Baseball Strategy: How to Stop the Run with Runners on First and Third

Most coaches just simply let the runner steal second on the basis of not making an error and/or giving up a run. This is not wrong, if this is the coaches strategy. But there are other defenses. As a youth baseball coach , you do not want to gain a reputation of giving a base away. If your catcher is not strong enough to make a quick throw to second (which many youth baseball catchers can't) you can always play a defensive play where the catcher snap throws to the pitcher who catches and turns glove side to make a snap throw to second. You may not always get the out and yes you probably will give a run here and there. But, you will definitely slow down the momentum of teams just taking second base for granted. This will have to be practiced, but it does work in slowing down the runners and coaches aggressiveness on base running (but you have to be willing to give up the run for the out).

If your catcher can make the throw..it's a coaching decision . What is more important? The out or the run? It may not always be the same. So sometimes you may want to throw the runner out and give up the run. Be sure in your practices your are not just giving the run away. Many times youth baseball players hesitate on base running, many times coaches are caught up in the game and do not instruct base runners as they intended. So you could get two outs. The runner stealing second and the running trying to steal home. The youth baseball player covering second(second baseman or shortstop) needs to know to go home with the ball after the play at second.

Aggressive! Think about your situation before you do this play. I have seen it work. You need to be aware of your game situation, how much you trust your fielders(practice it) and the ability of the base runner on third.

The pitcher throws the pitch the catcher looks as if he is throwing to second, but he throws to the shortstop(who needs to be moving in for a shorter catch and throw) and fires home to get the runner out from third base trying to steal home. You give up second base but get the lead runner out. If a team is being very aggressive on bases this can be a game changing play. It could change the whole momentum of the game. In a perfect situation, we would want the runner on third taking a big lead. In most cases he is because the other coaches think you are going to give them second base. If your catcher throws down(which it looks like you are doing , the base coach will many times send the runner, and/or the runner will be caught off guard. The pitcher must back up home on this play because if the coach or base runner catch on in the middle he could be caught in a run down and you still get the out.

This play is very aggressive defensively against aggressive base runners. It works with base runners on first and third if used properly.

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