Middle IF working the runner at 2B

I used to have opportunities to talk to the St. Louis Cardinals often. One thing that Fernando Vina taught me was that every infielder should draw a line or arc in the dirt which is their reference for both holding runners and working pickoffs. We've done so ever since and set that line through working with the pitching staff. For example, since it is an arc the 2nd baseman can move to the arc behind the baseline. This gives the runner the impression that they are being held. As the pitcher gets the signal, the fielder is walking the arc. There is a point where they can break for the bag and arrive there just in time on a timing play OR take two steps to their left and be in the proximity of where they have to be in order to cover the bag at first in case of a bunt. Using that Arc is a great teaching tool for all fielders and their respective bags to cover. JMHO!

Nicholas25, I would caution you that should you have your middle infielders move too much toward the bag and then away, the runner at 2nd will be able to get a running start to steal 3rd. I love it when I see infielders moving too much. As a coach, I simply read their movements and then give a signal to our runner which means, "I want you badly." They then know to get that running start off of the movement away from the bag coverage by the infielders.

CoachB25,
Do your middle infielders work the runner? I am also struggling to understand what you mean by arc and baseline. Thanks.

IMO if you don't have good PO's to 2nd, which you need to work on with your MI's and F1's, good runners will be unflinching, with MI's fakes and gyrations, if your F1's can't keep em honest.

So work on the PO's to 2nd, all bases for that matter. You get a couple close diving plays back to 2nd or better yet an out, and do it early, you will now save those extra steps R2 gets, and perhaps even gain a couple. Ex. you PO the first runner at second on a time play or just a good PO, the movements of MI's will now mean something.

As far as where the F's are when F1 delivers;
As long as the F's aren't going hard to the bag when F1 starts his delivery, they should have no problem getting back and set. So F1's at least wait til they (MI) stop momentum going to the bag.

quote:

Originally posted by Nicholas25:
CoachB25,
Do your middle infielders work the runner? I am also struggling to understand what you mean by arc and baseline. Thanks.

ARC = as an example say you have a string 12 feet long, draw an arc from the back corner on the side nearest 1st base from the baseline to about 10 feet behind the baseline. Now, as your fielder works that arc, they are always the same distance away from 2nd. In that time, they can bluff by jab stepping across that arc but still be able to get into fielding position. I don't recommend that they waste energy and get close to the bag. what good does it do. As soon as they step back towards their fielding postion, the runner will take his big leadoff again. BTW, when our fielder has made that "jab" and the runner doesn't respond, we know we have a setup for a pickoff. Work with this some and set the distance you need. I've always had fast secondbasemen and so their arc and your player's arc might not be the same. Again, offensivley, when we have a team where the fielders "work the runners" by getting themselves way out of position, we simply time them leaving and get a walking start at stealing 3rd. You might say then use the old crisscross pickoff play. However, our first base coach is looking for that when he knows I give the steal of 3rd sign. If he calls "back" then the play is off.

good stuff. Coach b25..we also try a set spot..we use about 10 feet. We have a timing play..a daylight play and can call for an inside move at any time..we work every other day..after you show it once it moves em back.

Thanks coachb25, we don't always agree on hitting, but that is good information regarding defense! I will pass this on to my Son.

I guess now you might want to talk about the pick offs. We used several. The one I really liked a lot was to have the 2b give a verbal. The pitcher gives an acknowledgment without looking at the fielder. It can be anything simple like put their thumb in their belt. Now, the 2b sets up on that arc and waits for the catcher to get ready as the pitcher looks in for a sign. The,2b takes one step right foot. As that happens, catcher puts down middle finger. Middle finger is ALWAYS A PICKOFF! Now 2b steps with left foot but give appearance of stepping away from the bag. Catcher now puts down index finger to go along with that middle finger. This tell pitcher where 2b is. Now, as soon as that happens and 2b clearly sees catcher's signal, 2b breaks hard for second and catcher opens hand rapidly to show all five fingers. The pitcher will real and throw. I like this play because it is not off of the standard stretch moves and so, you catch runners off guard. BTW, we use this also for 1st base as well when there are runners at 1st and it is full count and 2 outs. Again, works like a charm. However, I tell the kids, I have the guts to call it. You have to have the guts to throw it. Gosh I love this stuff!

