Lollygaggers
In the 1988 movie Bull Durham, there are many memorable quotes. This quote from the team manager is: "You guys, you lollygag around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Lollygaggers." The quote is spoken by Skip (Trey Wilson) during a locker room tirade.
How many players would have been safe at first base if they ran as hard as they could? How many outs were made by the team because of not running out the batted ball. How about the old saying “way to stretch a triple into a double”? How many runners watch the ball and not the base coaches, especially when it is hit safely to the right side and the runner is approaching second base. Looking back slows us down as does watching ground balls in the infield. You know what that makes you, a lollygagger.
In the outfield, how many balls went to the fence when the outfielder, supposedly backing up, chose not to do so? Worse, is when an outfielder decides to be a spectator and see if the other outfielder can get there even though the spectating outfielder was closer. How about when an infielder decides not to try to reach the ground ball because they erroneously thought it is out of their reach? Worse, is when a pop up drops between two players when one or both could have made the play. You know what that makes you, a lollygagger.
How often does a player throw to the wrong base or cut off causing an opposing runner to advance? We may say the player doesn’t have “their head in the game”. Worse is when the throw gets by the fielder and they don’t hustle to get the ball, causing the runners to take advantage of the slow reaction to advance a base. That makes the player a lollygagger too.
I am embarrassed to admit; I have been a lollygagger too. I wish my team would have called me out on that because it affects the team’s chances to win. Don’t be a lollygagger!
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