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Hit and run, run and hit.

On the hit and run your stealing the base. The hitter is trying to hit behind the runner. The batter is told to hit anything but, bounced, way out of the zone where he can't reach it, or over his head.

On the run and hit your stealing the base. The hitter has the green light to hit a pitch he likes. But to hold off if he doesn't like it.

In one situation your protecting the runner and trying to hit behind the runner if you can. In the other your still hitting even though the runner is stealing the base.
It was my belief that the run and hit was used as a steal situation but the hitter needed to swing at a fastball strike for some protection. The breaking ball/offspeed was slow enough that the Runner should be able to take the base without protection. And the fastball off the plate the runner was on his own, hopefully throwing off the timing of the catcher enough.
Now I know the hit and run is all about protecting the runner, but I thought the run and hit had some fastball protection.
Our terminology is:
hit and run: runner is stealing, hitter must swing unless ball is in the dirt or way high
steal and green: runner is stealing and the hitter may swing away if he gets a pitch to drive (green light to swing)
steal and take: runner is stealing, hitter is aggressively taking the pitch, not squaring around and not shutting down early
I agree with Coach May. However, my personal opinion and what I expected out of my players is that if I gave the run and hit, they had to look opposite for a right handed hitter and hit the ball if it were a strike. Otherwise, they could take an inside strike or swing if they liked it. The runner was stealing and knew that the hitter had the hit option. You might ask what that matters. Well, we covered steals in various ways. Run and hit, straight steal with the batter showing bunt and taking, run and bunt ... In the conference our HS is in, the run and bunt was real big for a few years.
Ah, one of my favorites. I like run and hit. Here's my thinking.
1. If the runner needs protection he shouldn't be running.
2. If the ball is a ball, why am I going to make the hitter swing at something he can't do anything with?
3. I don't like giving away strikes,stolen bases or especially outs-all likely if my hitter HAS to swing.
4. How many can go oppo at will under pressure?
I believe run and hit to be the better option. Protects both some.
Originally Posted by freddy77:

How common is it to have a specific sign for run and hit?  I don't.

 

I do. For me the difference is not only green light vs. hit anything within range. It's also a sign that the base runner is getting as good a jump as he can with the run and hit (timing out the pitcher) and he's going to delay just enough to be sure the pitcher is going home before taking off.

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