How do you have your 1B set up for picks (or just holding)at first? Do you have them straddle, or feet in front? Glove foot out like a semi-stretch? I've seen it done all of these ways and am wondering which is the best.
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The majority will probably say in front of the bag with a slight stretch. This works best for a left handed first baseman, and usually will lead to less problems for the right handed players. But if he is right handed I like to see them straddle the bag.
Be careful with the straddle.
Some players will place a foot outside the foul line and if so I have seen some umpires call the balk when the pitch is made (some do some don't.)
Be careful with the straddle.
Some players will place a foot outside the foul line and if so I have seen some umpires call the balk when the pitch is made (some do some don't.)
If the first baseman is lefty, he has to cover in from of the base, that way glove is in it's closer to the bag position, and because firts baseman is on the fair line he could field better a ground ball to the line at the same time that glove's hand is toward second base in case of a ground ball between 2nd and 1st.
If the firstbaseman is righty, is every day more commun to position the deffender in from of the runner, few step toward second base, that way glove is toward the bag's side, and can cover any groundball easier.
"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez
If the firstbaseman is righty, is every day more commun to position the deffender in from of the runner, few step toward second base, that way glove is toward the bag's side, and can cover any groundball easier.
"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez
My son is a 1st baseman, when not pitching, and he is a lefty. We believe the best position is in front of the bag with his back parallel to the baseline, slightly stretched. When he recieves the ball, all he has to do is just drop the arm straight down on the runner. Has been very successful for us.
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HS Fed rules allow one foot out one foot in, MLB rules require both feet fair.
Some travel ball tourneys use Fed, some use MLB.
Straddle is more effective for a rightie but do you want to teach two different ways of setting up?
Some travel ball tourneys use Fed, some use MLB.
Straddle is more effective for a rightie but do you want to teach two different ways of setting up?
My biggest issue with a righty straddeling the bag is when the throw over is slightly to the inside and the firstbaseman must reach towards the infield. He often times creates contact with the runner which prevents him from getting to the ball resulting in a wild throw up the line.
If he is in front of the bag, he can adjust his body position and catch the ball which is his primary responsibility.
Truthfully, I think we spend so much time practicing pickoffs with the wrong approach.
Let me pose the question: How many outs in a year do you get from picking guys off at first?
Probably not many.
But we spend a great amount of time practicing picks.
I think the real focus of pickoffs should not be on getting an out but rather creating outs by keeping runners close. Make the runner take that 1/2 step back to the bag or lose the 1/2 step on his way to 3rd.
I actually have stopped practicing pickoffs at first and instead practice keeping runners close and off-balanced.
If he is in front of the bag, he can adjust his body position and catch the ball which is his primary responsibility.
Truthfully, I think we spend so much time practicing pickoffs with the wrong approach.
Let me pose the question: How many outs in a year do you get from picking guys off at first?
Probably not many.
But we spend a great amount of time practicing picks.
I think the real focus of pickoffs should not be on getting an out but rather creating outs by keeping runners close. Make the runner take that 1/2 step back to the bag or lose the 1/2 step on his way to 3rd.
I actually have stopped practicing pickoffs at first and instead practice keeping runners close and off-balanced.
CoachC
How can you keep runners close without trying to pickup'em?
"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez
How can you keep runners close without trying to pickup'em?
"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez
Racab,
I guess it's really just a matter of semantics or a frame of mind. But I often find many times pitchers will not throw over to first because they do not feel they have a chance of picking them off for a number of reasons. Maybe they do not feel they have a quick enough move or maybe they feel the runner is not off the bag far enough. What ever the reason they don't throw over enough
I have begun asking them not to worry about picking guys off but rather practice keeping guys close by throwing over and using different timing techniques to the plate to keep runners off balance.
It's really just a different mental approach That I have seen make a difference in allowing our catcher to throw runners out; or to help turn the double play by giving the middle infielders that extra second to turn it; or by keeping a runner from advancing to third on a hit to oufield because he was caught leaning back to first as the pitch was delivered.
I feel like we help create more outs this way rather than only throwing over to pick guys off.
Does any one else agree, at least somewhat, with what I'm saying?
