Running Base on Balls

BoomerSooner · #1 (**permalink**) Sun May 15, 2005, 03:02pm

At what point can a batter begin down the path to first base on ball four? The reasoning behind this question is could a batter with a 3-X count take off as soon as he realizes the pitch will be a ball, i.e. a very wild pitch and with hopes of taking 2nd.

jicecone · #2 (**permalink**) Sun May 15, 2005, 06:26pm

Quote:

Originally posted by BoomerSooner
At what point can a batter begin down the path to first base on ball four? The reasoning behind this question is could a batter with a 3-X count take off as soon as he realizes the pitch will be a ball, i.e. a very wild pitch and with hopes of taking 2nd.

Smart batter.

Now, why do you believe the batter can't do this?

mbyron · #3 (**permalink**) Sun May 15, 2005, 07:58pm

I'd recommend leaving early only to a LH batter.

BoomerSooner · #4 (**permalink**) Tue May 17, 2005, 12:53pm

My thought was as right handed batter if the pitch was behind you you might as well take of ASAP, if anybody said anything you could say you were trying to avoid being hit.