Floridafan, I'm glad you like this suggestion. No we don't agree on all things but that's ok. That's why they make so many varieties of ice cream.

Coach, do you vary the signals or have a separate process when you have runners at 1st and 2nd and you want to run a play to get R1 when the 1B is playing behind R1?

I am with jjk...we do not move around alot. We also have the standard daylight, timing, and inside moves. We want the runners and coaches to forget about our MI or think we are not paying attention to them. As that happens, lead size tends to increase and we wind up picking runners off. Our MI call for picks. I will occasionally call for one, but I feel like that is something the players should recognize, and our players do a good job of realizing when one availible.

B25 we do not use the term 'arc', but have an area we cover. I like the term and may start teaching it with our younger guys who are not getting the concept.

Our SS runs the number of looks and pick offs so we are never out of position when the pitch is delivered. Teams have a difficult time stealing 3rd against us since our P's vary their looks without having to think about it.

quote:

Originally posted by YHF:
Coach, do you vary the signals or have a separate process when you have runners at 1st and 2nd and you want to run a play to get R1 when the 1B is playing behind R1?

Yes we have a way of identifying who we want picked. Since I'm an old ****, I don't use the modern lingo. We do let the kids use that lingo in ways that help them remember. For example, "Are you down with that?" Well, I yell out, "Hey Dustin, how many down?" (Dustin had better be "down" with the fact that I want a pickoff at his bag. I called his name first. I'll then yell out to a few more infielders. Typically the SS will tell me regardless of who's name I called first. However, I just told everyone on the defense that the pickoff is now going to Dustin or 1st base. Naturally, in a minute we're going to tell Dustin to play behind and we'll yell out to hold your positions since they will be starting the runners. Again, full count and 2 outs. For that one at first base, the catcher will have his hands between his legs and middle finger (1) then index makes it look like 2 and then open hand rapidly. The first baseman's steps are Left - right bust. BTW, we can also call this off of the pure stretch. How do they know, I yell at the pitcher to "throw strikes." I do so to make everyone around and especially the pitcher's parents hate me. It is all an act. The kids all love it when I do that stuff and, to be honest, many people in our area think I must be very hard to play for. However, is is all an act. To be honest, everything said on our field has a meaning. One other quick example, I call a verbal pickoff and then I tell the 2b 2 the other way. Common sense will now tell you that he can't be the one covering. The SS now must figure out if I want the open hand, if I want the timing with tip of the cap or if I want the stork move. He'll know the pitcher and what works best for each. I apologize for being too long with this response.

d8, again I got the idea from Vina but really liked it because it gave us a solid reference that we could now work with each fielder and their quickness. I also took this idea to the OF and so, we painted circles (small) and the reference lines coming off of it. Then, we practiced signalling from the dugout where we want our OF off of those references. I know exactly how we are going to pitch a kid and I know exactly where those marks are. Therefore, I can have our pitcher pitch to their defense.

Thanks Coach. Great explanation, and not too long.

Got one more for you if you have time.

What about the catcher throwing behind R1 for a pick off? We see Yadi and Albert do that pretty regularly. Do you call that or do your catcher and 1B have some nonverbal signals they use to run that?

All this is good info but I am coaching 12-13 y/o's and practice time is limited. It's the first time at standard dimensions for most of them. I need some simple plans and advice for these situations.

Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by YHF:
Thanks Coach. Great explanation, and not too long.

Got one more for you if you have time.

What about the catcher throwing behind R1 for a pick off? We see Yadi and Albert do that pretty regularly. Do you call that or do your catcher and 1B have some nonverbal signals they use to run that?

THFm what we've done is somewhere in the course of the year, we turn them loose. You have to let your players play and make plays. What we encourage our infielders to do a lot of talking to each other during the course of the game. Then, if either the 1st baseman or catcher think that they have a play on a snap throw, they call the other person and touch their chest with a "wipe." You know, the fielder looks like he is brushing dirt off or the catcher adjust his chest protector. Key to this then is that the other has to show an acknowledgement. We like things like putting the thumb inside the waistband to adjust the pants. It is something that is often done and so, goes unnoticed. This lets both parties know that they are on the same page.