Freddy, can you elaborate on the thought process for having contact as the default for 1st & 3rd?
A few years ago a thread by PG convinced me that on first and thirds, r3's should always break for home on comebackers to the pitcher, regardless of the number of outs, etc.
Well, that thread by PG got me thinking (dangerous, lol), and I decided to make it my default for first and thirds in general.
I hardly ever talk myself out of default r2/r3 contact play.
I sometimes talk myself out of default r1/r3 contact play.
I know my limitations. I'm a good coach....despite the fact that "game theory" (whether it's board games or baseball) has never been a strong suit of mine. Baseball moves too fast for me, lol. So, I try to keep it simple.
My simple way of looking at contact plays: Our r3's consistently getting great jumps because they KNOW that they're breaking for home on any groundball will outweigh the failures (dead duck at home plate)...over the course of a season, though not necessarily in any particular game.