Lead runner at 2nd base. How to keep him close?

When a lead runner is at 2nd base, he is already in scoring position. The middle infielders must weigh their options of "holding him close" vs. "being in fielding position." I believe their is only one sure fire way of doing this.

The middle infielders jockey the lead runner by moving back and forth to let the runner know that they are there and there is a possibility of a pick off. What you absolutely don't want the middle infielders doing is moving while the ball is being delivered to home plate. Here is what you can and should do.

Have one of the middle infielders tell the pitcher how many times he would like the pitcher to check the runner by looking in his direction. The shortstop or 2B gives hand signals to alert the pitcher you should look 0,1,2,3 times and then throw home. You also could have pickoff plays attached to these hand signals.

This serves two primary purposes.

1) It allows the middle infielders the opportunity to jockey the lead runner while knowing they will be in fielding position when the pitch is delivered to the plate.
2) It keeps the runner at 2B a little closer as it mixes up the number of looks that they are giving. Pitchers tend to get in a rhythm when they pitch. Having an infielder administer the looks can vary it up just enough.

The "looks" system is very prevalant in college baseball. Has it made it to professional baseball? Probably not. It's too "contemporary."

Runner on 3rd only (1 out vs. 0 out)

When a runner gets to 3rd base, the 3rd base coach must be keenly aware of how many outs there are. The number of outs determines exactly how aggressive the runner should be.

If there are 0 outs, the 3B coach or manager should more than likely have a "on the ground up the middle" read on. This says that you do not want the runner breaking for home plate unless the ball is hit up the middle past the pitcher to the SS or 2B. This baserunning read is predicated on the corner infielders being in an "in" position. If the infield comes in, then the read must be "make the ball go through." If the batter grounds out, you still have a runner at 3B with 1 out. This is no time to be aggressive with a runner in scoring position.

If there is 1 out, it is definitely time to be aggressive. Many times, this scenario would imply that the "contact" play is on. This means that the runner breaks for home when the ball is hit on the ground. The idea here is that you are running out of scoring opportunites and we want to be aggressive with trying to score. If the ball is hit to a corner infielder or the pitcher and there is a play on the runner going home we say "out by a lot, get in a rundown." This rundown is very important in a 1 out contact play.

The runner must stay in the rundown long enough for the batter to sprint to 2B. If the batter is sprinting out of the box and he gets into scoring position with two outs then we still have a runner in scoring position with two outs. It is very important that the runner on 3rd understand these principles. You absolutely do not want him running into an easy out at home and stranding our batter at 1st base.

If you understand "risk vs. reward" scenarios and you understand "out by a lot, get in a rundown" choosing the right baserunning read isn't too difficult. You simply play percentage baseball.

Infield in or double play depth(1 out)?

This is one of the harder coaching decisions that a manager must encounter. It is so difficult because the decision comes late in the game when the game is on the line.

Runner on 3rd base with a runner on 1st as well. Do you bring your infield in to cut the runner down at the plate or do you stay back in double play depth and hope you can get the inning ender? One of the key things that helps you decide is the speed of the batter. If he is simply too fast then the decision is quite simple you bring the infield in.

Now, if the bases are loaded it actually makes the decision quite simple. You can bring the infield in and still get a double play. It doesn't mean that bringing the infield in is always the right choice but you can get the out at home and also turn two to end the inning. Therefore, the bases loaded one out scenario has an easier feel to it than a 1st and 3rd scenario with 1 out.

If runners are at 1st and 3rd and the manager is debating whether to bring the infield in or stay back in double play depth he must also consider the positioning of the 2B. If you bring the 2B straight in there is no way he can cover the bag if the runner breaks. Now, you can align him near the bag if you think that might be a deterrence to steal 2B. However, you again have to weigh whether or not moving him closer to the bag is worth taking him out of his normal 2B positioning.

If you do leave him in and not closer to the bag you have for all intents and purposes conceded a 2nd and 3rd situation. There is simply no way to truly defend the steal if the runner goes. But, you knew that when you decided to bring your infield in and attend to the lead runner.

Sometimes you can't defend two things at the same time. Here is a classic example. Come in and concede another runner in scoring position. Stay back and risk a very important run scoring at the expense of turning a double play. Quite the conundrum.

Man on 2nd, 2 outs (ball hit to the 3B)

This baseball situation is not the easiest to understand. In fact, I've seen many coaches not exactly understand this scenario when it comes to teaching the runner on 2nd how to react.

The runner takes off immediately at contact in a 2 out situation. He should have been getting a large two out secondary lead. If there were 2 strikes on the batter then he should have gotten an even bigger jump on the batted ball. But, even with that big jump he can't beat the ground ball hit directly at the 3B. So, he's off and running and now the 3B fields the ball and he is 10, 15, 20 ft. away from the 3B and he is moving full speed.

