vacating on the steal

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I know we're all watching the debate, but anyone watching the Cubs/Dodgers game, too, could have seen a perfect example of a point I've been trying to make for years. The Dodgers ran a hiit and run play with a lefty at the plate. The hitter hit an outside pitch to the shortstop position about 15 feet from second base. Instead of turning a double play, or at least getting the hitter at first, the shortstop, who had vacated his position early to cover the bag for the steal, had to run off the bag to try to field the ball. He reached with his bare hand and knocked it down. Both runners were safe. In baseball and in softball, if the player who has responsibility for covering on the steal plays close enough to the bag to get there in time if he/she leaves after the ball crosses the plate, then he/she will be in position to make a play if the batter hits the ball to him/her.

In other words, don't leave to cover the bag until the ball has crossed the plate. That means you have to cheat up and over a little or a lot depending upon how quick you are. But you can't just vacate the entire position simply because a runner takes off.

 

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With a runner at first, why should you assume the runner is stealing and cheat toward the bag?? Now you have left a larger hole for the hitter to punch a ball through.
A perfectly executed hit and run is virtually impossible to defend, but it is probably efective less than 10% of the time. So why would I cheat my middle infielder to prevent a steal, and increase the percentage of a base hit. I'll leave them play straight up, and take my chances.

 

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Lady Knights: How can she get to the bag in time to take the throw on a steal if she doesn't cheat a little? Are you saying she can play back (straight up) and wait to see if the ball is hit before moving to cover the bag and still make it there in time if the runner goes? This I would like to see.

 

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Even if the SS plays straight up she is only 30 feet to the bag, the runner has to go 60. I like my chances of my SS beating the runner to the bag. Yes I do feel she has to break toward the bag as soon as she hears that the runner is stealing. As I stated earlier, a hit and run is successful less than 10 % of the time. Is she plays straightup, she will be able to get to 50% or better, of any ball hit her direction. I cheat her toward the bag, just to prevent the steal, and I have decreased the % that my SS will be able to make a play on any ball hit in her direction by as much as 50%. Play them straight up, bust it to the bag on the steal, and pat the other team on the back if they successfully execute the hit and run. Cheating toward the bag on the hit and run is a krap shoot. IMHO

 

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I agree with Lady Knights here. There is no way in the world a SS is getting to the bag if she doesn't leave until the ball crosses the plate. She would have cheat so far as to be way out of position, meaning she would have abandoned the position for every single pitch.

Like Lady Knights, I'll take my chance every time on a steal that the pitch will not be hit to shortstop, in order to increases my chances of an out on the steal. We know for certain there will be a play at second on the steal unless the ball is batted. We also know there is only a slight chance the ball will be swung at and hit to SS on the pitch. I'm not willing to take a risk that we won't be able to make a play on a runner we know we have a shot at getting for the small chance a ball will be hit to shortstop.

 

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I actually favor my SS playing a step or two toward 3rd in these instances. I am able to start the SS towards 2nd a bit earlier and still have her in the hole when the pitch crosses the plate, but her momentum is already started to 2nd. This works well to bait a hitter and has provided many double-up opportunities.

It's a gamble, just like everything else. LoL

 

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Wow.