A 1st and 3rd essential (the 1B's responsibility)

In a 1st and 3rd situation, the 1B must be acutely aware of what his responsibilities are. Besides the obvious of yelling "runner" the 1B has a responsibility that contributes to the success of an offensive play. This responsibility is done with a 2 outs situation.

Here is what the 1B must do. When the runner takes off and after the ball is received by the catcher, the 1B sprints in the direction of 2B. He does this in case the runner attempting to steal 2B stops. This play is designed to steal a run and the play demands that the runner stop giving the defense a rundown rather than a tag out at 2B. The runner at 3B races home before the tag is applied in the rundown.

But, the 1B can defeat the offensive play if he races to 2B correctly. When the middle infielder recognizes that the tag is not there he should look up to find his 1B closing in on the runner. He should give it to the 1B so he can continue full speed and tag out the runner between 1st and 2nd. This tag out must occur before the runner crosses home plate in order for the run to not count.

1st and 3rd situations are difficult to defend but the role of the 1B must not be diminshed. The "steal stop" is not seen too often but when it is done correctly you need the 1B trailing to stop it.