The steal "stop"

Segment 18 in "trick or treat" month.

This is a 1st and 3rd situation(usually 2 outs) that is used when the catcher has a solid strong arm. The offense must have a good belief that the defense will choose to throw the runner out who is stealing 2nd base. With that understanding, you can take advantage of that strong armed catcher by having your runner at 1st STOP before arriving at 2B.

Here is the play.

Runner at 1st straight steals 2B. The catcher comes up to throw the runner out because he has a strong arm and it just makes sense to record the out when you can. As the catcher gets his arm up in a "loaded" position the runner at 3rd breaks and heads for home. As the runner at 1B approaches 2B he stops about 15, 20 ft. short of the bag. As the middle infielder fields the ball and looks for a tag out, he is nowhere to be found. Instead of an inning ending double play, he must chase the would be basestealer to record out number three. All the while, the runner scores.

It's an absolutely great play that has three very important tenets.

1) If you are the runner at 1B- don't get a great jump where you are vulnerable to getting picked off.

2)You must stop before arriving at 2B.

3) The runner at 3B must leave prior to the ball leaving the catcher's hand.