Mechanics review

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

I disagree. It is completely age/player dependant, but in my experience the preponderance of players that walk, will round 1B and return or just stop on 1B. The most likely play will be a throw to F3 in an attempt to pick off the runner that is rounding 1B. A very small minority of players that receive a base on balls will continue to 2B - and those are usually with a runner on 3B.

I cannot recall the last time (any age, kids to HS) I've seen a pickoff attempted after a base on balls. That said, moving just 2 steps off the A position leaves you in a great place for that play should it develop, as you've said, but in a problematic place should the play go to 2nd. Moving further (halfway to B, say) decreases your situation for that rare play at first only a very very little bit, while vastly increasing your situation for the possible play at 2nd.