Pickoffs at 2B

I got this one from a converstation with Vina. Take your secondbaseman and pitcher. Have the secondbaseman about 7-8 feet off of the bag. Have the pitcher look in at the plate and nod his head downward in a very distinct manner. Now, have the fielder say, "1,000 go." Have the pitcher say, "1,001 and throw." See what the timing is. Keep moving the secondbaseman out until he arrives at secondbase just prior to the ball getting there. Now, have him draw a line in the dirt at that distance. He is to mark that distance before every game. Have the shortstop do the same. Your infielders now have a point of reference that they can use during the game to keep runners close while also having the ability to pick that runner off. We use several signal methods to let the infielders know we want a pickoff and who is to take the throw.

GoMo-
Here is my suggestion, as this is what we use at the varsity level to work on the 2B pick:

We do a pick we call "Flip". The pick is initiated by the infielder, which allows the infielder time to get started toward the bag. However, it is quick because each piece is done boom-boom-boom:

Infielder (can be SS or 2B, you can use a sign for which one or pre-determine it) starts in his normal position. Pick is started as soon as he moves toward the bag. At that instant, the catcher drops his glove, which signals to the P to spin and throw to 2B. By the time the C & P do their part, the infielder will be in position.
This one seems to work because kids (infielders) understand that THEY initiate the pick, so they MUST get to the spot. Pitchers love it because they don't have to read it....they simple turn when the catcher's glove flip tells them to do so. Catchers also like it, because they actually get to be involved. Amazing how much kids will learn when they ENJOY the idea and accept it...we've used this pick for years and have had more success with it than any other I've tried.

Hope this is what you wanted.

Here's another. Have the SS hold the runner while the P takes the sign. A verbal signal is given the so the play is on. The P comes set and looks at 2B. When he looks back to the plate The SS comes off of 2b and crosses infront of the runner, almost always drawing the runner off with him. But it also causes confusion when the SS gets between the runner and the P. Secondbaseman counts 1001,1002 and breaks for 2B, P does a spin move after counting 1001,1002,1003. It could be quicker, but the 2 seconds lulls the runner into feeling safe. We had players actually swearing when they realized they were dead standing there!
This play worked 9 times after we implimented it,( about 15 games worth) including 2 game ending plays with us leading by 1 run. The other games it didn't work in were against very disciplined teams, or in tournament play where they had seen it. But it still had it's desired affect. Our kids knew that it was dangerous for other teams on our bases, and other teams just stuck a little closer incase we had another play. We did work on this 3 practices for 15 min each. But again, 45min to give our D the confidence that it had, plus our players work on their own baserunning skills during this time.

Coach,

If your short stop cut in front of my runner while returning to his position, I would instruct my runner to steal third at that moment. The result would be contact or the runner impeded which gives the runner third automatically.

This is one of the reasons why you’ve never seen this play routinely used at a high level.

I would tell you ours but no one knows them yet and I don't want to give them away.

SBK, I've seen that. Also, I've seen the shortstop come in front of the runner and "stumble" and fall to the ground. The runner was picked as he watch the SS fall.

fake stumble, huh?? wow, some teams will stoop very low. I barely have any time to practice, never mind practicing bush-league plays that may get you drilled in the back with a heater..

I've seen many SS who like to kick dirt from behind our runner. Not sure what that's about.


The other problem I have with this is signals. I'd like to be able to yell out "Redbird!" and have the kids know the pickoff was on, but that would probably let the other team know we have some kind of play on. Hand signals are fine, but I don't have everyone on the field looking at me before the pitcher toes the rubber.

I agree, that stumbling is a little too much for me. It would probably be as effective for the short Stop to point to the sky and say, "It's a bird, no it's a plane". When the runner says, "No, it's just Superman", you throw over and tag him out.

On the other hand, a few years back most of us remember when UM faked an over throw to first. I believe it was a CWS game against Witchita St.. The whole bullpen scattered pretending the ball was actually thrown. Meanwhile the first baseman was holding the ball all along and simply tagged the runner when he took off. Pretty much everyone thought it was creative.

So where do you draw the line?

SBK,
The SS doesn't return to his position, he cuts in front on the infield grass and stops on the grass just beyond the runner. Kinda in the "infield in" position.

goMo,
I thought I didn't have enough time too, until I got fed up with being taken advantage of. We found time. BTW, I found out that the original time spent on "Daylight" and "glove slap" plays was a waste of time. Every team was used to those, and it gave them confidence.

Signalwise, Our name for the play is "Tom"and I would yell "hold him on Tom" at our SS, only we had no Tom on our team. First names aren't on line-up cards, but a common nickname would be as effective. Our players overheard one team saying that our catcher was signalling in the play when it was really coming from the dugout for all to hear. Tom was voted the most valuable player on our team by the players.

Redbird,
names have been changed to protect the innocent

gomo, you have a pm. (Sorry, it's a secret! LOL!)

got it! Thanks!!!