Getting it right

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by teebob21

Moving from C to a good 90 at 3B here is IMO the hardest read in all of 2-man base mechanics. Coming forward from the starting position is the natural reaction. Moving to our right all the way to the baseline takes us so far from the rest of our responsibilities. I think its really easy to get straight-lined on this play, especially if the SS takes a hard look at 1B before deciding to throw late to 3B.

Andy and I had a very similar play this spring. I got straight-lined. I made a safe call based on what I could see. When the coach asked some very good questions, we got together and got it right. Andy had 100%-certainty information for me, and I was nowhere near 100% on my call.

I agree wholeheartedly with the rest of Steve's observations.

On this OP, we had runners on 1st and 2nd, and a force play to 3rd. Our starting position is off the right shoulder of F6; if F6 is squeezing the 5/6 hole, maybe off the left shoulder. My pre-pitch preparation reminds me to NOT move forward (into the path of a throw to the force at either 2nd or 3rd, or to create that straightline); on the force play, F6 is letting the ball take her to the better play 90% of the time, and that is my read. Not looking for a 90 to the force (were you thinking a tag play?), but my movement at time of the throw is parallel to the basepath no matter which way F6 throws.

This play is not an issue of cutting distance; the primary goal should by nothing but creating a better angle; move toward 3rd with that throw, get as close to 45 to the throw as possible. Move parallel toward 2nd if throw to 2nd or 1st, with the same goal in mind, a better angle (45 to 2nd, ANY angle to the throw to 1st.

I don't recall an F6 making a delay on this force, rather than an immediate play; again, I expect her to let the ball take her to her best play. Never moving in at all unless F6 is charging hard to a dribbler, and her only play is to 1st; even then still moving left behind her for a better angle.