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I had blogged this on my site: bluecollarbaseball.com but wanted to share here as well



Let’s start with a Righty (you are a runner on first base). When you are younger, most coaches will tell you to watch his legs (feet). That is fine for young players, however as you progress, you really have to watch the pitcher’s whole body. Sure the basic move to first will involve the pitcher moving his feet. But in order to get GREAT jumps, other factors come into play. For example, the first guy to get on base should try to get a big enough lead in order to make the pitcher throw over. This will allow the coaches and players to pick up on his move. Many times a guy will use a slow-footed (B) move, then come back over with his main (A) move (the better one). When you’re on first base, watch how the pitcher delivers the ball to the plate. Some pitchers will have a big space between their legs (like K-Rod) when they set-up, causing them to really have to lift that front leg in order to get any velocity. So when you see this type of guy, as soon as he lifts his front leg, you go. The next type of righty pitcher is called a “Leaner”. This guy usually uses a slide step, but if you watch closely, his body (shoulder) leans towards the plate first. His set up will be very straight up (almost standing directly up- legs very close). So as soon as you see him lean towards home, you’re off to steal second. The last type of righty pitcher uses a “turn” when he throws home. This means in his set position, he is slightly ‘opened’ up on an angle between home and first base. So in order for him to pitch, he must turn his front shoulder back towards home and then deliver. When you see his shoulder turn in, you go. All pitchers have keys and indicators, some just hide it better than others.

Now to the Lefty Pitchers. It can be difficult stealing on a lefty, however, these indicators will help. Firstly, if a guy goes straight up and down with his front leg, you basically have to go on first move. His leg-kick will be high, so as soon as he moves you go. Even if he picks you off, it takes time for the first baseman to throw to second. In regards to a lefty pitchers front leg, if he is a guy who really has to drive towards home plate in order to get more velocity, he will bring his lead foot behind (passed) his back leg. Once he does this, he cannot come over to first. He has to deliver the pitch. This is not very common as you move up in baseball, however guys like Billy Wagner still do it. Another lefty key is his face. Many times you will see pitchers get into the habit of being “opposite”. This means if he looks at you when he goes into his motion, he is going to throw the ball to the batter, and if he is looking at the batter when he lifts his leg, he is going to try to pick you off. This is very common. A pitcher will look at the runner to try to get him thinking, and then deliver the pitch. Watch for this tendency, because it can be very very useful. The last lefty key is complicated. You have to watch his lead foot. This happens when a pitcher goes straight up and down, as well as does not get into any habit of “opposite looking.” If you are very good and can watch his lead foot you will notice that when he lifts his leg, if his cleat is facing toes down (to the ground) he is throwing the ball home. If he lifts his lead leg and you see the bottom of his cleats (where his toe is pointed toward the sky), he is going to pick you off. It is physically impossible to point your toe down and land correctly on a pick off. The same if true when the toe is up and delivering a pitch; it can’t happen. The landing would be too awkward, so the pitcher’s cleat can tell you what he is going to do. If you can master this last one, you will be an extremely good base-stealer (if you have average or good speed).
Kevin www.bluecollarbaseball.com
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Kevin,

Not all lefties are like that. Going on the first move the lefty can continue to leg lift and pivot (like a fake pickoff to second)then throw to the second baseman or run at the runner stealing.

Also the foot needs to go past the back plane of the rubber, not just the post leg.

I have a kid who "looks opposite" and we're working on it.

A good lefty will throw in a slide step delivery enough that the runner won't feel good about stealing on first move.

Ddin't know about the cleats thing...but thanks!
Nope, pitcher must step directly (45 degs either way) towards the base/plate he wishes to throw to. He's not allowed to fake to first nor throw to an unoccupied base. This assumes his stride foot has not broken the back of the rubber's plane.

Rightys do this all the time, lifting their stride foot while pivoting a 180 towards second. Its just less common for a lefty so it "looks strange". The rules are the same for a lefty or righty.

I think Coach May stated in the main forum on this topic that the only way to steal on a good lefty is to "Guess Steal". Guess correctly and with the high deliberate leg lift its an easy stolen base, guess wrong and you're in a pickle.

Throw in an occasional slide step and or the practiced difficult maneuver of a slow deliberate knee lift plus a pivot to second (when the runner breaks)and the lefty becomes unreadable and isn't worth the risk to try and steal on.

