Baserunning Question for you coaches...

Alright guys need a little help on this one...

Runner on 2nd, 1 out. Pop fly is hit to right field. Not specified whether deep right or shallow right, just right field pop up.

(1) Should the runner retreat back to 2nd to tag and attempt to advance to 3rd.

OR

(2) Should the runner advance 1/2 way in case the ball is dropped so he can possibly score.

I'm not looking for is the ball deep, shallow, just basic fundamentals here.

Our coaches are telling the kids to advance half way, that being on 3rd with 2 outs is no advantage. I'm going insane but I might be wrong. I've always been taught to try to tag and advance to 3rd.

Your thoughts....

 

I do know this...If you do tag and get to third with 2 outs there is always the possibility of scoring on a passed ball/wildpitch or a balk and there is always the infamous steal of home.

 

TakeMeOutCoach

 

Tag vs. Halfway

I agree with Eagles.... besides, if the ball is shallow and you're halfway, you might get picked off of 2nd. Always tag.

 

??????

There are a lot to consider. The runner, who is coming up in the order, many, many questions and situations. I have always told my son to listen to his coach. Right or wrong. If the coach is wrong that is on him. If you are wrong it is on you. If a player starts questioning a coach. The end is near. Most coaches have you tagging up. At the upper levels of play most runners gauge their distance from the bag while the ball is in flight.

 

Never get the first or third out at third base. So, it basically depends on the runner and the fielder. Is he a good runner or bad runner? Does the right fielder have a hose or does he have a weak arm? What part of the lineup in up at the plate? Is it early in the game or late in the game? Are you winning or losing? Alot of things goes into this decision. It's not an easy cut and dry topic. However, if your coaches are saying to go half way then that's what should be done. Also, just for the record, and I don't think many coaches know this either, but going "half way" doesn't always imply exactly half the way to the bag. When most coaches say go half way, it is subjective. If the ball is hit shallow, half way might be ten feet or so, if the ball is hit deep half way might be 3/4 the way to third base. So, don't just assume that the coach means exactly half way. Lastly, what your coach says is correct. It is better to have two outs with a runner on second than three outs any day. No reason to take a big gamble getting to third base when a base hit will score them anyway. It does, however, eliminate the passed ball, error, etc. that other people have mentioned. But just for conversation sake, I say it depends on the situation. And that's where players really need to be paying attention during infield/outfield and also must be aware of and taught what situations in a game warrant trying to get to third and which don't. If a player sees in infield/outfield that the right fielder has a noodle of an arm, then it's pretty safe to tag in that situation. However, if Ichiro is standing in right field you might not want to go far off second base, or if the HR king is on deck and due up next you probably don't want to take the bat out of his hands with a chance to put 2 runs on the board if he gets into one.

 

Excellent post.

Allow your sons coaches to coach. They are not 100% right, and they know this. They will make mistakes. However, even through the "bad" decisions, they will probably have more success if things they are trying to get thier players to do, aren't "undone" every minute away from the field by others. i.e. mom, dad, big brother, sister, former coach, etc. Many times there is more than one way to do things.

 

PutMeInCoach,.....you especially (with all the Championships you have won) should know the answer to this. This is a great post! Now, if the base runner was you, I wouldn't have you come off second base until the ball cleared the fence.

 

With all that speed

You must not have seen him chase down the beer truck!!!

 

Give me a pint

Where's the truck? I don't see it!!!!