Base-running: Leads and Dirt Ball Reads
Base-running is one of the biggest momentum shifting moments in a baseball game. Therefore, a coach and player must know the ins and outs of this skill. Just the other day, while watching Clemson-South Carolina, a base-runner from South Carolina stole second and third on a dirt ball read on a passed ball from the catcher. The absolute hustle from the base-runner allowed the Gamecocks to put up a ton of runs in that half inning. Simply put, base-running is a want-to skill. As a player, you have to want to take the extra base. It is a skill that must be practiced and practiced. The better one gets at base-running, the more runs a team will put up on the board.
First Base:
Before the base-runner leads off of first base, there are a few things he must notice. First, the base-runner must track the throw from the catcher back to the pitcher. There have been times where a runner will take an extra base because of an errant throw where the shortstop and second baseman were not paying attention to back up the throw. The second thing a base-runner must pay attention to is the number of outs. This task also falls on the third base coach. Before giving the signs to the lead base-runner, in this case it is the runner on first base, the third base coach will signal the number of outs to the runner. Then the base-runner must signal back the number of outs to the third base coach so the third base coach knows the runner on first received his message. The third thing a base-runner must do is look for the signs from the third base coach. This will tell the base-runner if there will be a play put on. The last thing a base-runner must do is check for the defensive alignment. Depending on how a defense is played, a base-runner can take the extra base.
Now let's go over the primary and secondary lead of a base-runner on first base. The base-runner will lead off of the back edge of the base. The reason being is it will be harder for a first baseman to tag a the base-runner diving back head first into first base, but more on that later. The base-runner will lead off of first base with a left step, right step shuffle, shuffle, and extra step. The base-runner wants to get off far enough to possibly steal second base, but close enough to head first slide back into first base. The secondary lead is an additional two jump shuffles in the air, if the base runner is going to advance to a base, he will plant his right foot and take a crossover step with his left leg to go to the next base.
When diving or going back to a base on a pick off attempt the base-runner will have a few options. When going back to a base, the base-runner can crossover step back to the base with his right leg initiating the move back. The other option is for base-runners to initiate the move back to first base with a left foot step and then right foot step. The preferred amount of steps back is between two or three steps. If the base-runner has to take any more steps, then he should dive back. When diving back to first base, the base-runner should initiate the dive back by pushing off his right foot and diving to the backside edge of the base. This makes it harder for the first baseman to apply the tag on the base-runner. In addition to this, if the ball gets away from the first baseman, the base-runner will be in a straight line to second base because the base-runner is already in a direct line to second base.
Second Base:
At second base, the base-runner must keep track of the same variables as at first base. When leading off second base, there will be some differences from leading off of first base. It is crucial for the base-runner to always watch the pitcher no matter what base he is leading off of. When leading off of second base, the base-runner is going to go in a straight line backwards. There are two reasons why the base-runner will do this. First, this is to fool the depth perceptions of the pitcher and catcher, in hopes of an errant pick off throw from either of those two players. The second reason is to make the shortstop uncomfortable. By doing this, the goal is to push the shortstop to the left field lip between the infield dirt and outfield grass. If the base-runner does this, odds are the shortstop will get on the left side of the base-runner. This allows for the base-runner to know where the shortstop is and it takes away from the surprise of a pick off play. What would be even better, is if the shortstop will make noise while being on the left side of the base-runner. Now the base-runner can see and hear where the shortstop is at. When the pitch is about to be thrown, the base-runner will move back into line with third base and do his two shuffles and have his momentum land on his right plant leg. The same techniques for diving back or going back to the base apply to second base as they did for first base.
Third Base:
When leading off third base, it is crucial that the base-runner leads off in foul territory. If a base-runner is hit with a batted ball in foul territory, then the ball will just become a dead ball. The base-runner in the primary lead will be in an athletic stance becoming prepared for a walking lead in the secondary lead. As I mentioned in the last sentence, the secondary lead is a walking lead. The walking lead starts with the right foot, followed by three more steps, and then as the pitch enters the contact zone of the hitter, the base-runner takes one more step which allows all of the momentum in the walking lead to end up on his right leg.
When coming back to third base after the pitch, the base-runner must first not take his vision off of the throw from the catcher back to the pitcher. When the base-runner goes back to third, his first step back will be with his left foot in fair territory. This step back in fair territory eliminates the view of the catcher to the third baseman if the catcher wanted to throw a pick off throw to third base.
Dirt Ball Reads:
Dirt ball reads are critical momentum shifting moments for a baseball team's offense. One moment you have a runner on first, and one wild pitch or passed ball later the base-runner is now in scoring position. This completely changes the complexion of the inning. Here is an eye-opening quote for you from Gardner-Webb's Head Baseball Coach Rusty Stroupe, "90% of base-runners that go on dirt ball reads end up being safe." That quote should give you and your athletes the mentality that they should be expecting to go on every dirt ball read possible.
As I mentioned above, every base-runner should be expecting for a pitch to be thrown in the dirt. This allows the base-runner to recognize the situation. But for this skill to work, it MUST be practiced. There is no substitute for quality game-like repetitions in practice. The more quality reps a player gets, the better the performance in the game will be. As a coach, we do not want our base-runners to go on a dirt ball read if the catcher blocks the pitch right in front of him. The retrieval of the ball and throw is much easier for the catcher. Conversely, if the base-runner reads that the pitch will be a dirt ball, then the base-runner will beat the catcher's throw to second because the base-runner is a few steps ahead of the catcher. In other words, if the base-runner recognizes that the pitch will be a dirt ball read before the ball hits the dirt, then that base-runner should go. Situationally, with no outs a coach would like the base-runners to go on a dirt ball read. With one out, the coach should expect the base-runners to go on a dirt ball read. And finally with two outs, the base-runners have to go on a dirt ball read. As I mentioned above, none of these skills are possible without quality game-like repetitions in practice.
Blog Notes:
IMG First Base Leads: https://coachesinsider.com/baseball/videos-baseball/baserunning-1st-base-leads-img-academy-video/
Coach Chaffin 2nd Base Leads: https://coachesinsider.com/baseball/videos-baseball/baserunning-videos/baserunning-2nd-base-leads-with-butch-chaffin-cookeville-hs-tn/
IMG Third Base Leads: https://coachesinsider.com/baseball/videos-baseball/baserunning-3rd-base-leads-img-academy-video/
Coach Stroupe Dirt Ball Reads: https://coachesinsider.com/baseball/videos-baseball/baserunning-videos/baserunning-dirt-balls-with-rusty-stroupe-gardner-webb-univ/
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