SS Coverage on bunt

In this situation you should make the 3rd baseman stay covering 3rd. You make it the pitchers responsibility to cover the whole right side of the infield. While the pitcher covers the right side the first baseman should cover the left side. Imagine the plate being split in half; pitcher is right side, first baseman is left.

Another solution is IF the the third basman does not field the bunt but the pitcher or firstman do, then after not flieding the ball he has turn around and sprint back to the uncovered 3rd base.

Of course the situation varies on the players you have and the runners speed. If you have a quicker 3rd baseman then maybe the 2nd option would be better for your team. Especailly if you dont have a pitcher with some good speed to not only field his position but also cover the 3rd basemans duties as well.

But if you have a good athlete on the mound then maybe the 1st opption is better.

Honestly the way I like more is the 2nd because your 3rd baseman coming in on a ball has a greater chance to get the runner out at firstbase if the ball is bunted to him, rather than the pitcher who usually has to rush more and sometimes make an offbalance throw.

The most important thing with the second option is that your 3rd baseman gets back to 3rd if he doesnt get the bunted ball. This bunt coverage requires a little practice for the 3rd baseman for him to remember to run back a cover the base. But all in all is the most effective way I have seen it done.

Hope this info helps you.

Batter shows bunt and the steal is on SS covers 2nd- 2nd base covers 1st. 1st and 3rd charge. pitcher fields his area in front of the mound. If the 3b doesnt field the bunt - he returns to 3B. If the 3rd basemen does field it, the catcher covers 3B, as he should be popping out and running in that direction of the bunted ball.

Was it a left handed hitter at the plate? If not, the 2B should be covering on the steal. If 2B is covering I'd have 1st stay home, 3rd charge, and short cover 3rd. If it was a lefty I'd have short cover on the steal, third stay home, and first charge.

Thanks for all the input.

I learned a lot.

More input is welcome too.


Okay, I realize that as the boys move up levels the coverage is typically with a lefty the ss coves and with a righty batting the 2nd baseman covers.

Do you make exceptions based on the pitcher on the mound or just stick with the percentages?


Thanks,



BIll

quote:

Originally posted by sef22:
Batter shows bunt and the steal is on SS covers 2nd- 2nd base covers 1st. 1st and 3rd charge. pitcher fields his area in front of the mound. If the 3b doesnt field the bunt - he returns to 3B. If the 3rd basemen does field it, the catcher covers 3B, as he should be popping out and running in that direction of the bunted ball.

That is exactly how I was taught!I know this is an old thread but I would like to hear others opinions on coverage as well.

The reason being is that today at my son's youth baseball practice,we were running infield drills and bunt coverage came up.I was told I was wrong by the head coach for telling the 2b where he should be.He is the head coach so I didn't reply and left it at that.I don't have a problem with him running his team a ceratin way but my son is being confused when I teach him to do it one way and his coach tells him another.I would just like to hear how other coaches teach their bunt coverage as I would like to find out if I may be wrong in what I'm teaching my son.

This brought up another question for me. Since catchers are taught to block the plate, can they do it if they are covering third and can any infielder do it?

Doughnutman as long as you have the ball you can block access to any base at any time. But if you don't have the ball then you have to allow access to some part of the base.

Where most people mess up teaching bunt coverages is they tell corner fielders to charge but what not to do when they are not the one making the play. What ends up happening is they stand there and leave a base unoccupied.

Always teach the corner infielders to go back to the base they left as soon as they know they will not make the play.

For example a somewhat hard bunt back to the pitcher and you have both corners charging and 2B is covering 1B. Why have the 1B stand there (possibly in the way) while the pitcher is waiting for the 2B to cover 1B? As soon as the ball is down the corner fielder should know if he has it or not. In the play above he takes the throw from the pitcher and the 2B peels off and is back up in short right field.

It's easy to practice and takes good communication by all players.

Coach2709,
Would you prefer the 2B to take the throw from the pitcher who has the play in front of him(2B) or the 1B who is running back to the base with his back partially turned to the play?I guess the same question can be asked about if the the 1B fields the bunt,would you rather have the pitcher take the throw or the 2B?

I also agree that the players need to be taught what to do if they field as well as if they don't.

Thank you for the reply!!Aloha.

Here are my random thoughts on bunt coverages:

With a runner on first:

1. If the pitcher does not field the ball he goes to cover 3rd.
2. If the 3rd baseman does not field the ball he goes back to his bag.

