Call me petty, but if you boo when the pitcher throws over to first, I don’t like you.
If you only boo when it’s the opposing pitcher, I like you even less.
Just because you don’t understand why they’re making the throw, ot they’re trying to pick off your favorite player, doesn’t give you license to boo.
Pickoff moves, both lazy tosses and deceptive, effective moves are part of baseball.
Deal with it. And stop coaching from the stands while you’re at it.
See now I disagree with your statement. If there is a purpose to throwing it over to first that’s one thing, but to do it repeatedly is something else. There should be a reason for every action on a baseball field and to make 3-5 throws over in a row, is doing nothing but delaying the game. If you are that afraid of the runner, pitch-out, slide step or quick pitch. Booing is part of the game and always has been. It’s how you do it, that makes the difference.
Kevin
Kevin – I think you kind of answered your own objection. There is a purpose and reason to throwing over to first base multiple times, and that’s what people don’t understand and why I believe they boo. Sometimes you catch a runner on the third, fourth, or maybe fifth throw over, because he’s leaning a bit too much, thinking “there’s no way that pitcher is going to throw over here AGAIN…”
I’ve seen and known pitchers who will occasionally lob the ball over to first, which may look like they’re wasting time, but even that can be a way to try and pick up on what the other team is doing, or thinking about doing. Maybe they just want to see how far the runner is leading, or which way the batter is setting up.
This is what I love about baseball – there are so many things that are so small and subtle that a person may not recognize them and their importance in the game. The outcome of a baseball game is decided one pitch, one action at a time. For as much glory as we give the homerun, it generally takes a lot of build-up to get to that point.
Pat Lagreid
BaseballOnMyBrain.com