Another great 1st and 3rd play. Draw a throw.

Segment 30 in "trick or treat" month.

1st and 3rd situations provide many opportunities for both the offense and the defense to try and create a "play." This is one such example where you try and bait the defense into thinking they got what they wanted.

I call this play "draw a throw."

Many times on 1st and 3rd plays a coach will call a play that has the catcher do something with the ball in the case that the runner takes off to steal 2nd base. However, few times is the 1B directed as to what he should do in case of a pickoff.

The "draw a throw" attempts to use this concept against the defensive team.

The runner at 1st gets a sizeable lead. Not too big where the pitcher can step off and throw over to 1st but certainly large enough to draw attention to himself. When the lead is noticed it is the offensive teams hope that the pitcher will throw to 1B in an attempt to pick off the runner. However, when the pitcher turns to throw the runner at 1B takes off in a dead sprint to 2B. The 1B has a very important decision to make. He can either eat the ball in which case we have simply advanced a base. Or, he can throw to 2B in an effort to record the out. We are hoping he chooses the latter.

When the 1B cocks his arm to throw, the runner at 3B takes off in a sprint home. It will take two long throws to record the out.

It is extremely important that the trail runner is well versed in what to do with this play.

A) He must have a large lead to draw a throw.
B) He must take off full speed to put pressure on the defense.
C) He must stop short of 2B so he is not tagged out before the run scores.
D) If the ball is thrown home, he must understand that he might simply have a stolen base with such a great jump.