Another great 1st and 3rd play against a lefty

Segment 21 in "trick or treat" month.

With a lefthanded pitcher on the mound in a 1st and 3rd situation there are some very creative things you can do offensively. Here is one of my favorites- the double first lift.

Man on 1st base gets a slightly extended lead. Not too much where the pitcher will step off and pick tp 1st but just enough where he feels compelled to throw to 1st.

The runner on 3rd tries to get as much as the 3B will give him. It is very unlikely that the pitcher will turn and throw to 3B so the runner at 3B might be able to take more than what he might take with a righthander on the mound.

Here is the play where two things could happen.

1) As the pitcher lifts his leg to throw to 1B or home both runners take off. If the ball is thrown home the runner at 1st simply steals 2B. He does not stop short but rather slides in safely for a routine straight steal of 2B. The runner at 3B must apply the breaks and retreat as soon as the runner realizes that the pitcher is throwing home.

2) If the ball is thrown to 1st base we have achieved what we wanted offensively. Again, both runners take off on first lift. When the runner at 3B realizes that the throw went to 1B he continues full speed and scores rather easily. Typically the throw goes home but not until the 1B realizes a little too late. The runner at 1st base must be aware of where the throw went. When he recognizes that the throw went to 1B he must stop short of 2B in case the 1B throws to 2B to get the trail runner. The run must score before the tag is applied.

This is a great play when that lefty is a "hang guy." In other words, if that lefty is slow to the plate go for it!

The hardest part about the play is the runner on 3B reading the lefthanders move. It is something that is seldom done but with enough practice a runner can become adept at this.