly, don’t drop your hands, don’t dip your back shoulder, make sure the pitch is in your zone and barrel it up. Good luck.”

“Look, he’s walked the bases loaded on 12 straight pitches and you are up, 3–0. Don’t swing at the next pitch.”

“Spread sheets say a base hit up the middle wins the game.”

“They’re not going to walk you to get to Harper. Battle your ass off.”

“Analytics says this guy throws more curves when he’s in the fourth inning….Oh, this is the second inning? Forget it then.”