Question about Early Steal

Roy,

I agree with you about when to leave. We'll leave as the pitcher is bringing his hands together. If the 2B breaks to the grass, we tell our runner it turns into a steal and stop(don't run into the tag).

As for it being bush, those are the guys that must have gotten beat by it once and are bitter. The last time I checked I coach HS baseball. If my line up read...

Damon
Jeter
Abreu
A. Rodriguez
Matsui
Posada
Cano
I. Rodriguez
CabreraCameron
...then I probably would not have to "resort to those types of bush league tactics." I'd also like win the lottery, but that probably won't happen either. SO...I'll continue to go to work, teach my classes, coach what I have, and do the things that give my kids the best chance to win.

If we are winning, you can call me whatever you want.

Amen, Funneldrill. I like the way you think!

FunnelDrill that is awesome and if you are winning then most people will call you a winner.

RH pitcher then I am with you guys the man on first breaks as hands are coming set. 2B cheats up then stop and get in rundown.

LH pitcher then we change things up a little. When he brings his hands set the runner on 3B breaks and when the runner on 1B sees this he breaks to second. This will cause the pitcher to throw to 1B and hopefully you can steal the run this way. To make it work the runner on third has to take a huge lead or be very fast. Plus the timing has to be perfect or the pitcher can step off and get the runner at 3B.

Now if the pitcher panics and delivers home then the batter automatically lays down a squeeze bunt.

Does that play still work at the HS level? I would think that the increase in arm strength would negate that play unless you have a true speedster at third. It gets tried on my sons 14U travel team and it rarely works.

But I have to admit, I have never seen the squeeze option. That is a great idea. Kids are always taking when that happens. I wonder what our guys would do. Thanks for the info. I will bring it up with the Manager.

Doughnutman - In all honesty it is a very low percentage play for success. You have to really pick and choose when and who you run it against. It is one of the old "if it works, you are a genius but if it fails, you are a dumb***" play.

Some factors to consider are

1. What kind of firstbaseman is this guy - strong arm, pays attention, moves well

If he has at least one of those then it probably won't work

2. The timing of the runners has to be perfect

If the runner at 3B can get a walking lead and really bust it at the same time the runner at 1B takes off then you have a chance at success

3. Game situation

If I got a weak hitter up around the middle of the game but he plays super defense then I will probably try it in a close game. Then I can save a pinch hitter for later if he comes up again with runners on.

I will never run this play late in the game because it's too big of a risk. I have no idea how many times I have ran it in the past but it's not very many at all. We rarely work on it in practice too. Mainly we do it enough to have a pretty good clue if we do call it but it's a good drill in practice to keep your defense on their toes.

The first time I ever saw this play was against our college team.

We had just let a team comeback to take a one run lead so we brought in a relief pitcher (lefty). Big old boy, weighed about 275.

They of course had runners at 1st and 3rd and before his first pitch to the plate both runners took off. Of course, our lefty is looking directly at the runner at 1B and everyone is yelling "there he goes". Our big lefty, steps off the rubber and takes off running at the runner. He quickly looks over his shoulder and sees the guy is about to score from 3B. This all got him off balance somehow and he just fell down in a big heap at the bottom of the mound.

I hate to lose, but this one got us laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. You had to be there!

PGStaff,

That is pretty funny! Too bad YouTube was not around in those days.

I have the mental image of the Late Great Chris Farley playing the role of your LHP!

I'm thinking the next 4 batters all bunted after seeing Mr. Graceful on the hill.

it actually does still work in high school. seen it taught by one of the top college coaches around. so if it works there..........

Coach2709 we work on it in practice but not for the runners practice. We work on it so our pitchers know what to do when teams try it on us.

We will run it usually with a lefty and if our scouting report shows that the first baseman has poor mobility and a week arm. We also look for a freshmen or sophomore on the mound who has little experience with these type of plays. It has worked a few times and we look like a hundred bucks...other times we just head quickly to the dugout!

We have tried a play similar..Only difference is I have always taught runner at 1st to take a very large lead in hopes of getting a stork move from the lefty..Scouting important or having read. We break at third when the lefty picks up his foot..

quote:

Originally posted by Roy Hobbs:
We have tried a play similar..Only difference is I have always taught runner at 1st to take a very large lead in hopes of getting a stork move from the lefty..Scouting important or having read. We break at third when the lefty picks up his foot..

I ran it the same way in college and taught it the same way in HS. Get a big enough lead so he picks but not so big he steps off the back. We'd have the runner even take a jab step back towards first to tempt the 1B to chase try to chase him. I like to run it on first pitch when the other team will pick over just to get a read on what you are going to do. Scouting report is key though. Gotta know the pitcher's move. The guy on third has to do a great job with his walking lead.