The challange for the lefty is to be able to do all of this and still be able to locate pitches in the zone.
Lefties are far more difficult, but the telltale sign of a pick-off move to first is the rotation of the shoulders to make a throw to first. If the shoulders stay perpendicular to the plate, the guy is throwing to the plate. But if the back shoulder rotates away from first base (which means the front shoulder comes toward first base), then the guy is about to make a pick-off move. You find me a pitcher who can consistently make that throw without rotating the shoulders and I can guarantee his success holding runners.

There are a few pitchers who give a slight rotation even when going home. They are the tough ones. These are the guys who tend to curl up (like a fetal position) when they lift their front leg. As the leg comes up, they tend to curl ever so slightly which coils the shoulders, but then they release back to the plate.

There are three ways to steal off of a lefty:
1. First movement - read front foot.
2. Read and release - key on the shoulders
3. Not at all - if he slide steps, stay put and save yourself an out.

The last thing to be aware of is the snap throw where they step off with their back foot and make a quick snap throw. You must be paying attention, but usually these throws don't have much on them (watch how much they rotate the shoulders on that move).

Good luck....
I loved coaching against lefties. It meant that we were going to have a multiple steal day. We went first move a lot but I chose when. I didn't like my runners to be green light on lefties. I wanted to read them. Get a picture of their move in my head and then know the speed of my runners. So, we took a "one way lead" so that I could get the read. We forced the lefty to throw the pick. What one KEY READ we wanted to see is if they ever stepped off. That presented problems as they become infielders and can throw to any base. Few lefties learn that and incorporate that into what they show runners. After a few initial moves, we were then going to play mind games with the opponent. One way leads and first move steals. Runners take the inside and make the first baseman have to field the ball in the grass and funnel it to SS in a lane in the grass. We then did slide bys and most of the time, we were safe.

Having said all of that, I was blessed to have a lot of team speed. In fact, one area coach commented this past weekend that he remembered us stealing 10 bases in a game against him. That year, we stole 237 bases as a team. So, we ran A LOT!
Check out the reply I recieved from the "Umpire" experts when I asked the same question:

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...96003481/m/189106394

It is under Ask an Umpire, Balk Clarification.

He seems to think I righty can pick up front foot, then open up 180 degrees and throw to first, or even pick up front foot pause mid air, then turn right to second base (unocupied) to get the runner stealing from first!

I get so frustrated with this rule because everyone has their own interpretation, but I see it all the time. We say righty picks up front foot you go! they say otherwise.
Landon, I was a little confused about this, too (may still be after this post Smile). It's pretty simple really Eek The rules apply to both RH and LH pitcher equally. So, when a Righty lifts his leg and passes the back part of the rubber he can do 1 of 2 things...he can go home or he can continue his motion toward second in an attempt to put out or drive back a runner. He cannot throw to any other base at that point. The same must be said for a Lefty. Once his foot goes behind the rubber he has to go home or continue to second (assuming there is no pause in the motion). Like the Righty, he cannot throw to any other base. Now, if either pitchers' foot does not cross the back plane of the rubber they can attempt to put out or drive back any runner from 1st or 3rd if they step directly toward the bag.

The reason this is such a confused issue is that you really don't see a lefty continue on to second. Most of the time when they pass the back plane they are leaning too far forward to do anything but throw home. A lefty would really have to practice this move (which most coaches assume is a balk) and have to be lucky catching the runner going on motion. Remember, once he leans toward home he must complete that motion.

Then you get into the 3rd to 1st where he must disengage in order to complete the play legally. The reason you don't see lefties do this play is that it requires a motion that most have never been taught (jump move for example) and the risk may be too high (runner scores on pass ball as opposed to just second on pass ball to first). After editing, I'm not sure I helped at all!
quote:
Originally posted by trojan-skipper:
Landon...
just turn the page; don't worry about it
3-2, 2 out and the runner on first is going, but wait the pitcher picks up front foot and then wheels to first and throws the guy out. Anyone who didn't call that a balk would get laughed off the field.


3-2, 2 out and the runner on first is going, but wait. The pitcher picks his foot of the ground just enough to allow him to glide step toward first, and without lifting his knee as in his delivery to home, and throws the guy out.

Anyone who ignores the, by the book, (OBR pitching regulations) legality of this move should lose his certification, regardless of what coaches, managers, players or fans "believe."
Last edited by Jimmy03
Landon,
WOW! Do I agree with you. It is way too complicated and over thought. As you post earlier, if a RH pitcher opens 180 degrees and throws to first is a balk in my book (I am an umpire too) because as I see it (here comes the beating) he is beginning a motion home and according to the rules once you start your motion toward home you must complete it. Remember that both sides get the so-called 45 degree angle that they must stay within.

