Calling the cut

Here is what I teach

Say nothing and the throw goes to the base - fielder should make a fake cut to try and hold runners

Relay - if the throw is weak or off line to continue the line

Cut (2,3,4) - ball is cut and is thrown to corresponding base called

Cut - no potential play - cut the throw and run it to the IF and get to the pitcher

quote:

Originally posted by coach2709:
Here is what I teach

Say nothing and the throw goes to the base - fielder should make a fake cut to try and hold runners

Relay - if the throw is weak or off line to continue the line

Cut (2,3,4) - ball is cut and is thrown to corresponding base called

Cut - no potential play - cut the throw and run it to the IF and get to the pitcher

Coach, I agree with you but have always questioned this. I think we all know our players are agressive and I think this messes them up.

If, for example you have a very good/agressive player his cue to peel off is to have his teammate say nothing in a no cut situation. I think that is hard. Dont know what the exact communication should be but I think any thing better then silence would help in a no cut situation. IMHO

Well catcher09 to expand on this we also teach our cut/relay men to recognize the type of throw coming. If they see it as weak or offline they have the freedom to go ahead and relay without anything being said.

Also, we want the communication to happen as the ball leaves the OF hand. Ideally it should be made after the throw is in the neighborhood of 15 - 20 yards out. Anything past that you are hurting yourself as to whether or not the message can be sent to the cut / relay man.

Lastly, it's easier said than done but we also teach our guys to pay attention to the type of runners on base and at the plate. By paying attention to that it should help them get a headstart on what decision to make. They are high school kids so who knows if they pay attention or not.

Honestly - nothing is perfect because if it was then everyone would do it the exact same way. This works for us because we teach and prepare for it. Does it work all the time....no but neither does the easy groundball get thrown to first in time either.

We were very similar to coach2709. Ours went like this:

Good throw, online: nothing is said, fielder lets it go.

Bad throw, same base: "Relay"

Ball should go to another base: "Cut 1,2,3, 4"

No play: "Cut!"

Our 3rd baseman had freedom to cut the ball as he determined. I don't remember if our first basemen did nor not. Having nothing being said on a good throw makes sense because sometimes all a fielder will hear is the sound so you want to cut out as many sounds as possible.

Coach2709 does it like so many of us. Its is fairly customary to have nothing said and the ball goes thru. "Relay" on a bad or short throw, and "cut" and where, or just "cut". All depend on the situation. If the coach is using a say nothing, cut system, that is his choce, but unusual. Could be the player made the mistake and cut on his own.

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:
I've always done it where the ball is left alone unless you are told to cut it. Since you want to be able to direct the throw you have to say something so I've always done it where you call cut 2 or cut 4, etc. and if there's no call the throw goes through.

I agree.

I handle it differently and it works for our kids. I put the burden on the relay man. If he is lined up correctly (based on the receiving baseman's direction), he has 2 automatic cut/relays (with nothing needing to be said):

1) If the throw is offline
2) If the throw is dying

Any strong throw with nothing said should be let go. Why complicate things with a "relay" call?

If a cut needs to be made, we call Cut (1,2,3,4). Nothing else needs to be said, IMO.

One other thing...most of the time (like 80% from what I have seen), the relay man is too far out. This is a major cause of many miscommunication issues.

"Cut" = cut off throw and check runners
"Cut - 2,3,4" = cut throw and fire immediately to designated bag
*say nothing - throw goes through

**Communication KILLS when not done properly.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
I handle it differently and it works for our kids. I put the burden on the relay man. If he is lined up correctly (based on the receiving baseman's direction), he has 2 automatic cut/relays (with nothing needing to be said):

1) If the throw is offline
2) If the throw is dying

Any strong throw with nothing said should be let go. Why complicate things with a "relay" call?

If a cut needs to be made, we call Cut (1,2,3,4). Nothing else needs to be said, IMO.

One other thing...most of the time (like 80% from what I have seen), the relay man is too far out. This is a major cause of many miscommunication issues.

You just explained what I was trying to say much better than I did. Yes we do have the relay call but that is because I feel it's better to do it and not need it than to not do it and then need it.

Coach Knight is correct when he talks about communication kills when not done correctly.