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Wondering what the majority teach or prefer? Rocker step off the base or track start style?
I'm in the track start camp. A few years back, was at a coaches clinic in Perrysburg and a fairly prominent D1 coach was asked that question. (Don't recall which school, but the answer stuck with me) Her answer was track start. Reason being is the runner is guaranteed to be closer to the next base at the start of the pitch than they would be with a poorly timed rocker step. She did concede a perfectly timed rocker step has an advantage, but most players can't do it consistently enough.
After observing a lot of games, I see the majority of runners using the rocker step aren't where they need to be at the release of the pitch. This applies even at the college level. More often than not, they don't even start moving until the ball is released and often most of the way to the catcher. If that's the case, then think about where they really are? Behind or directly over the base. With the track start, they are at worst 57 feet away.
Another related pet peeve of mine while I'm at it.
The lackadaisical steps from the base using either style. I believe they should be going all out right from the start on every pitch with the thought of scoring from 1st on any gap shot. 1-2-3 out, and right back with the same urgency if the ball is not in play. Of course if you hustle out and stroll back, good catchers love that. Hustle out, hustle back, you give good catchers worry lines because the runner is far off the base, but not far enough to pick off because they are hustling all the way every time. Usually draw a throw eventually, and if done right you'll never (or very rarely) get picked off and sometimes get a free base or 2 on a bad throw.
So next time you are at a game, watch some runners and see what they are doing. I'll be interested in hearing your observations and of course welcome discussion on philosophies on this in general.
I'm in the track start camp. A few years back, was at a coaches clinic in Perrysburg and a fairly prominent D1 coach was asked that question. (Don't recall which school, but the answer stuck with me) Her answer was track start. Reason being is the runner is guaranteed to be closer to the next base at the start of the pitch than they would be with a poorly timed rocker step. She did concede a perfectly timed rocker step has an advantage, but most players can't do it consistently enough.
After observing a lot of games, I see the majority of runners using the rocker step aren't where they need to be at the release of the pitch. This applies even at the college level. More often than not, they don't even start moving until the ball is released and often most of the way to the catcher. If that's the case, then think about where they really are? Behind or directly over the base. With the track start, they are at worst 57 feet away.
Another related pet peeve of mine while I'm at it.
The lackadaisical steps from the base using either style. I believe they should be going all out right from the start on every pitch with the thought of scoring from 1st on any gap shot. 1-2-3 out, and right back with the same urgency if the ball is not in play. Of course if you hustle out and stroll back, good catchers love that. Hustle out, hustle back, you give good catchers worry lines because the runner is far off the base, but not far enough to pick off because they are hustling all the way every time. Usually draw a throw eventually, and if done right you'll never (or very rarely) get picked off and sometimes get a free base or 2 on a bad throw. So next time you are at a game, watch some runners and see what they are doing. I'll be interested in hearing your observations and of course welcome discussion on philosophies on this in general.