I'm not really sure what the "glide" step is that is mentioned, but I assume they mean stepping backwards with the front foot toward the base? I guess that's legal, and if ANY kid gets picked off with that move he deserves it.

As far as the other example you mentioned about the pitcher pausing in mid-motion is also an automatic balk.

I'm not sure if this was asked in either of the threads, but what would happen if we have a lefty pitching and does his normal leg lift and R1 is going on movement. Lefty just continues to spin but instead of throwing to second he plants his right foot and runs at R1. Is that a balk because he didn't a)disengage the rubber first b)actually throw to the bag as is stated in the rule.
quote:
Originally posted by jetman:
Landon,
WOW! Do I agree with you. It is way too complicated and over thought. As you post earlier, if a RH pitcher opens 180 degrees and throws to first is a balk in my book (I am an umpire too) because as I see it (here comes the beating) he is beginning a motion home and according to the rules once you start your motion toward home you must complete it. Remember that both sides get the so-called 45 degree angle that they must stay within.

I'm not really sure what the "glide" step is that is mentioned, but I assume they mean stepping backwards with the front foot toward the base? I guess that's legal, and if ANY kid gets picked off with that move he deserves it.

As far as the other example you mentioned about the pitcher pausing in mid-motion is also an automatic balk.

I'm not sure if this was asked in either of the threads, but what would happen if we have a lefty pitching and does his normal leg lift and R1 is going on movement. Lefty just continues to spin but instead of throwing to second he plants his right foot and runs at R1. Is that a balk because he didn't a)disengage the rubber first b)actually throw to the bag as is stated in the rule.


If you are an umpire, surely you are familiar with rule 8.00 in which it is clearly stated that pitchers, from the set or windup, may 1. pitch, 2. step and throw to a base, 3. disengage.

This rule does not discriminate by the "handedness" of F1.

What is so hard to understand about the written rule?

As we were taught in proschool, the "glide step motion" is not considered the beginning of a delivery.

See the Jim Evans video, "Pitching Regulations".
Jimmy,
I have been saying all along that what goes for one side goes for the other. I was just using the Lefty as an example of what is more likely to happen in a game. It's not very often where you will see a Righty spin to throw to second to drive back a runner to first. It is more likely for a lefty to do this because the runner is in full view the whole time.
I also understand that in the example it would be legal for the lefty to do so because right handed pitchers do it often when the spin and catch a runner off of second maybe trying to steal and are caught out in a pickle.
For the sake of instructing one who obviously doesn't have your experience, could you explain the glide move to me? I am always willing to learn and appreciate any and all insight. Thanks.
quote:
Originally posted by jetman:
Jimmy,
I have been saying all along that what goes for one side goes for the other. I was just using the Lefty as an example of what is more likely to happen in a game. It's not very often where you will see a Righty spin to throw to second to drive back a runner to first. It is more likely for a lefty to do this because the runner is in full view the whole time.
I also understand that in the example it would be legal for the lefty to do so because right handed pitchers do it often when the spin and catch a runner off of second maybe trying to steal and are caught out in a pickle.
For the sake of instructing one who obviously doesn't have your experience, could you explain the glide move to me? I am always willing to learn and appreciate any and all insight. Thanks.


RHP in set position. His first move is a step towards first in which his knee does not come up as in a delivery and his left foot clears the ground just enought to allow it to move to his left gaining distance and direction. This is all done in a continuous motion and is legal by rule.

One problem with it, and a reason it isn't seen often in the majors, (I do see it more often in the minors these days,) is that it is easy to lift the knee at the beginning and getting a balk called.

A second problem with it in the amateur levels is that there are some umpires who, like some coaches, do not believe the rules allow a RHP to step and throw to first. Proper training and an average level of reading comprehension can fix that.
Last edited by Jimmy03
In many cases, and in particular in rule 8.00, OBR tells both what can and cannot be done.

When it lists the three things a pitcher may do from either the windup or the set, it, in later sectons, lists what the pitcher must avoid when doing what is permitted.

Most of the time I run into a coach who wants to argue a rule, it is because he doesn't have the comprehensive knowledge of how rules work toghether, or he only read the first portion of the rule. The latter is most often the case when a coach wants to argue that a sub "didn't report."

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