5-4-3-2 triple play. "How's it happen?"

Although the triple play is a an odd occurrence, this play is one that I could definitely see happening more often than some others. The reason- it's such a tough read for the runner at 3B in a 1st/3rd 0 out situaton. In fact, I saw Barry Bonds make the final out of this triple play at home plate in a game a couple of years ago.

Heres what happens.

The 3B coach needs to tell the runner on 3B what is read should be. Generally, the runner at 3B should have a contact read with runners at 1st and 3B. This is the easiset way to communicate to a runner at 3B. It allows the runner to prevent a double play but it also could prevent a runner from being at 3B with 1 out. There is a more advanced read but it certainly would take ample time to practice.

A may more advanced read would be "on the ground up the middle go but at the corners wait until they start the double play to break." This would allow the run to score if in fact the ball was hit to the middle infielders who could turn a double play. But if the ball was hit at the 3B, the runner would hold until the 3B went to 2B to start the double play until breaking. This would hopefully guarantee the run scoring while the defense attempts a double play.

The very big caveat would be if the 3B threw it to the 2B who would then throw home rather than throwing to 1B. This could possibly make it a bang, bang play at the plate.

All of this confusion casues the triple play becase the runner at 3B is attempting to make a very, very difficult read. The ball is hit to the 3B and the runner holds. Upon seeing the ball thrown to 2B he makes a break for home. Depending on the speed at which the double play is turned and the speed of the runner at 3B there possibly could be a play at the plate. This is how the triple play occurs in this scenario. It begins with the very difficult "professional" read.

At amateur levels of baseball this read should very simply be a contact read if the defense has the ability to turn a double play. If the defense can't turn a double play you would treat it as an independent situation with a man on 3B.

Lots to consider with runners on the corners.