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Every play is yours - consistency counts.
When these tips for baserunning first appeared on WebBall it was the only page we offered for taking leads and stealing bags. Even with all the added tips on other pages, this remains (with updates) your short course for advancing 60, 70, 80 or 90' at a time.
Leading Off
- Side step low to the ground
- Left foot slightly behind for a quick move back.
- Tell-tale throw from RH pitcher - watch right heel (he can't turn and throw without lifting it.)
- Tell from LH - watch left shoulder (he can't throw without pulling it back)
- Max lead:
- 3 full steps, for dive back;
- Min lead:
- 2 steps; 2 and a bit is easiest for cross-over step back
- At first...
- Lead off inside base path to minimize apparent lead (parallax).
- At second...
- Lead-off well behind base path, for an easy turn at third.
- Use your radar to detect fielders' positions - not just for pick-off attempts but to know if a line drive is catchable.
- At third...
- Lead off in foul territory, come back to the bag in fair.
Stealing 2nd
- Pivot on right, cross-over left, eyes to the target bag.
- Couple of short steps, then stride, as low to the ground as possible.
- Glance back once after 3-4 full strides or on the crack of the bat.
- Listen for coach.
Extra Bases...
- Always be ready to go for two.
- Take a wide arc before you reach the closest bag (first or second).
- Come across inside corner (practice with chalked bag).
- Preference is left foot on the bag for tighter cornering, but don't break stride - either foot okay.
- Line up early on next base (shortest, straightest run).
Hit and Run
- Go on pitcher's point-of-no-return
- Arm in line with head, or front leg crosses plane of rubber. (The batter's job is to protect you.)
- Check that the batted ball hits the ground.
Sliding In
- Pop-Up Slide
- Everything happens smoothly and safely.
- Arms shoot up over head as you 'sit down' - one leg tucked under, one leg out front, slightly bent.
- Plant lead foot on bag to pop-up, ready to go an extra base on an overthrow.
- Alternate... the arm hook slide
- Come in beside the bag, grabbing on with your arm.
For detailed, simple-to-follow sliding instructions click here.
SIgns
- A sign means what it says, it is NOT optional.
- WE keep it simple - signs for special situations only, a decoy for everything else.
- Essential calls:
- steal, bunt, hit-and-run.
- A regular indicator right before to flag the sign
- a wipe-out indicator to remove a sign, and
- a special indicator which turns the normal call into a special call - for example the steal becomes a delayed double steal; the bunt, a squeeze bunt.
Squeeze Play...
- When to try it...
- Follow the basic tenet - 'play for a win on the road, a tie at home'.
- Consider a squeeze when you're within a run of tieing at home (bottom of late inning), or tied on the road with a chance to take the lead (top of late inning).
- Read the pitcher...
- His eye pattern
- His loading up on the back leg
- His push-off heel
- His front leg kick/slide. (It's exactly like batting, get the timing down.)
- Change the lead-off angle.
- Normal lead from third is in foul territory - to avoid getting hit in fair territory by batted ball (line drive).
- But on a squeeze bunt or straight steal home, move in towards the line, maybe risk a leg in fair territory.
- Why? Parralax - being closer to the pitcher will make you seem closer to the bag - not as big a space showing.
- Pitcher's best defense...
- A high fastball - tough to bunt without pop-up (fair or foul) and gives catcher a clear view for clean catch, step to plate, and tag.
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