What did I do wrong the first time?

Question

So i was playing in my little league game aged 15-17 and it was last inning bottom of the 7th my team is on the field and we are winning 5-4. So i was playing LF and there was a runner on 3rd with 1 out. The batter hit a deep fly ball down foul terrritory in left where i couldve caught it and i let it drop on purpose in front of me because if i wouldve caught it then the game wouldve been tied cuz i dont have a Vladimir arm. So then the coach was yelling. Then the next pitch they hit a fly ball to shallow LF where i was at. I caught it and the runner tagged up and i through it and he was out! The coach was still mad at me though.

Answer 1

Your coach obviously needs some baseball lessons from a 15-17 year old.  That is definitely a case where you let the ball drop.  You were the visiting team, therefore you play for the win and not for the tie.  Had it been the top of the 7th and you did that, then it would have been a good idea still, but probably not the right thing for the situation, since your team is guaranteed the last crack at it.  In either situation, it shows great awareness and presence that you would think to make such a play.  

Answer 2

Explain to your coach lol.. Although sometimes, coaches like to see you try and cost them something, instead of letting it drop on purpose

Answer 3

Since it was just the tying run and not the winning run you probably should have caught the first ball.  You don't want to give the batter a second chance in a situation like that because he may get a base hit and instead of having a tie game with two outs and nobody on base you'll then have a tie game with 1 out and the winning run on base.

Looks like it worked in your favor this time but that may not always be the case.

Answer 4

I think you played it perfectly. I think your coach may be a bit miffed because a ball can do some weird things. Lets say the ball looks like it is going to drop in foul ground, and you give up on it because you don't want the runner at 3rd to tag up and score, but a gust of wind blows it back into play? Now it's a fair ball and you are out of position to make a play on it. With one out and a runner at 3rd there are many ways of scoring, if you let that foul ball drop there's still only 1 out, what if the batter grounds out to 2nd on the next pitch? Runner scores anyway and you are tied up. It worked out for you, but you have to realize the coach is playing every scenario out in his head. I think he would have taken the sure out and maybe given you a chance to throw out the runner at home? Maybe he wanted you to try it? Don't worry about a little criticism, if the coach didn't bust your butt over anything it would mean he has given up on your abilities and that's a far worse place to be.