Baserunning 101

BASERUNNING

Philosophy
1. Put pressure on the defense.
2. Be aggressive.
3. Disturb the Pitcher.
4. The threat of the steal can be greater than the steal itself.
a. Through baserunning, try to create more fastball pitches, slide steps, pitch-outs, infielders cheating and moving closer, Catchers sacrificing their blocking position and the infield forcing themselves to make accurate throws.

Technique to First

Groundball in the Infield or Pop-up
1 Run in a straight line to 1B.
2. The arms are at a 90º angle. The hands are in an “okay” grip pumping up to the chest and down to the hips.
3. The eyes are focused at a point 20 feet in front of the bag while running and then focused on the front edge of the bag after that 20 foot point has been passed.
4. Run through the bag; not to the bag.
5. Lean through the bag, chop off steps and check right for an overthrow.

Groundball through the Infield or Flyball
1. Run in a straight line.
2. When approximately 15 feet from the bag, bubble out, drop the left shoulder, touch the outer left edge of the bag with the right foot.
3. Take a straight line approach to 2B and make the Outfielder’s arm and proximity to the bag stop you.
4. To stop, chop off your steps, turn and run hard back to 1B.

First Base Baserunning

No Steal
1. R.H.P.- The primary lead is started prior to the Pitcher coming set.
a. Primary Lead
1. From the bag, take three steps toward 2B and adjust. (If a kid can run, let him take another half step.)
2. As the Pitcher lifts his leg and commits to the plate, shuffle out. By the second shuffle the ball should be in the hitting zone. Stop when the ball is caught and work back hard or freeze on a flyball \ linedrive or sprint on a groundball.
2. L.H.P.- The primary lead is the same as with the R.H.P. except:
a. Do not shuffle out until the Pitcher has reached the top of his release point and is committed to the plate.
3. Getting Back- Always get dirty!
a. Use an open step with the left foot and wheel around with the right side.
b. Vault forward and reach for the right field corner of the bag with the hand.

There is no reason why we should get picked off in a non-steal situation!

Steal
1. R.H.P.
a. Reads
1. Heels- Right heel lift = “Back” Left heel lift = Go!
2. Front Shoulder- Rotates out = “Back” Rotates in = Go!
3. Head- Goes toward 1B = “Back” Goes up = Go!
b. Technique
1. Open step, cross over, drive the right elbow to the rear and explode.
2. Start low and gradually rise to running position.
2. L.H.P.
a. Reads
1. First movement toward the plate = Go!
2. If the first movement is an obvious lean backward and straight leg toward the runner we read and get back.
b. After a Pick Off
1. Once we get picked off by going on first movement and it is warranted, we will find a point in his leg kick that determines when he is going to the plate. When the leg reaches that point — Go!
c. Technique- Same as R.H.P.

Delay Steal
1. We use the delay when the Middle Infielders are back and do no squeeze the middle on the throw back to the Pitcher. It is also used when the Catcher drops to his knees as he throws back to the Pitcher. In these instances the runner will:
a. Shuffle out as usual but when the ball is halfway to the plate he breaks toward 2B. This allows us to steal off of the Middle Infielders or Catcher instead of the Pitcher.

Early Steal
1. Use the early steal when there are runners on first and third.
2. Establish a primary lead and leave to 2B before the Pitcher comes set. If caught in the middle, stay in a rundown, do not run into an out! Run to the glove side of the infielder to disturb the throw. If the throw goes elsewhere, try to get to 3B.

Second Base Baserunning

Primary Lead
1. Take two steps back and then five walking steps toward 3B. Keep the eyes on the Pitcher!
2. Square the shoulders to the plate and take one side step toward 3B if the Middle Infielders run picks and keep runners close. Take two side steps if they do not.
3. As the Pitcher comes set, begin to creep in toward the Pitcher to get the body inside the baseline.

No Steal
1. Take a primary lead.
2. Get an idea of the Pitcher’s looks and timing in order to be inside the baseline as the pitch is being delivered. Shuffle out during the delivery and read.
3. With less than two outs, advance on a ground ball only if it is hit to the left side of the runner after the shuffle.
4. With less than two outs, do not tag up on a flyball unless it is certain that the runner can advance.

Steal
1. Take a primary lead.
2. Creep a little quicker to the baseline, cross over, drive the right elbow to the rear and explode.
3. We must be aware of the Pitcher’s tendencies. Have an idea of looks and timing in order to get the best possible jump.

Third Base Baserunning

1. R.H.P. (Stretch)
a. Same as the first base lead except that this lead is taken in foul territory.
b. As the Pitcher comes to the top of his release point, square the shoulders to the plate and take two or three hard steps toward the plate. Stop with the right foot forward. Read ball in dirt or downward contact on the ball if it is an “automatic” situation (1 or 2 outs) or if the ball is caught, spin back into fair territory and get back by running toward the Third Baseman’s glove.
2. R.H.P. (Wind Up)
a. When the Pitcher is off of the rubber, we are only 1 or 2 steps off of the bag.
b. When the Pitcher steps back, we begin walking toward the plate. From here the technique is the same as when the Pitcher is in the stretch.
3. L.H.P. (Stretch)
a. Same technique as with a R.H.P. in the stretch except that the walk to the plate begins on the leg lift instead of at the release point.
4. L.H.P. (Wind Up)
a. Same technique as with a R.H.P. in a wind up except we are more aggressive in order to set up the squeeze and steal of home situations.

Steal of Home

1. Works best when there is a L.H.P. who does not check the runner and there is a right- handed batter at the plate.
2. As a safety check, try to see how far we can get down the line while the Pitcher is in his leg lift. If we can get close to halfway down the line by walking; we can score.
3. Walk forward on the Pitcher’s step back and sprint when he rotates away from the runner on the leg lift.
4. Vocal communication to the batter is “Kill, Kill, Kill!”

Ball in Dirt Baserunning

1. First Base
a. Read the off-speed pitch out of the hand while shuffling out. Immediately focus on home plate and read trajectory, if low in dirt— Go!

2. Second Base
a. Same as when at 1B

3. Third Base
a. Be aggressive and ready to take advantage of a ball that caroms outside the hitting circle.

4. Offensive “E-Z” call
a. When the situation dictates that taking advantage of a ball in dirt is not worth the risk of possibly being thrown out, we advance only on passed balls or wild pitches that present no risk.

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