3. The 1b-man creeps in but only goes hard to play the ball if he truly must play the ball (right up the first base line).. if the pitcher can get it get back and cover your bag.

4. ss/2b coverage of 2nd is dependent on the hitter, the pitcher, and the pitch (in upper level ball). Also work with your mid-infielders not to vacate too soon; they need to slide until the pitch is not going to be hit their way; then bust hard to the bag, catch and tag.

5. A catcher that will take charge of the bunt situation is worth his weight in sunflower seeds (that would be a bunch of seeds guys!!!)

Some guys are going to teach it differently.

Thats how I have always taught it trojan skipper.

quote:

Originally posted by Sugi:
Coach2709,
Would you prefer the 2B to take the throw from the pitcher who has the play in front of him(2B) or the 1B who is running back to the base with his back partially turned to the play?I guess the same question can be asked about if the the 1B fields the bunt,would you rather have the pitcher take the throw or the 2B?

I also agree that the players need to be taught what to do if they field as well as if they don't.

Thank you for the reply!!Aloha.

Sugi I guess I didn't explain it very well. Trojan Skipper did a better job with what he put here -

quote:

3. The 1b-man creeps in but only goes hard to play the ball if he truly must play the ball (right up the first base line).. if the pitcher can get it get back and cover your bag.

Think of it like this - if the bunt is hard down 3B or back at the pitcher the 1B should be able to see this and stay / get back in plenty of time. If the bunt is soft out in front of the plate then he should see this and realize he can't get there first so have enough time to stay / get back. But if the ball is bunted hard down the 1B line then he needs to see it and realize he will be the first one to get there so he comes up hard.

We teach the 2B to always assume he is going to have the bag until he sees or is called off by the 1B and then he gets into backup position.

Also, if the 1B is making the play then it might become a get over play with the pitcher.

Basically if you have the guys talking (saying mine or ball or whatever you have them say) when they want it EARLY then it allows the rest of the defense to adjust.

Hope that makes better sense than what I put earlier.

Thanks for the replies guys.I recognize all your user names as well respected coaches/people here on HSBBW and appreciate your thoughts.I was allways taught to cover as sef22 stated but it's been alot of years since I've played and many things may have changed since then.Nothing that has been posted thus far backs up my coaches coverage so I'm questioning his strategy/coverage in my mind.
If any others have thoughts on this subject,please post your coverage.

Great thread guys. There are three things you have to stress imo.
#1 Players know their responsibilites.
#2 Communication is KEY!
#3 Practice , Practice , Practice

The best teams in defending the bunt are also the teams that are the best in executing the bunt offense. Why? Because everytime you are working on bunt O you are working on bunt D.

Its very important to rep this over and over and over. Players learn each other and they learn how to properly communicate while making plays. Some guys can get there sooner , some guys can cover more ground , understanding your team mates strengths and limitations is key.

You must communicate on the field and you must get an out.

trojan-skipper and Coach May, I have to ask this question of the both of you or anyone else that may want to respond. I would love to pick your minds here for a little bit in regards to why you prefer to have your pitcher cover third with a man on first.
I prefer to have my catcher cover third in this situation because I feel that he has more control of what is unfolding on the field. A quality catcher can better judge the speed of the play and would be a far more reliable fielder if the play gets to the stage of a runner trying to advance the extra bag on a throw to first. I think that it is a higher percentage play with the catcher in this position.
I don't like the idea of a pitcher sustaining an injury or possibly making a poor fielding effort or a bad throw to another bag.
I am offering up reasons why I prefer an alternative approach and I would love to here yours so that I can compare notes.

CoachO,

I teach it like Coach May (surprise!). The reason being is pretty simple...I like fewer moving parts and simplified responsibilities. The catcher's job is to direct the defense and control the plate area.With a runner on 1B, the 3B and P are charging. Whoever DOESN'T field the ball has 3B coverage responsibility.

Coach 0:
I have noticed a lot of colleges sending the catcher down; and I'm okay with that but for my level it is a very simple teach: 'if you don't get ball you get bag'

also, that kid pitching for me is probably going to play ss or 2b in another game so he is competent at covering bags and making tag plays (small school roster)...

also, do you really feel your catcher will make a better play on a bounced throw (catch and tag) than an infielder would? in my situation it isn't; those are the reasons I've considered sending my catcher down but I'm sticking with the simpler method.

