Cutoffs and Relays: Verbiage and What to Do
A cutoff and relay system is one of the most important aspects of a baseball team defense. This system is supposed to turn a negative situation into a more positive one by forcing the opponent's offense from taking too many bases. A team who is consistent and successful with their cutoff and relay system will prevent more runs from scoring than not. A team who is not consistent, will cause a lot of runs to scoring. Today I will be discussing what is expected of a basic cutoff and relay system.
The Goals of a Cutoff and Relay System
There are two goals of a cutoff and relay system. The first goal is to prevent more damage from occurring. The second goal is to always keep the double play in order so that the defense can get out of a rough situation quickly without the expense of taxing a bullpen.
What to Do
Infielder Responsibilities
On a standard cut or relay, the goal is to get the ball back in as quickly as possible to prevent extra bases for the opponent from occurring and to keep the double play in order, so that the pitcher can get two outs for the price of one pitch on a double play. On a standard single without a runner on second or third base, the shortstop will go out to be the cutoff man for plays to left field or center field. In this same scenario but the ball hit to right field, the second baseman will go out and become the cutoff man. With a runner on second base and a single has been hit to left field with a potential play at home, the third baseman will become the cutoff or relay man. With a single to center or right field, the first baseman will be the cutoff man. When the third baseman is the cutoff/relay man, the shortstop will be covering third base while the second baseman covers second base. When the first baseman is the cutoff man, the shortstop will be covering second base while the second baseman is watching the trailing runner and to make sure he touches first base.
The cutoff man needs to understand a few things when he goes out to receive the baseball. The cutoff man should understand the arm strength of the outfielder, the momentum of the outfielder, the wind conditions, field conditions, and where he is lined up in relation to the potential play. On a strong throw, the cutoff man will step back to take the momentum of the baseball and have both thumbs together for a quick transition to create a strong throw. On a weak throw, the infielder will step up with the arm side foot, plant the arm side foot, catch the baseball with the thumb to thumb fundamental and either make a strong throw to where the play will be made, or run the ball back in. The trailing cutoff/relay man will be lining up the cutoff/relay man so that the throw will be on line. The catcher has the final say on where the ball will go because he has the best vantage point of the whole play.
Outfielder Responsibilities
The role of the outfielder is a lot simpler than the infielder. With that being said, the outfield plays quite possibly the biggest responsibility for a successful cutoff or relay. The basic goals of the outfield is to get to the ball as quickly as possible and to have a strong throw that can be either cutoff, relayed, or go through. The outfield must remember that they are the last line of defense. If the ball gets by an outfielder and not backed up then the opponent offense can take more two to three bases which will not allow for the double play to stay in order. When throwing the baseball, the outfielder is aiming for a throw that will go through the forehead of the cutoff/relay man. This ensures a strong throw that can be cutoff, relayed, or gone through. A cue that I use is to throw through the logo on the hat.
Communication
There are a few terms that can be used for success with a cutoff or relay. The first term is "cut." When the word "cut" is said, the cutoff/relay man will catch the baseball and run it back into the infield. When the word "relay" is said, the cutoff/relay man will catch the baseball and throw it to a base. To tell the defense where to throw the ball, the catcher will specify by saying 1 (1st base), 2 (2nd base) 3 (3rd base) or 4 (home). An example of this is the catcher saying, "Relay 4!"
In conclusion, a successful cutoff and relay system can prevent a huge inning from happening, and put momentum back on the side of the defense if the pitcher gets a quick double play assuming that the double play was kept in order. The key with any defensive success in baseball is with communication. The ability to communicate and play catch well will determine the success of the cutoff and relay system. There are other ways to have a cutoff and relay system, but without the principles of strong throws, catching the baseball properly, and communication, the system's success will diminish.
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