Defensing the suicide squeeze

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Warren ... if you know a squeeze is coming, you would pitch out for sure ... but 90% of the time I've seen it used, the other team didn't know it was coming ... plus if I'm doing the squeeze, I am not going to have the batter going into her bunt position until the pitcher is in her motion ...

 

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If the pitcher is capable, a rise ball would also work. Hard to bunt that on the ground, and if she pops up for a fly out, then you can double off the runner.

 

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Warren ... if you know a squeeze is coming, you would pitch out for sure ... but 90% of the time I've seen it used, the other team didn't know it was coming ... plus if I'm doing the squeeze, I am not going to have the batter going into her bunt position until the pitcher is in her motion ...

Jeff totally agree, but game situation and how your pitcher is throwing against that team will usually tip there hand.

 

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Not to hijack my own thread, but can someone explain again what exactly is technically allowed and not allowed in terms of a catcher blocking the plate? I know the rules are inconsistently applied ... does it make any difference if she is blocking part of the plate and the baserunner still has a clear path to a part of the plate? Is the exact same rule applied at the other bases?

what ever the ump doesn't bust you for... seriously. We've been called out on both sides of this deal.

 

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Not to hijack my own thread, but can someone explain again what exactly is technically allowed and not allowed in terms of a catcher blocking the plate? I know the rules are inconsistently applied ... does it make any difference if she is blocking part of the plate and the baserunner still has a clear path to a part of the plate? Is the exact same rule applied at the other bases?

Blocking the plate or a base without the ball is only obstruction if it "impedes the progress of a runner."

Many runners make the mistake of altering their path or slowing down too far away from the fielder. It needs to be clear they beat the ball there and the fielder impeded them.

 

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So, based on what you're saying SoCal Dad, if the defensive player doesn't yet have the ball and the runner makes contact with her and/or otherwise goes out of her way at the last second to try to get around her, then there is obstruction ... but if the defensive player receives the ball before the runner arrives, she can block the plate/base, right? If the runner slows down or stops before she gets there because there is no place to go, then she can be tagged out without recourse, right?

If that's the case, in the instance of the suicide squeeze, the catcher should position herself in front of the plate because she in effect has nothing to lose. If she's not blocking the plate, pretty much the runner is going to score anyhow on this bang-bang play, right?

 

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If the pitcher is capable, a rise ball would also work. Hard to bunt that on the ground, and if she pops up for a fly out, then you can double off the runner.

Bingo! Especially at 14u and below. Not even necessarily a rise, but an "up pitch". If any of the three - coach, pitcher, catcher - suspect a squeeze might be on, call time and discuss! What's the game situation? Is the winning run on third? If the squeeze is successful, are there enough innings left to overcome that run? Quickly talk it out. There are two things your pitcher and catcher SHOULD be familiar and comfortable with: Pitch outs and bunt defense from a battery's perspective. They should practice these on a regular basis. Bunt PREVENTION should be a big part of that strategy. The BEST scenario is a pop up or foul ball, NOT a fair bunt.

First line of defense is to recognize the situation. Knowing the team's history is a good hint, but short of that, a red flag would be the situation where you're in late innings, a tied score, or the other team is down by 1 run. IMO, time would be better spent PREVENTING rather than DEFENDING. The pitcher should do her best at preventing a decent bunt. Low pitches are a batter's dream in this situation, whereas high pitches (at 14u and below) produce a high percentage of pop ups. In a squeeze, the batter MUST get the bunt DOWN - don't throw it in there for a ready-made bunt. The batter is thinking "I MUST bunt", so throw her a pitch she can't bunt very well!

Caveat - in upper age groups, or college level, you're dealing with a much tougher call. A batter will be expecting an "up pitch", and will probably have practiced this scenario many times - in which case you're talking bunt defense, like JoeA described. But at younger, less experienced age levels, prevention is the best option. IMO, a smart preventive strategy is an induced pop up followed by doubling up the runner.

P.S. - Most bunt teaching says start high with the bat and come down to the ball - lay the ball down. With the bat about stomach/waist high, how many kids can raise the bat up to their armpits, then come back down on the ball to lay it down? A nearly impossible split-second correction that very few younger batters can execute.

 

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Watching several college games last year & in the fall, when the squeeze was expected these were the pitches & locations I seen being utilized with great success: Drop ball hard inside, Rise ball hard inside & screw ball ball hard inside. And by hard inside I mean at the batters middle when squared up. Obviously college level & 14U & younger is different.

 

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After watching 4 years+ of DI college ball, I noticed that quite a few coaches give the kids a fair amount of discretion - as in make a decision yourself based on the game situation. Remember that the kids playing DI college ball are the best of the best from the travel ranks, and hitters will often surprise you by sending what seems like an impossible pitch hard into a gap (or even over the fence). I've seen it happen many times, and that is why those kids are batting on a DI roster. In travel ball, at say 12u or 14u, a screw thrown far inside nearly straight at a squaring bunter could get "turned on" by a proficient DI college hitter. Quite opposite outcomes from entirely different levels of play. But for typical travel ball, I saw that "up pitch" result in a pop up probably 90% of the time.

 

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Blocking the plate or a base without the ball is only obstruction if it "impedes the progress of a runner."

Many runners make the mistake of altering their path or slowing down too far away from the fielder. It needs to be clear they beat the ball there and the fielder impeded them.

So, based on what you're saying SoCal Dad, if the defensive player doesn't yet have the ball and the runner makes contact with her and/or otherwise goes out of her way at the last second to try to get around her, then there is obstruction ... but if the defensive player receives the ball before the runner arrives, she can block the plate/base, right?
Correct on both counts.

If the runner slows down or stops before she gets there because there is no place to go, then she can be tagged out without recourse, right?
That's a judgement call by the umpire whether the fielder impeded the runner prior to getting the ball. My experience is they won't call it if the runner eases up or alters their path early because the change is either not noticed by the umpire or they feel it was premature because the fielder still had time to get out of the way.

If that's the case, in the instance of the suicide squeeze, the catcher should position herself in front of the plate because she in effect has nothing to lose. If she's not blocking the plate, pretty much the runner is going to score anyhow on this bang-bang play, right?

Sounds like "in front of the plate" means blocking the plate and you are advocating it as a no-lose strategy. I guess you could look at it that way if it is close. Hopefully the fielder would get out of the way if there isn't a chance to get the runner.

 

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You can't just automatically give up the run at home on a squeeze.

Your bench has to be screaming suicide...You have got to work your pitcher, 1st and 3rd base to attack the ball and make that hard toss. The catcher needs to come out in front of the plate to receive the ball. As she is catching it into her glove she is collapsing and completely blocking plate. She can NOT block the plate and then catch the ball. She must be at least in the process of catching the ball when she is dropping into a blocking position. (the position I like was advocated by NUEMAN: down on both knees, Ball in bare hand inside the glove between her knees, feet on both sides of the plate, chin tucked for impact; let the runner come to you) The catcher does not have to give the runner a clear lane to the plate once she has the ball (HS). If she contacts the runner without the ball then she will be called for obstruction and the runner will be awarded the plate. Which is not that big of a penalty because she was going to get it anyway..... If the runner does not contact the plate because the catcher with the ball prevented that touch..The runner will be called out, the rally over and your the defensive team really psyched.

 

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Here's a link to defending various types of bunts. It pertains to baseball but can be incorporated for softball with slight modifications:

Situations Squeeze Bunt

Len