Category: Defensive Situations
Type: Situation
RUNNERS ON FIRST AND THIRD
I think some of the most important situational conditions occur when the offense has runners on first and third. In that situation, the defense has some options which it can defend their position. One such option is a play that I will discuss in some detail...and it may be familiar to a lot of coaches. For you new ones...you can have a slight advantage.
Situation: The other team has runners on first and third and you have less then two outs. The runner on first is attempting to steal second base...hence trying to draw a throw to that base from the catcher after the pitch is delivered in order for the runner at third to have a chance at scoring.
Play: Your catcher must relay the signal of which play is on to the rest of the infield...and the pitcher, or you can yell out a signal from the bench. You can designate what that may be. This particular play consists of the second baseman sprinting hard to the middle of the infield about 10 feet in front of the bag at second, while the short stop is covering. The catcher must throw through the second baseman to try to throw out the runner or the second baseman can cut the throw from the catcher if he thinks that the runner at third is going to break towards home. The key element is communication between the shortstop and the second baseman. The shortstop needs to know whether or not the throw is going to go through to him or be cut off by the second baseman. One way to create that communication is for the SS to yell cut if he thinks he can't get the stealing baserunner or he can see the runner at third cheating. If the SS does not say anything, then the second baseman lets the throw go through. The communication here is crucial...the whole infield needs to know what it is. There are other ways that communication can be accomplished...this is just one method. All in all, the whole key is to prevent the runner from third to score. You may have to sacrifice a stolen base...and if you are lucky you may even get an out and not have the runner score...or get the runner at third in a run down.
Submitted by: Coach B
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