I was trying to get some responses because I felt that some of the post were just going through the motions and doing what someone had just told them and not really knowing why.

I have no problem with any of your philosophy and fully appreciate what works for someone else. Glad to hear the reasons why they are done that way.

Thanks everybody for posting your coverages and especially the "why" you do it that way.Good discussions so far.The reason I joined HSBBW was to absorb/learn/discuss this type of reasoning.On the level that my son is at(youth baseball),I think keeping it simple is the key.The thought process and arm strength of a 8 year old is going to be far different than say a high school or college player.

How about some discussion on how you defend the bunt with a man on third,1 down or less.Let's say for example on a delayed play at the plate,squeeze bunt and a suicide squeeze.

quote:

Originally posted by Sugi:
How about some discussion on how you defend the bunt with a man on third,1 down or less.Let's say for example on a delayed play at the plate,squeeze bunt and a suicide squeeze.

What's the score/inning?

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:


What's the score/inning?

I'm open to hear all options.No particular score/inning but for discussion,let's say that the runner on third does not represent the tieing or go ahead run.

With a runner on third your going to be playing your standard bunt #1 defense , just like a runner on first or no one on base. If the runner breaks for home on a squeeze then the 3B should follow him home. First charges the 1B line , 2B takes off for first base to cover and SS has 2B. On a safety squeeze your going to play it straight up and look the runner back.

There is no defense for a perfectly placed bunt. Just like there is no defense for a solid base hit or a flair over the infields head. All you can do is practice and prepare to defend properly. Communication is key.

As far as who should cover 3b if the 3b has to field the bunt it will come down to wear the bunt was fielded and who is in the better posistion to replace the 3b. Sometimes thats the pitcher and sometimes its the catcher. Again by practicing defending the bunt in practice guys learn when to do what. If someone is in posistion to take a throw at 3b they are not going to take 3b.

That's almost exactly how I teach it Coach May. Only thing I do differently is have my SS cover 3B. My CF then comes in to take 2B to stop the guy who bunted the ball from getting to 2B easy. LF backs up 3B and RF backs up 1B.

Reason is there was one year we had several plays where a squeeze or safety squeeze was botched by the offensive team and the runner got back safe to 3B. I had a really good 3B but he wasn't fast.

Now if the offense misses the bunt the catcher can do the rundown back to 3B with the SS waiting for the throw. I don't think a runner has ever got back to 3B on a botch since.

If they lay the bunt down then you still have 3B, 1B and P all still charging like normal to make the play.

Coach2709,
That's what I was wondering about as far as who would have 2B if the SS went to 3B.I would want the SS at third unless he was sure there would be no play at home then I would think 2B.If the runner has a good jump and the hitter lays down a perfect bunt,than I would concede the run and have the SS at 2B.I like your coverage Coach2709.

Being that there may be play at the plate,the catcher has to stay reasonably close to home so he can make a play thus leaving the 1b,Pitcher,3B to field.Depending on how hard and where the ball is bunted and if the runner goes would determine who should be at where.Any others?

Thanks Sugi but I don't have the SS look for anything when the bunt is down. When the batter squares I have corners charge and MIF break to 1B and 3B automatically. The CF waits until the ball is bunted.

There are numerous trick plays you can run when you know the bunt is coming. Numerous things you can do to try and steal an out. And numerous things you can do to set it all up.

Runner on first - sac bunt is coming.
#1- Pitcher steps off and throws over. Did the hitter show bunt - did the runner extend early?
#2- Pitcher throws over with his best move. Look for indicators again.
#3- Fastball way off - catcher throws down to first base in an attempt to pick runner getting too much of a jump anticipating the bunt being put down. Look for indicators again.
#4- Fastball way off that can not be bunted - On the delivery 3B charges hard - SS charges hard - 2b charges hard - 1b charges and then busts back to 1b - lf takes 3b charging on the delivery - cf charges on delivery and takes 2b - rf ready to back up throw to 1b - the runner sees everyone charging and extends way too much or starts to vacated bag at 2b - catcher nails runner.

This play works very well with a runner on 2b in a bunt situation. When he sees both mif's charging as the pitcher lifts to throw he almost always gets too much. The cf breaks in behind him and 3b holds at 3b so he can not take 3b. The pitcher does and inside move and bingo almost all the time. Its takes some time to work down the timing but it can be a very effective pick off play in a critical situation.