Posted by: rql () on Wed Dec 11 10:55:27 2002

First of all, great site!
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> > This is a good question and I believe that Teacherman presented a good case for how to defend. I just want to add my two cents. The tendency on this particular play is to pull the 1st basemen off the bag toward right field (assuming a regulation 60ft LL base path). The runner at 3rd has no where to go but home, so defending home plate is important. But I also like to ensure that all the bags are covered, especially THE BAGS THAT CAN BE IMMEDIATELY ADVANCED TO.
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> > I have my defense cover this play as follows: Pitcher covers 1B, SS rotates to 2B. Leave 3B unoccupied, as the 3rd basemen comes down the line to back-up home. The 3rd basemen serves no value staying at 3B unless the runner inadvertently comes way off the bag in error. This is definitely a problem at AAA (10 year olds) and under, but the Majors kids all know better.
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> > I would also like to know the score. If I'm sitting on a 2 run lead late in the game, I'm not as concerned about the guy at third as I am about that tying run at 1st (and removing a potential force play at 2nd base with two down assuming my guy makes the catch and allows the runner at 3rd to tag-up and score).
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> > Some may argue that this is an unorthodox approach. But, to me, the score and situation has a lot to do with it. Unfortunately, trying to teach a group of 11-12 year olds how to defend this situation in multiple ways would only add confusion.
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> I don't like the 3rd baseman backing home. Its always the pitchers job to back up the base being thrown to. I don't think anyone, at any level, will think before the pitch, "Oh yeah. 1st and 3rd. Therefore on a pop up behind 1st I have to cover 1st (pitcher)or I have to back up home (3rd baseman). I believe the defense should be within the normal defensive scheme or confusion will result at just the wrong time. And, if the ball is dropped you'll wish you had 3rd covered.

>Your ideas are similar to many I heard,but 1st let me say this is high school ,90 foot bases.Once a pitcher throws a ball he becomes a infielder,do you agree,next my priority of coverage for an infielder is to a: get anything you can getB:cover your baseC;cut off when necessaryD:backupwhen all other criteria is met and if ball then takes you away from your bag your back to A,and someone else must cover your bag.If in this play both runners tag and run when ball is caught you have a long throw either way2nd or home,if no one on 1st and you throw home the runner can stop and go back to 3rd and man on 1st is easily in scoring position and you lose your force.If you throw to 2nd the runner can stop and trot back to 1st and no one is covering,runner on 3rd scores easily.Now if you follow the rule of drift towards the ball then the pitcher well go to 1st and cover that bag and be a cutoff man.I would position him on a foul ball in line with home but only a step or 2 off 1st.Now when the ball is caught the fielder must immediately turn and throw 60-8- feet to pitcher at 1st.this takes about 1.5 seconds at most in practice.If runner on 1st gets off at all he can be tagged out so this freezes him ,if runner on 3rd tries to score pitcher has ball and he is only 40foot off the 3rd base bag.Essentially this is a texas leaguer ball would you try to send a runner home tagging at 3rd on a caught texas leaguer,I think this defense freezes the runners where their at but not covering a base opens a hole in the armor.Every offensive play has a defensive one for the most part and vice versa.If ss and 2nd run after the texas leaguer to center and your pitcher doesntdrift toward the ball and cover 2nd hitter well get a double ,and if this happens with man on 2nd then runner can almost to 3rd before ball drops with no worry of being doubled off.If we cover the bases and be a cutoff as pitcher we well never need to make that long throw to home or 2nd in my play and the catcher can then be the back up to the ball to the pitcher.