quote:
Originally posted by coach2709:
He should work up the line slowly until the out is made at second. Then he hauls butt to get up the line in case he's needed. Don't fly out of there like normal and don't just stand there. Work slowly up the line and then haul rearend.
I actually disagree with this...on a technicality. In stead of working up the line slowly until the out is made why not be aggressive, and run hard, until the out
isn't made. If the out at 2nd base isn't made then you can turn around and head back to home plate.
If you initially work up the line slowly you won't have a chance at saving a ball before it goes in the dugout...it's hard enough to make that play when you're sprinting to back up the base!
I think once the double play ball is hit you should haul butt to back up first base so that if the first out is made at 2nd and then there is an errant throw you will still be able to save it from going into the dugout (or whatever hazard is behind 1st base).
In my opinion, it's the same as a player hitting a ball in the gap, jogging to 1st base, and then deciding that it's going to be a double...we've all seen that happen before and the player get's thrown out. If he's not initially sprinting out of the box and thinking two all the way he probably won't make it. But the player that runs hard the entire time will have a much better chance at standing safely on second base.