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Help me out here guys because I haven't coached baseball in 5 years but have coached softball the past 2 years.  What I'm seeing in MLB, College and even HS is guys making piss poor attempts at tagging players sliding into bases.  They are going after the player leading to a high tag which gives the runner a chance to slide under.  Tonight watching Houston and someone else on ESPN highlights I saw the Astros catcher receive the throw and had his mitt 2 feet off the ground trying to tag the runner.  Ends up tagging him on the shoulder and runner was safe.  

What I teach my guys (and now gals) is to "tag the bag".  Obviously not literally tagging the bag but to get the idea of going to the bag since that's where the runner has to eventually end up to be safe.  If they go chasing them that allows a runner to slide away from the tag and get a foot / hand in there while the defensive player ends up with a high tag.

This is for bang bang plays and not the times when the throw beats the runner easily.  In that case create a cushion from the bag to apply a tag  But if the ball and runner are going to be close - tag the bag.  Am I missing something?

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Thomas Jefferson

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Hey Coach.  I think one of the issues is that, in recent years, runners have gotten more adept at swim moves and other maneuvers to avoid the glove in front of the bag.  I think this is partially a product of replay at the MLB level... this used to be a more "automatic" call and now gets reviewed more frequently.  So, MLBers started using the clever moves and younger players have started emulating.  JMO.

Last edited by cabbagedad

You can buy a lot of outs through the season with good tag mechanics.  I am also amazed at the amount of poor execution seen in the CWS.  There also has been some unbelievable "tags" at the MLB level that takes the process to a whole new level.  

The biggest one that gets my goat is not letting the ball travel.  Reaching for it and sweeping back is a huge disadvantage.  The best that I am seeing at the MLB level is when the sweep of the glove is vertical.  The glove starts well above the ball and drops, timing the catch with the sweep straight down.  It is an incredibility fast transition from catch to ground in front of the bag.  

cabbagedad posted:

Hey Coach.  I think one of the issues is that, in recent years, runners have gotten more adept at swim moves and other maneuvers to avoid the glove in front of the bag.  I think this is partially a product of replay at the MLB level... this used to be a more "automatic" call and now gets reviewed more frequently.  So, MLBers started using the clever moves and younger players have started emulating.  JMO.

I understand that but I still think keeping the glove near the bag would still be the best option rather than chasing the runner.  I've seen guys go head first and go past the bag kinda rolling away while the fielder is going after him but he takes his leg to be safe.  If he slides past with his upper body then guess what's coming behind?  The lower body - tag it.  Maybe I've been out too long.

Another thing I don't understand is why so many catchers go to one or both knees on plays at the plate.  I know they are trying to minimize catchers getting rolled over and getting hurt but contact is still legal.  You get that knee on the ground then it has very little place to go.  Bend the knees but stay on your feet unless you're going down to initiate contact on a slide.

real green posted:

You can buy a lot of outs through the season with good tag mechanics.  I am also amazed at the amount of poor execution seen in the CWS.  There also has been some unbelievable "tags" at the MLB level that takes the process to a whole new level.  

The biggest one that gets my goat is not letting the ball travel.  Reaching for it and sweeping back is a huge disadvantage.  The best that I am seeing at the MLB level is when the sweep of the glove is vertical.  The glove starts well above the ball and drops, timing the catch with the sweep straight down.  It is an incredibility fast transition from catch to ground in front of the bag.  

Totally agree with all that.  I tell my MIF all the time stay on the bag and let the ball travel.  Get eyes low as close to the ground as the ball to help with the catch.  If it bounces and gets by that's not your fault.  You were trying to do your job plus we have people behind them to back them up.

coach2709 posted:
cabbagedad posted:

Hey Coach.  I think one of the issues is that, in recent years, runners have gotten more adept at swim moves and other maneuvers to avoid the glove in front of the bag.  I think this is partially a product of replay at the MLB level... this used to be a more "automatic" call and now gets reviewed more frequently.  So, MLBers started using the clever moves and younger players have started emulating.  JMO.

I understand that but I still think keeping the glove near the bag would still be the best option rather than chasing the runner.  I've seen guys go head first and go past the bag kinda rolling away while the fielder is going after him but he takes his leg to be safe.  If he slides past with his upper body then guess what's coming behind?  The lower body - tag it.  Maybe I've been out too long.

Another thing I don't understand is why so many catchers go to one or both knees on plays at the plate.  I know they are trying to minimize catchers getting rolled over and getting hurt but contact is still legal.  You get that knee on the ground then it has very little place to go.  Bend the knees but stay on your feet unless you're going down to initiate contact on a slide.

funny you are replying at this moment... CWS game, 8th inning, LSU with R2, batter hits one to the gap, stretches it trying for two, 2b puts down the perfect tag at the bag, batter/runner performs perfect swim move and avoids the tag... except the ump missed it.

cabbagedad posted:
coach2709 posted:
cabbagedad posted:

Hey Coach.  I think one of the issues is that, in recent years, runners have gotten more adept at swim moves and other maneuvers to avoid the glove in front of the bag.  I think this is partially a product of replay at the MLB level... this used to be a more "automatic" call and now gets reviewed more frequently.  So, MLBers started using the clever moves and younger players have started emulating.  JMO.

I understand that but I still think keeping the glove near the bag would still be the best option rather than chasing the runner.  I've seen guys go head first and go past the bag kinda rolling away while the fielder is going after him but he takes his leg to be safe.  If he slides past with his upper body then guess what's coming behind?  The lower body - tag it.  Maybe I've been out too long.

Another thing I don't understand is why so many catchers go to one or both knees on plays at the plate.  I know they are trying to minimize catchers getting rolled over and getting hurt but contact is still legal.  You get that knee on the ground then it has very little place to go.  Bend the knees but stay on your feet unless you're going down to initiate contact on a slide.

funny you are replying at this moment... CWS game, 8th inning, LSU with R2, batter hits one to the gap, stretches it trying for two, 2b puts down the perfect tag at the bag, batter/runner performs perfect swim move and avoids the tag... except the ump missed it.

That's funny.  I'm watching Cubs and Nationals which makes me think we should blame Javy Baez for all this funky sliding and making tags that much harder LOL

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