Bouncing Leads At 2nd Base

What is the proper approach when taking a lead off 2nd base? I like taking a simple approach. Take the largest lead where you know you can get back to the bag safely if the pitcher throws over. Usually, this is two steps and a dive. Too many young ballplayers are overly concerned about where [...]

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Score Runs With The Contact Play

You are the runner on 3rd base. The infield is drawn in. How do you give yourself the best chance to score? You will score on a hit, a sacrifice, and possibly on a passed ball/wild pitch. Another way to score that run is by breaking for home once you see the ball hit on [...]

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Leading Off Third Base

Guest Blogger Kyle Provost breaks down the importance of taking the proper lead off third base. Game Scenario Imagine being just ninety feet away from scoring the tying run of the biggest game of the season. The game has been well played with stellar defense and great small-ball baseball strategy. The pressure mounts for the hitter, [...]

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Touch ‘Em All

In Monday’s Mets-Dodgers game in Los Angeles, Ryan Church made a baserunning gaffe that Mets manager Jerry Manuel could not comprehend. Church’s 11th inning run was erased when he missed 3rd base and the Dodgers correctly appealed the play. After the game, Manuel remarked, “It’s hard to miss third base. I don’t know if I [...]

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Stealing 3rd, Part 3

We’ve discussed timing the pitcher and creating the gap. In our final installment on stealing 3rd, let’s talk about the catcher. The catcher When you deem the timing is right to steal third base, look to the catcher before bolting. How strong is the catcher’s arm? What pitch is the catcher likely to call (easier [...]

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Stealing 3rd, Part 2

In our first installment on stealing 3rd, we spoke about timing the pitcher. In Part 2, we will talk about creating a gap. Create a gap By stealing 3rd base, one thing you are doing is opening up a larger hole on the left side of the infield, as the 3rd baseman needs to vacate [...]

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Stealing 3rd, Part 1

Stealing 3rd base is something that amateur and scholastic teams should be doing more often. It’s all about finding the right opportunities. Consider this posting the first in a three part series about stealing 3rd. Timing is Everything Steal on a pitcher who doesn’t change his timing to the plate. By studying the pitcher’s tendencies, [...]

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Casper the Friendly Basecoach

This post is dedicated to those under-appreciated, underrated base coaches out there. Can you think of another sport where players look to coaches for guidance in the heat of a play? Imagine Doc Rivers standing in the paint and telling KG to take it to the hoop. Imagine Bill Belichek standing behind Tom Brady and [...]

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Crossed Signals

The following situation took place in the Belmont/Dracut State tournament game: Runners on 1st and 3rd. 1 out. The steal sign is given to the runner on 1st base. The runner on 3rd base mistakenly takes off for home, thinking the steal sign was intended for him. The pitcher steps off the mound, throws to [...]

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The Break Up

In the Pawtucket Red Sox/Indianapolis Indians game last night, the following situation took place: Runner on 1st base, 0 outs. Ground ball to the 2nd baseman, fielded in the baseline before the runner reaches him. The runner evades the tag by shifting his course out of the baseline. The 2nd baseman throws to 1st for [...]

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