How to handle fake steal cat/mouse dance

[brandda]

Originally posted by Michael Taylor
Most coaches will tell the catcher to get the ball back to the pitcher ASAP because once he is back on the rubber the runner has to return to third. Just lean down and tell the catcher "you know son, if your pitcher has the ball, that runner's not going anywhere". He'll figure it out.


This isn't exactly correct. Getting the ball back to the pitcher only makes him decide what to do. If they get the ball back to mound and he decides to take off that's legal. They can just ignor him, pitch and let him be called for a 7.13 violation. But it doesn't make him return at all.

If he gets called for a 7.13 then he gets sent back. That qualifies as making him return to me.