How do you guys teach this? What cues / things do you look for to teach? I tried to do this a couple of years ago but we really stunk at it. But I think it's something I want to start doing when I become a head coach again.
Thanks
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I like the delay steal, very effective when used properly and in the right situation.
I have always taught the kids that it starts with being consistent in getting their secondary lead...it has to look the same to the catcher every time. Then, after hitting their final stride, hop, shuffle (or whatever you want to call it) in their secondary, it basically it is a 1001 and go. I try to teach them to see the catcher go into his throwing motion, kind of like a first move when stealing on a lefty, by the time the catchers sees the delay they have to completely reset to throw.
I use this mostly when the catcher gets into a rhythm of immediately and/or softly throwing back to the pitcher, or stays on his knees and doesn't get up to throw the ball back. I will also use it when I see the middle infielders aren't paying attention or moving toward the bag after a pitch.
We definitely use it much more than the teams we play against.
What I'm looking for:
Study the MIFs: Positioning: How far from the bag? Are they alert and energetic after the pitch crosses?
Study the catcher: The confident/studly ones are more aggressive/accurate throwing to an open bag.
It's best with 2 outs--not so good with zero outs or 1 out because the MIFs are playing closer to the bag for the DP.
Originally Posted by lefthookdad:
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I have always taught the kids that it starts with being consistent in getting their secondary lead...it has to look the same to the catcher every time. Then, after hitting their final stride... in their secondary, it basically it is a 1001 and go. I try to teach them to see the catcher go into his throwing motion, kind of like a first move when stealing on a lefty, by the time the catchers sees the delay they have to completely reset to throw.
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We do it differently--we teach an aggressive "gain-ground" secondary lead, followed by breaking towards second on "pop".
Our aggressive sec. lead is far enough that if our R1s waited one-mississippi before going, they'd be at risk.
good points. I do believe your key is the 2nd baseman and ss. how they are positioned and are they active or stationary guys.
What a great way to get a guy into scoring position that doesn't have the speed to steal out right. As mentioned above I look for a catcher that drops to his knees, and a lazy middle infield that won't return to the bag after each pitch.
Originally Posted by The Doctor:
. As mentioned above I look for a catcher that drops to his knees, and a lazy middle infield that won't return to the bag after each pitch.
Since we go on "pop", we don't look for a catcher that drops to his knees.
love the play - especially for good base runners not blessed with great speed. Key is positioning and attentiveness of ss & 2nd basemen. very effective in 1st & 3rd situations.
Thanks guys - appreciate the help
How many of you turn your runners loose to read this versus you making the call?
We have always given the better base runners with speed the green light...if they see anything like this or any other situation they feel, and can justify, their stealing....but for the average play, not so much
Originally Posted by coach2709:
How many of you turn your runners loose to read this versus you making the call?
When we're trying to pad a lead, I could justify it (but the fact is, I don't do it).
Late and close (the litmus test), I wouldn't consider it.
1. With R1 (only), delayed steals are almost always a 2-out play for us. Late and close, 2 outs, R1 (only), I'm calling the shots.
2. With R1/R3, we'll delayed steal with any no. of outs. But with late and close, R1/R3--in all R1/R3 situations for that matter-- I'm calling the shots.
Originally Posted by coach2709:
Thanks guys - appreciate the help
How many of you turn your runners loose to read this versus you making the call?
Never....I am a big green light guy on straight steal and 7 of my 9 guys have one. However, I believe there is to much you have to look into to see if a delay will work. How active are the MIF? How rhythmic is the catcher throwing the ball back? How vocal is the 1st baseman? I also believe it becomes more difficult to delay steal multiple times in the game because everyone starts looking for it at that point.
Originally Posted by IEBSBL:
Originally Posted by coach2709:
Thanks guys - appreciate the help
How many of you turn your runners loose to read this versus you making the call?
Never....I am a big green light guy on straight steal and 7 of my 9 guys have one. However, I believe there is to much you have to look into to see if a delay will work. .... I also believe it becomes more difficult to delay steal multiple times in the game because everyone starts looking for it at that point.
Agree, too much to look for.
I have occasionally delayed steal multiple times (two?) in a game when the catcher threw inaccurately to the open bag the first time we tried it.
Freddy,
I agree....There are some teams you can delay multiple times on. Heck Fullerton did it the Hawaii last weekend.
I have changed how we do this over the last few years. I like it best with 1st and 3rd (just seems to work for us that way). We are going off of the catcher. Get secondary lead as always and hold it. We go to 2nd when the catcher starts to release the ball back to the pitcher or as the catcher is dropping to his knees for the throw back.
ETA... I had a player that delayed steal of 3rd 3 times this year. He just got where he could read it with a catcher that lobbed the ball back and the 3rd baseman playing deep.
We had multiple steal calls, but if the runner got the green light call, he could steal however he saw fit.
