Hit & Run

Here is the definitive guide to the Hit and Run. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeenfQ_EyI4

We use " run and hit

Hit and run can get a average runner on 1st all the way to 3rd, a player that might not quite have the speed to steal 2nd can reach 3rd on a slow grounder through the vacated hole at 2nd.

 My 7 and 8 hitters would move my 5 and 6 hitters fairly often.

We'd use it as the front half of a strategy. Me, being slow but with pretty good ability to hit the ball where I wanted to, would often be called on to execute this. The logic was that we'll either end up with a runner at third (as above) or, more often, place me in the position of being able to get to second during the next batter.

There are 11 ways to score from 3b with less than 2 outs. This is the reason to have runners reach 3b

quickly.

Bob

Catcherdad posted:

Had lunch with a buddy who is a baseball writer.  The topic of Hit & Runs came up.  

Word of mouth from dads we know is that many college coaches emphasize moving runners over so ask batters to hit a grounder to the right side.  Execute it or sit.

Understand of course moving runners over.   The question came up as to how a grounder that successfully moves a runner from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd will if caught, negatively affect a batting average .   It does not seem much different from a sacrifice bunt which does not affect BA and the sac bunt can turn out to be a hit just as a hit & run grounder to the right side can be a hit if it finds a hole. Runner is moving in both cases.

 

 

since you are going for a hit, an out made with a hit and run is an out. the minimum objective is to break up the double Play and get a runner in scoring Position but ideally you want to not make an out and have runners on first and third.

Good points above by all.

Do think going to the plate aiming to hit a grounder to the right side changes your at-bat mindset

We teach our kids to hit where pitched until we get 2 strikes. Then our hitters change their mindset to move the ball anyway they can with runners on. We do a lot of competitive situational hitting games that reinforce hitting the ball to the right side to score runners with 2 strikes and less than 2 outs. We usually put the runners on 2nd and 3rd though, so it's not really a sacrifice situation like you described in your OP. And yes the batters AVG is negativelyeffected but you get an RBI. Our dugout always yells "Ground ball right side scores a run!" Or "Come on kid! RBI game!" when this situation occurs.