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Do You Know THE MOST ESSENTIAL ELEMENT Of A Run Down Play?
BUT, if your turn your head toward third the moment everyone knows the steal of third is on: 1) you protect your face and 2) you can't see what's headed your way and, therefore, wouldn't flinch.
The relationship/distance between runner and the first guy with the ball determines which direction the runner gets run.
Nothing else.
Do it right. Make the runner commit and it's as automatic at lower levels as it is in the big leagues.
When you understand how dead a 'committed' runner is....you won't worry about an extra throw to change the runners direction.
Teach- love this discussion. The early break from a baserunner is always the one that poses the biggest challenge and gets the defense to panic some. Here is where I believe things could have been cleaned up some:
1) I have been taught 2 different ways on pick-offs as a SS and 2B: one where the 2B is taught to go directly into the baseline between 1st and 2nd cutting off that distance and the second being that the SS is the one going to the 2nd base bag. Spacing is so important in this situation and it clearly looks like Descalso was a bit late to the bag. Who was hitting? If Descalso keeps moving toward the runner and doesn't hold at the bag then he is able to close that gap some and commit hard toward the runner instead of having to feel like he needs to get rid of the ball quickly. He either was playing a step or two pull side or just got caught flat footed. If he was a step or two pull side, then he needs to communicate with Carpenter to go to the bag for the throw.
2) Coming up in the D'Backs system, this was pounded into our heads as infielders and we spent a ton of time working on the intent of the drill. In Spring Training, they would pull the fastest guys from minor league camp and bring them over to big league camp on pick-offs and rundowns day and would pay them $20 for every pickle they got out of! In order to practice this drill correctly, you need to have it set up this way. The veterans did not like it because that just made this drill require some effort! I have no doubt that they are taught this team fundamental the correct way...in Spring Training...but after that would bet that they don't work on it but maybe a couple of times, if that, during the season. The reality is, if you look at the guys involved in the rundown; Descalso, Adams, Carpenter, Kozma...they are younger players playing on the biggest stage, with one still learning a new position at 2B. Bad hops, kicked balls; ok, these are physical errors and going to happen. But this is a mental mistake and falls on the blame of each of the infielders. It's a double edged sword as well for a manager; try posting that you have the team fundamental of the day: Pick-offs and rundowns in the middle of the summer before batting practice and you lose your players quick! That is why it is important for the manager to set the tone early in the season, especially with a younger ball club.
3) The early break/first move presents the biggest challenge. Adams on the second throw is where the play goes bad. If he has more intent then all he needed was one more step and a tag.
4) Last- I never want my pitcher involved in a rundown!! There is a reason they call them "non-athletes"! Descalso got caught being a spectator allowing the pitcher to receive the final throw. You see the pitcher involved as Kozma is running the runner back to 1st. I also do not like the ball fake but it looks like he was waiting for the pitcher to pick his lane and not line up directly behind the runner. That is the good that you see with the couple of throws early in the play: the infielders have to pick a lane/side of the runner.
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1) I have been taught 2 different ways on pick-offs as a SS and 2B: one where the 2B is taught to go directly into the baseline between 1st and 2nd cutting off that distance and the second being that the SS is the one going to the 2nd base bag. Spacing is so important in this situation and it clearly looks like Descalso was a bit late to the bag. Who was hitting? If Descalso keeps moving toward the runner and doesn't hold at the bag then he is able to close that gap some and commit hard toward the runner instead of having to feel like he needs to get rid of the ball quickly. He either was playing a step or two pull side or just got caught flat footed. If he was a step or two pull side, then he needs to communicate with Carpenter to go to the bag for the throw.
2) Coming up in the D'Backs system, this was pounded into our heads as infielders and we spent a ton of time working on the intent of the drill. In Spring Training, they would pull the fastest guys from minor league camp and bring them over to big league camp on pick-offs and rundowns day and would pay them $20 for every pickle they got out of! In order to practice this drill correctly, you need to have it set up this way. The veterans did not like it because that just made this drill require some effort! I have no doubt that they are taught this team fundamental the correct way...in Spring Training...but after that would bet that they don't work on it but maybe a couple of times, if that, during the season. The reality is, if you look at the guys involved in the rundown; Descalso, Adams, Carpenter, Kozma...they are younger players playing on the biggest stage, with one still learning a new position at 2B. Bad hops, kicked balls; ok, these are physical errors and going to happen. But this is a mental mistake and falls on the blame of each of the infielders. It's a double edged sword as well for a manager; try posting that you have the team fundamental of the day: Pick-offs and rundowns in the middle of the summer before batting practice and you lose your players quick! That is why it is important for the manager to set the tone early in the season, especially with a younger ball club.
3) The early break/first move presents the biggest challenge. Adams on the second throw is where the play goes bad. If he has more intent then all he needed was one more step and a tag.
4) Last- I never want my pitcher involved in a rundown!! There is a reason they call them "non-athletes"! Descalso got caught being a spectator allowing the pitcher to receive the final throw. You see the pitcher involved as Kozma is running the runner back to 1st. I also do not like the ball fake but it looks like he was waiting for the pitcher to pick his lane and not line up directly behind the runner. That is the good that you see with the couple of throws early in the play: the infielders have to pick a lane/side of the runner.
Great discussion, guys!