Communication on pick off plays at 2B

Welcome and this is a great site for everything. You ask it and a very knowledgeable group will give you great answers and advice.

As for the pickoffs I run everything through my catcher as well - although one year we had a guy who was very limited intellectually but he sure could hit and ran stuff through my 1B. I assign each play - pick, bunt coverage, 1st/3rd - a body part.

I (or one of my coaches) signals in a play by giving a set of 5 signs with let's say 4th sign being active. Then my catcher signal is the play using basically the same number of signs but they have a different active number let's say 2nd sign.

If we run the play then we do the typical catcher drops his mitt when he sees the SS flash towards 2B and pitchers make the move.

We give our P and SS the freedom to run it on their own. They can work out their own set of signs (then let me know so I know it's coming) and they can run it on their own. This has probably worked better for us because whenever you call a sign with a runner on 2B is basically is a big neon sign saying "Pick is coming".

We have picked more runners this way than we have by calling it.

Let's start with throwbacks to the bases from the catcher after a pitch. The toughest thing to get IFers to do is not to drop their head after the pitch is caught by the catcher. Throwing behind a runner should *always* be an option. In the past, if a catcher has wanted to pre-determine a throw to a base, we have had him swipe his glove in the dirt beside him when he is sure he has eye contact made with the IFer who will cover the bag.

As for pickoffs at 2B, the easiest timing play is for the C to drop his mitt when he feels the 2B or SS has an edge in getting behind the runner. The pitcher sees the glove drop, wheels and fires. The C can also avoid the problem of having the 2B or SS out of position this way as well.

At the youth level (high school and below), so many games are won/lost within 60' of home plate. My personal feeling is that you need to teach basic bunt coverages to your team, and have one sign for any sort of special coverage you might want. This sign can come from the dugout.

We are trying something different (for us) this year. In the past our middle infielders called all picks, but this year our catcher will call picks to 2B and this is how:
P steps on the rubber and our catcher (from his signal stance) will first give a pick sign and then give a pitch.
Our pick signs will be touches on the body:
Mask, Chest, Lt Knee, Rt Knee
As COACH stated before everyone will know which touch will be live (1st/2nd/Last/etc) and our different picks will be assigned different body parts.
Our pitch signs are numbers between the legs
We teach our SS/2B to relay pitches to the OFs so they are always looking at the catcher to get signs.

Here are a couple examples:
(Let's say 1st touch is live on picks. And Mask is pick w/SS, Chest is pick w/2B, and both legs are dummy signs.

1. Catcher gives touches: Lt Leg, Mask, Chest, Lt Leg
Then gives pitch: Fastball, Outside Corner
Result: There is not a pick on so the pitcher pitches FB outside corner.

2. Catcher gives touches: Chest, Lt Leg, Rt Leg, Lt Leg
Then gives pitch: Fastball, Outside Corner
Result: Pick off w/2B was called



Now Bunt defense and 1st and 3rd defenses are called by our catcher stepping out in front of the plate before the pitcher toes the rubber. It is a similar touch system. Catcher steps in front of plate, yells, "EYES!" & situation ("Bunt D" or "1st & 3rd") and then gives the sign.

Coach Rudy

maybe I did not see this point I am about to make in the other posts but when the catcher calls the plays do you have a corresponding signal from the infielders and/or the pitcher to show that everybody is in on it? You may not need that with the college level players but with the 19U teams I have managed, I always have a "return" or "go" signal that the responsible infielder gives to tell the catcher that the pickoff is on. Then the catcher signals the pitcher that everyone is on baord and the play proceeds.

Anyway, I believe that all the information given so far is very valuable.

TW344

I like the "Crudy" (pardon the pun) method above.

We use catcher to get the signal to the pitcher, but use a coach to get the pickoff signal to the middle infielders.

Our players are not high school age yet and I like to see the eye contact, SS to coach, that lets me know they got the signal. I can also get this signal to the SS long before the pitcher toes the rubber. This way, SS is ready to call for the pickoff at any time.

The only issue we face is that some umps and numerous opposing coaches think our coach is signaling the pitcher when we are actually signaling the SS. They usually start stating some rule that all coach signals much come in via the catcher, which is bogus, when the pitcher is not on the rubber.

Again, my kids are younger and I have to limit the number of signals I have the catchers relay. Right now, I keep it simple and just signal the catcher with the pitch and have a coach signal the SS for the pick off.

Works quite well, but next year, I'll use the method crudy posted.

BTW, those balls that do go over the SS head and make it to center field often end up as outs at 3rd base. Just need to make sure your center fielder is awake at all times. That's an easy play for them to make.

quote:

catcher calls the plays do you have a corresponding signal from the infielders and/or the pitcher to show that everybody is in on it

Some good examples of communication techniques.
I was very privileged to have very good coaching from my first step on the 90' field. As 12 and 13 yr olds playing JH ball, every pitch or sign was relayed from SS and 2B to the outfielders, simple signs behind the back, open hand=breaking ball, fist=fastball. Everyone was always in on it. I encourage the same.

quote:

Originally posted by Nicholas25:
Guys, this is an outstanding website. What do you do for a pick off play at 2B? You may call it a daylight play.

To me, a pick at 2nd and a daylight play are wholly different things.

The daylight pick is simply a 2b or ss flashing to the base when the P is looking. It only requires the P and middle inf to be on the same page. It has nothing to do with your catcher.

Called picks are run through the catcher.

We run everything through the SS. Here's how it goes:

1. C throws back to P after the pitch.
2. P immediately looks at SS, who signals # of looks and pick offs though touches on the body (solves the problem of SS being out of position when the pitch is delivered and takes the decision out of the P's head)
3. SS is responsible for keeping runner close to 2B and then fielding position

Now, there are many more details but that is the gist of it. Any glove flash by a 2B or SS will dictate a pick on the next look.

we constantly make city name calls...any pick to first the city starts for example with an f...timing break from 2b..city is b...daylight...d...3 base timing..t...catcher throw behind is color and 3 digit #.purple 138 .1st # is bag coming too..we have fun with it and call some ridicullous towns. we have picks off 3 bunt covs and a few specials..we work on picks on wend for 30 minutes.