We all know the dreaded feeling of making the last out of the game or striking out on three pitches. It’s all part of America’s pastime. However, neither of those made the list of the seven worst feelings in baseball that the Bat Experts at JustBats put together. The following baseball feelings come from the most embarrassing, heart-sinking happenings from our beloved game. While none of these will directly lose you the game, they often stick with players long after they’ve left the ballpark. Let’s take a look at the absolute worst feelings in baseball.
Worst Things That Can Happen When Playing Baseball
1. Booting a Ground Ball
To start things off, here comes a two hopper in your direction. It’s simple. You’ve made this play hundreds of times. But for whatever reason, whether it’s a clot of dirt on the infield or a lapse in concentration, you boot the ground ball. You have allowed all runners to safely advance, and now you have to stand there in hopes of a chance at redemption. What often further compounds this dreaded feeling is the fact that baseball gods seem enamored with the idea of turning your error into a rally. Sure, making errors happens but infielders will tell you that doesn’t make it feel any better.
2. Missing a Popup
The easiest way to record an out in baseball is to catch a popup. While grounders require fielding it cleanly, throwing it accurately, and catching it, popups only require you to catch the ball. You’ve been doing this for years. It was what you and you dad did in the yard when you were a little kid. The hitter who hit the popup likely slammed their baseball bat in the ground and hung their head as they jogged to first. But for whatever reason, this popup didn’t stay in your baseball glove. Embarrassment and frustration overcome your body. Teammates stand in disbelief. Considering how easy it is to catch a popup, dropping one might be the worst feeling in baseball. Learn how to catch a fly ball from our teammates over at JustGloves.
3. Getting Picked Off
You did it. You got on base successfully and kept the line moving. You take a few steps off the bag to lead off and… BANG! The pitcher makes a quick move to the bag and before you know if you slowly jogging back to the dugout. It’s a terrible feeling. You know how easy it is to not get picked out, especially if you do not have any intentions of stealing a base. It not only feels awful but it often can swing momentum for the entire inning.
4. Striking Out Looking
Striking out is a part of the game, but doing so while looking at a pitch can be especially painful. It’s the feeling of being beaten by a pitch you should have anticipated or one you were unable to commit to. It’s not just the strikeout itself, but the lack of aggressiveness that stings so much. You are a hitter. The intention, every time you step into the box, is to hit. This only makes the sting of the umpire’s call all the more demoralizing.
5. Hitting a Home Run Foul
Few feelings are as crushing as hitting (what you think is) a home run, only to watch it drift foul. For a brief moment, you feel that often-elusive euphoria in the batter’s box. You squared it up. You put the right swing on it. You beat the pitcher. All of that is instantly brought back to reality as the ball drifts on the wrong side of the foul pole. It’s a unique form of heartache only compounded by the fact that you still have an at-bat to finish… Oh, and by the way that’s another strike.
6. Walking in a Run
Walking in a run is a nightmare scenario. Typically, the bases are juiced because of your inability to throw strikes to begin with. You are giving free bases to your opponent. But to give free runs is a whole 'nother level of hurt. Your teammates are demoralized as they watch the lead dwindle or the deficit expand without anything happening. Sure, this happens in travel ball and Little League from time-to-time, but once you reach a higher level of baseball, walking in a run can be as a low of a feeling as you’ll find.
7. Forgetting How Many Outs There Are
One of the most mentally taxing mistakes in baseball is forgetting the number of outs. This lapse in concentration can lead to poorly timed decisions and costly mistakes, like running into a double play or making a base-running blunder. The frustration of realizing you’ve lost track of the situation can lead to time on the bench or additional running after the game. It’s a humbling experience that underscores the importance of staying mentally sharp at all times.
Baseball offers a myriad of opportunities to fail. It’s built in to the rules of the game. Everyone understands this. But it’s the mental lapses, the failure to execute the routine, and the lack of aggressiveness that can lead to the lowest feelings on the diamond. Stay sharp whenever you step between the lines. Be aggressive in your actions and attack the game. If you do that, nobody will ever fault you for the outcome.
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