runner on third, less than 2 outs, do you

Not enough information to truly say

Early or late in game
Power hitter or slap hitter
Speed on the bases or am I running
Score close or down / up several runs

Lot of factors go into this decision.

Yes, need more information.
However, something you can do is always try a pick-off at 3rd before the first pitch to the batter. You have nothing to lose. Throw one pitch, the batter puts it in play and gets a run. Have to do it before the first pitch. Lefties master the legal/balk move to first. All your righties should have a legal/balk move to 3rd. Third baseman breaks for the bag when the pitcher's leg starts downward.
Just a suggestion.

BaseballByTheYard

I detest pulling the infield in at any time

You never bring the infield in or do you just hate to do it?

WE WILL DO IT RARELY

If it's a squeeze suspected, pitch out of course. A safety squeeze or any sac bunt situation I call high inside fastball, just out of the zone, not a brushback per se, it is the easiest way to get batter to pop up a bunt and get DP or miss the bunt and pick anxious runner at 3rd. I have 3B hold runner until pitch and crash (both corners) if batter shows bunt...basic wheel play with SS covering 3rd if we get runner in a pickle. All this assuming you must get the runner at the plate in a close or tie late in the game. Outfield at LL depth of course if it's the winning run. I'm not a fan of keeping 3B at the bag and depend on P or 1B to field the bunt. If the middle infield is playing at regular depth it is almost impossible to cut down runner at plate on all but the most sharply hit balls. This defense changes from pitch to pitch based on situation and what offense is showing, but whatever you decide to do, you must start with the pitch selection to combat whatever you thing they are trying to do. Of course you can always practice the old throw it against the brick wall/backstop on purpose and have C/P cut him down on attempt to advance on a wild pitch. Our field has a round brick backstop that is famous for rebounding a properly thrown fastball straight back to the catcher. (hey, I know it's bush league but what else is home field advantage for?)

I almost forgot, if you trust your pitcher to throw strikes and it is do or die to not let runner score and if you are in the middle of their order....IBB to load the bases to set up force or DP and play 3 across with corners in and MI at DP depth.

Sorry, winning run, bottom of the 7th. Say, nobody out. How aggressive do you get on defense?

I'm bringing the infield in and probably an outfielder to be right at the bag at second. Then pitch inside to jam the hitter and hope for a one, two hopper somewhere on the infield. Check the runner and either nail him at the plate / third or go to first for the out.

Overall I'm with TR in the fact I don't want to play them in and I'll even give up a run to get the out at first to stop a possible rally starter. This is also assuming I can afford to give up a run without it hurting the overall effort for the game.

I expect to see a lot more pick plays at third and first. BBCOR is nationwide and when the coaches start being more aggressive on the bases to counteract the lack of hitting, the defense is going to adjust by backpicking runners on a routine basis. It should be fun to see when most coaches realize the difference and start to install more plays. The risk may now be worth the reward with the defense being more aggressive and they start throwing the ball around the infield more.

The old, Lets be conservative and maybe hold them to two this inning and get it back next inning will be a thing of the past. Runs will be precious.

quote:

Originally posted by meachrm:
Yes, need more information.
However, something you can do is always try a pick-off at 3rd before the first pitch to the batter. You have nothing to lose. Throw one pitch, the batter puts it in play and gets a run. Have to do it before the first pitch. Lefties master the legal/balk move to first. All your righties should have a legal/balk move to 3rd. Third baseman breaks for the bag when the pitcher's leg starts downward.
Just a suggestion.

BaseballByTheYard

This is a move not being taught nearly enough to HS pitchers.

In my HS days my move to first(rhp) was average. But, I spent a lot of time developing my move to third and worked a lot with the 3b on exactly what you described. Picked off 3 runners at 3rd my SR yr in ball games decided by 1 run. It is defintely not used enough and it shows in the 3rd to 1st moves

quote:

If it's a squeeze suspected, pitch out of course

Suicide squeezes are so rare that it would never cross my mind to suspect one.

which is exactly why it might work against you....it depends on the element of surprise, and if it's a count where a pitcher must throw a strike and executed properly, it is indefensible.

We execute approx. a dozen suicide squeezes a year, multiple times a games, even with 2 strike counts. In the last 4 years we have only failed 3 times.