Holding Runner on 3B!!

As a general rule we don't with an exception if there is a lefty up to bat

PA2016, you didn't get a response because you answered your own question.  You would never do it.  Where is the runner going to go?  A "vicinity" hold would be the most you would give. 

Cheesy, please explain why you would do this.  Maybe there is something I can learn but never saw it at any level and can't imagine any reason to make the 5-6 hole way bigger than it needs to be. 

Well, I asked because our HS HC keeps doing this, in fact it happened again today. I don't know everything so I wanted to put it out there to you folks because there is a ton of knowledgeable guys/gals on here. Maybe I was missing something and this HC was some sort of new age baseball guru.

Sure. Let me emphasize here that we have only done this a few times. With a lefty up and runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs we want to hold the runner close to have a better play at home. We see very few lefties who hit the ball towards that 5-6 gap and especially on jv if it is hit there runner probably scores no matter where you play.

Cheesy, you do understand that PA2016 is actually talking about holding that runner like a 1b, right?  You would never do this.  If you need to get that out at home, you have your infield in.  3b is roughly bag level deep but 3-4 steps off the bag.  Hovering in that vicinity will prevent too large a lead from R3.  He will not score on a fielded ground ball unless it is a complete nubber.

Sir. To each his own.  Strategy has worked for us.

Very true.  Fair enough.

Curious though, your background says NAIA and D2 player.  Did you ever see this done at either of those programs?  And what advantage are you gaining with your 3b anchored to the bag as opposed to off 3-4 steps?

From 11u through college I've never seen a coach who knows what he's doing hold a runner on third like a first baseman would hold a runner on first. I've seen some poor coaches do it in 11u to 14u. I've seen them hold runners on second too.

I love the way people on this forum always go into attack mode when someone disagrees with someone else or says something halfway unconventional and they are poor coaches.

Why do coaches hold a runner on 1st when a runner is on 2nd. While the situation is not totally similar it is a question I often wonder about. At the high school level I see way more of these situations.

Eventually we may get burned on this the half dozen times we've done it in three years. Like I say to each his own.

@ cabbage dad

It isn't something that I would want to do a lot.  I did experience a couple times in college the ball was never  hit to 3b side but we did throw a quick runner out at home. Whether it helped keep the runner one step closer thus letting us make a close play I don't know.  

I do know it probably helped my jv team once and our varsity team at east once. Haven't gotten stung by it yet.

I see it a lot on the high school level, and I don't mean once a game especially at jv levels.

To answer your question personally I think seeing it as regularly as I do, I think coaches are not confident in their kids moving during a play. When my college coach used it  and when we used it, it was as a called play. In all the cases the 3b moves more like 1b as ball is pitched.

You hold the runner on 1st to prevent him from reaching 3rd or scoring on a hit or extra base hit.  This isn't a risk with a runner on 3rd.

Yes i know this, it was rhetorical question. Although against most batters the hole left between first and second baseman in that situation is much easier to hit for a eighty than the hole between third and shortstop is for a lefty to hit (many mlb cant hit that hole that's why teams play the shift.  Holding on 1st is also trying to keep runner from going to third. The half dozen or so situations where I have seen it or used was an attempt to keep a speedy runner locked on 3rd in possible game winning or tying situation.

BTW 20 years ago playing a shift was crazy.

I'll be honest, I've wondered why there aren't more pick off moves at 3B with a RH pitcher.  

I've seen games in high school where the 3B runner was getting lazy and probably could have been picked off.  Catcher could give the signal so that the third baseman doesn't have to be on the bag the entire at bat. 

Holding the runner on 3B looks so "little league."  You can control the lead at third by the snap throw from the catcher to 3B.  Should stop the runner from getting too aggressive.

Of course, be prepared for the launch into LF.  Been there, done that. 

@ lion baseball

3b is I think more psychological issue to try pickoffs. Mistakes just don't lead to advancing but to runs as well if there is a mistake.

Thanks Goldman25 now I'm not only a poor coach but little league as well.  At least I'm pretty sure that wasn't a compliment. I use the hidden ball trick every now and then as well so I guess I'm an amateur to.

Hold them at 3rd NO! pick them YES. with 2 outs this might be risky, but with no outs you might consider the runner is gonna score anyway (unless your flamethrower is on the hill) and might as well take a shot at him.

I am big on keeping the double play in order so I almost always hold the runner at 1st. It also gives my catcher a chance.

It wasn't a shot at you at all.  You make a good argument for the specific situation to do it.  I was just referring to our freshman 3B who does all the time because that's what he was taught in "little league."

Why do coaches hold a runner on 1st when a runner is on 2nd?  

I don't see it a lot.

When I do see it, I assume they're trying to keep the double play in order.  But it makes no sense. With r1/r2 (a runner in scoring position), the priority becomes keep-the-ball-in-the-infield/avoid-the-big-inning. Yet, they've got three infielders playing out of position (the first baseman, plus the two MIFs cheating in and towards the bag).

It suprises me to, we see it in our little and youth league as well.  It suprises me that a a previous poster has seen this rarely.