I guess it's really just a matter of semantics or a frame of mind. But I often find many times pitchers will not throw over to first because they do not feel they have a chance of picking them off for a number of reasons. Maybe they do not feel they have a quick enough move or maybe they feel the runner is not off the bag far enough. What ever the reason they don't throw over enough
I have begun asking them not to worry about picking guys off but rather practice keeping guys close by throwing over and using different timing techniques to the plate to keep runners off balance.
It's really just a different mental approach That I have seen make a difference in allowing our catcher to throw runners out; or to help turn the double play by giving the middle infielders that extra second to turn it; or by keeping a runner from advancing to third on a hit to oufield because he was caught leaning back to first as the pitch was delivered.
I feel like we help create more outs this way rather than only throwing over to pick guys off.
Does any one else agree, at least somewhat, with what I'm saying?
I agree . Feel better now? Probably not...
I do think that alot of time is used to perfect a pick and it's still risky. We run a trick daylight pick. It's worked 1 time in 5 years. We spend too much time practicing it. I would dump it, but it's not my play.
I like the reduction of stress alone on the pitcher is worth the different approach.
Have you found that by switching to this philosophy that you still spend as much time teaching it this way? And when your pitchers now do throw over, are they as accurate as before?
I do think that alot of time is used to perfect a pick and it's still risky. We run a trick daylight pick. It's worked 1 time in 5 years. We spend too much time practicing it. I would dump it, but it's not my play.
I like the reduction of stress alone on the pitcher is worth the different approach.
Have you found that by switching to this philosophy that you still spend as much time teaching it this way? And when your pitchers now do throw over, are they as accurate as before?
Regarding the first baseman straddling the bag....not good. I don't think you will see any college or professional first basemen do that, it leaves the defensive player in a poor position to receive the throw as the runner is coming back standing up. I highly advise against it and wouldn't even give my first basemen an option of doing that.
As far as pickoff philosophy is concerned, most pitchers will never pick a guy off, but the picks are used to keep runners close. But many teams have lefties with deceiving (and legal) picks and some righthanders have extremely quick moves. The philosphy should change with the pitcher. Some pitchers have the goal to keep runners close and others can have the goal of actually picking guys off.
As far as pickoff philosophy is concerned, most pitchers will never pick a guy off, but the picks are used to keep runners close. But many teams have lefties with deceiving (and legal) picks and some righthanders have extremely quick moves. The philosphy should change with the pitcher. Some pitchers have the goal to keep runners close and others can have the goal of actually picking guys off.
Key, IMHO, athletic feet. They can be slightly staggered but should never be closed. Must be able to block the errant throw on either side of the bag. Also, the feet must allow the fielder to step and throw should the runner go. With so many schools now going to first move with a left handed pitcher, schools need to practice that thow to second by the 1st baseman and it all begins with the feet.
"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen
"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen
We still spend a significant amount of time practicing "our moves to first", but I think it has made a difference. I find the pitchers are throwing over more and keeping runners close. That is all they are concerened about.
If I find that I have a lefty with a pretty decieving look to first than, obviously the approach with him regarding "picking guys off" would be a little different. Or if i have a righty that have quick feet, then we work on learning the differnece between throwing over and picking a guy off.
I was just so frustrated with the pitchers lack of focus on the runners that I had to change something.
I kept asking them "Why aren't you throwing over?" and they would respond with "I didn't think he had a big enough lead to pick him."
After hearing that for the 168th time, I changed my approach, and I really feel like they are much better adjusted and they feel like "Oh, you just want me to throw over. I don't have to pick guys off? Well, I can do that."
I guess this is the wrong forum for this conversation. Maybe we should have started a different thread.
Next time.
If I find that I have a lefty with a pretty decieving look to first than, obviously the approach with him regarding "picking guys off" would be a little different. Or if i have a righty that have quick feet, then we work on learning the differnece between throwing over and picking a guy off.
I was just so frustrated with the pitchers lack of focus on the runners that I had to change something.
I kept asking them "Why aren't you throwing over?" and they would respond with "I didn't think he had a big enough lead to pick him."
After hearing that for the 168th time, I changed my approach, and I really feel like they are much better adjusted and they feel like "Oh, you just want me to throw over. I don't have to pick guys off? Well, I can do that."
I guess this is the wrong forum for this conversation. Maybe we should have started a different thread.
Next time.