The runner should not slow down until the 3B fields the ball and makes him stop. Never assume the 3B will field the ball. You do not want your runner slowing down prior to the 3B fielding the ball cleanly. If he boots the ball you want to be able to score the runner. If he fields the ball cleanly the runner should slam on the breaks immediately and demand that the 3B throw the ball across the infield. Never let the 3B tag you out to end the inning- if at all possible.

Certainly if there is a force play at 3B then the 3B will simply go over and tag the bag, but in an unforced situation make him make the throw.

Major baserunning gaffe to end O's/Angels game.

Major league baseball is supposed to be the level to which baseball is played at its highest form.

This summer, a game occured in which the Angels beat the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth inning. The game ended when Vladimir Guerrero threw out an Orioles baserunner at home plate to end the game. That isn't necessarily unusual. What is unusual is the manner in which the trail runner reacted.

Here is the setting. Runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. A fly ball was hit to rightfield. Guerrero had an obvious play on the ball. Brian Roberts tagged at 3rd base to prepare to score. The major issue was that the man on 1st did not tag on the play. What an egregious error. Because he did not tag, the outfielder could for all intents and purposes eliminate the cutoff man. He could throw a strike to home plate to end the game. Furthermore, it put absolutely zero pressure on the cutoff man to make a decision.

Here is what should have happened. As soon as the routine fly ball is hit the runner at 1st should race back to the bag because the lead runner is tagging. When the ball is caught he should sprint to 2B to incite a possible cutoff from the 1B. If the 1B allows the ball through the game is either over or the tying run scores. If the tying run scores then the man on 1st is now in scoring position as the go ahead run. If the 1B cuts the ball off the game is at least tied and we're heading for extras.

This is another example of how teams should be thinking about running into an out for a run. It doesn't usually occur in this manner but it certainly could. Two major points of emphasis.

1) The 3B coach should have a signal telling the trail runner that he is indeed sending the runner home. The most common would be lead arm extended. The last thing you want is the trail runner running into an out if the lead runner doesn't run.

2) The 1B coach must alert the baserunner to this play prior to the ball being hit. 1st and 3rd 1 out flyball is the situation.

Possible double (1B coach's responsibility)

On a batted ball to the outfield the 1B coach has a responsibility to communicate very important information to the batter/runner rounding 1st base. The 1B should be screaming at him how many outs there are. It is absolutely not the 1B coach's responsibility to tell the runner whether or not he should attempt to get to 2B. It is the coach's responsibility to inform the runner of the risk/reward scenario.

A general baseball rule is that you should try and get into scoring position with 2 outs. Many, many times it is deemed appropriate if you are thrown out going to 2B for the 3rd out. You are simply trying to get into scoring position so you can score on a hit with two outs. Therefore, on a hit to the outfield the 1B coach screams the number of outs as they are rounding 1B. If the coach yells "2 outs, 2 outs!" the runner is thinking I should try and get into scoring position.

If the coach yells "nobody, nobody" the runner is aware that he is leading off the inning. Most coaches like a baserunner anywhere with nobody out. They don't want inning killers so this information makes the runner a lot more cautious. Predictably, if the 1B coach yells "1 out, 1 out" the runner is aware of the outs and is a little more cautious. The runner isn't thinking "definitely 2B" but he isn't nearly as cautious as if there were nobody out.

I think it is very important for the 1B coach to express to the runner how many outs there are rather than telling them to go or not go(the exception being when you're running into an out). The speed of the runner, the angle the outfielder takes to the ball, the arm strength of the outfielder should help guide the runner rounding 1st base. The 1B coach mentioning the outs is a subtle reminder as to how aggressive the runner should be.

When and where to bunt for a hit?

Bunting for a base hit is something that can be done if the batter knows the best times to do it and where the ball should be bunted. Here are some great times to think about bunting for a base hit.

1) Man on 2nd, 0 outs.
2) If you have trouble with the pitcher.
3) Following a home run.
4) Infield depth is simply too deep.

Now, for the manner in which you bunt the ball. Whether you are a righty hitter or a lefty you want to try and not tip your hand. You want to try and show bunt very late in the process. If you are choosing to bunt to the 3B side, make sure the bunt is perfect or foul. This phrase obviously depends on the depth of the 3B. However, if the 3B isn't in a best range deep position, you don't want to make yourself an easy out by not placing it in a great spot. "Perfect or foul" communicates the idea that if you miss the bunt at least it rolls foul and you get another shot at the pitcher. Thinking "perfect or foul" is often a good idea against a right handed pitcher as his momentum usually pulls him off to the 1B side of the mound.

If you are thinking about bunting the ball to the 1B side you must puch or drag the ball past the pitcher and beat the pitcher to the bag. The play is predicated on making the 2B or 1B range far to field the ball and then racing the pitcher to the bag. This bunt can be very succcessful against a 2B who is simply too deep in the infield. As is the opposite with a righthanded pitcher, a lefty falls to the 3B side. This bunt is usually successful against lefthanded pitchers. The most common fault with this bunt is that it is not bunted hard enough.

Bunting for a base hit is an art form that can be crafted through hard work but also an understanding of when and where to bunt for a hit.