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My son is a catcher who aggressively backs up throws to first base. If there is a runner on first, should he be staying at home for a potential play at the plate if there is a wild throw to first or should he back up the play since he feels he will have time to get back in time to make any play at home? Thanks in advance for everyone's input.
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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.



Couldn't have said it better....
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.
Catching101 you make a great point and I totally respect what you're saying. I was taught the work slow up the line in college. The reason they gave was let's say the ball gets past first but somehow the runner is safe at second. Well if you've busted up the line and now are getting the overthrow what's to stop the runner who was safe at second to round third and head home?

Now the pitcher can take the catcher's place but do you really want the pitcher to be receiving the throw for a tag when a guy is coming in with a hard slide past the plate?

My question to you is - where is does the bad throw end up most of the time in situations like this? I'm going to defer to your experience and trust whatever you say. For myself the vast majority of bad throws in this situation end up being in the outfield where the runner can possibly end up coming home. I think it's better to have the catcher be able to get back and set up than to be around 80 feet away, hustling to get back and set up on the run.

I'm not saying your wrong and not going to try to talk you out of your position. I'm saying there probably isn't a true answer for this because when you start throwing the ball around it's all reaction at that point.

Then again all that stuff I posted might have made me look like a big dummy.

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