Baserunning Question for you coaches...

higher level baseball judgement call

One out man and a man on second...fy ball to any outfielder the basebase runners first move is to go half way. The reason being if he the outfielder drops the ball the base runner has a chance to score. If the outfielder catches the ball we still have a man in scoring position (on secondbase)with one out.

I assume this is a high level outfield that can play. If the base runner feels he has a chance to tag and make it safely to third he can retreat back to second, after going half way first, and tag. He better make it because the inning will be over if he doesn't!

The only real benefit of him taking this chance is that he would be on third with two outs and a chance to score on a past ball or wild pitch.

If the runner goes half way and remains at second after the outfielder catches the ball for the second out he is still in scoring position and should be able to score on a base hit.

This is a high risk play with very little reward in tagging up. Most managers would prefer the runner not tag and stay in scoring position at second

 

ANOTHER BASE RUNNING SCENARIO...

Ok, great responses, and since a lot of coaches read these boards, lets throw out another baserunning scenario that oftentimes turns into a baserunning BLUNDER. It kills me to see a runner on 2B in a tight game with no outs, get thrown out at 3B on a routine groundball to short. So here's the situation.....

....... you are the runner at 2B, nobody on 1B so theres no force, less than 2 outs,,,,, sharp groundball hit to SS's right or left, so what do you (as the runner) do? Do you even care where the ball's hit or do you just break on contact?

Personally, always believed that if ball is hit to my left back toward 2B, you break for 3B,,,, ball hit right at me or in front, you get back to 2B. Obviously this is a situation that calls for instinct, can't wait for the coach to tell you what to do. So how and what do you other coaches teach in this situation?

 

briefly...

ANOTHER BASE RUNNING SCENARIO...

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I wanted to respond before I left the house, which I am about to do.

I teach base runners to be aggressive with secondaries, tracking the baseball. Ball in the mitt, I must be equally aggresive getting back.

My approach on second base is this - do everything I can to make GB's "at me or to my left". Which means the more ground I can cover, obviously, the more GB's that will be hit at me or to my left, thus I can advance. GB's that are hit in front of me. Short version(without hitting multiple scenarios) I teach my guys to track the baseball through the infield. They have to see the baseball in order to react. So as I "shut down" going to third on the ball in front, I make sure that I flip my feet so that my eyes see the baseball and what happens to it. The ball and fielders begin to dicate my response at that point.

Ball awarness is key to great baserunning.

 

At you or behind you

that is the general rule in this situation. After you have taken your secondary lead if the ball is hit in front of you freeze and see it through before you advance. If its hit at you or behind you advance. The exception would be if its a slow roller to ss or 3b then you can advance. If a runner breaks on a ground ball hit at him or behind him he will not be thrown out at 3b. But by breaking on a ball hit in front of you , you are giving them the option of throwing you out at 3b. At or behind you advance , in front of you see it through.