Chapter 7. Second Baseman Play

The second baseman has to be the most agile, acrobatic individual on the ball club. No other player, in carrying out his assignment, need shift direction as sharply, quickly and as many times as the second sacker. It's "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick" every moment.

Our second sacker is the key to the double play, one of the most powerful defensive maneuvers in baseball. That's why old-time sportswriters often referred to him as "guardian of the keystone."

We're going to concentrate here on the footwork used to make the DP from this strategically important infield position. Primarily, three things are involved: Get to the base quickly so the shortstop or third baseman doesn't have to hold up his throw. Tag the base while in possession of the ball. Make a strong throw from a point away from the base.

The third item, of course, is the toughest, although the professionals make it look easy. The professional can use six or more different steps to make the DP. The amateur should learn at least three.

The spot where the shortstop fields the ball generally tells the second baseman which step he must use; it indicates whether he is to go "inside" the diamond to make his throw, "out" (toward center field), or "back" (toward right field).

To go "inside," the second baseman puts his left foot on the bag and propels his body into the diamond as far as possible. Naturally, he lands on his right foot. As he does so, he shifts his weight to that right foot, then strides left toward 1st and makes the throw.

To go "back," the second baseman puts his left foot against the bag. After catching the ball for the put-out, he pushes back into right field, landing on the right foot, stepping left for the throw.

He can go "out" by placing the left foot against the center field side of the base; pushing toward center after the catch, landing right and stepping left to throw.

Some managers first teach the second baseman to step on 2nd base with the right foot and to throw off that foot.

Fig. 30	Fig. 31
Fig. 32
Second baseman uses several combinations of steps to make a put-out and relay of ball to 1st for DP. Above left to right are steps used to go "inside", "back". Sketch below shows how player goes "out" to avoid runner.

This may be alright if the ball arrives at 2nd long before the runner. If it's going to be close, however, the second baseman will often find the runner between him and 1st, blocking both his vision and throw. In addition, he's apt to be knocked down by the runner.

All of these moves should be part of a continuous motion. If, however, the second baseman gets to the base and the shortstop fumbles the ball, he can straddle the base with the left foot on the 1st base side and the right foot on the opposite side. (Like the first baseman, he has to "know" where the base is while awaiting the throw.) When he catches the ball in this position, he can touch the bag with the inside of his left foot and throw off the right. If the runner is sliding (as he should be on a close play), he can raise the left leg to "let the runner in." With the base between the runner and the throwing foot, the second baseman avoids being spiked, or otherwise injured. (When there's no opportunity or need to throw to 1st, second sacker can play the base as the first baseman would, pushing toward the throw.)

But, you ask, when does he make which move?

As noted the fielding point is usually the tip-off. If the ball is fielded well inside the imaginary line between 2nd and 3rd, the second baseman can best make the play by going "inside." If the ball is fielded deep, he should go "back" or "out." If the ball is fielded close to the line, it's optional. The throw, too, sometimes directs the move. If it's wide to the centerfield side, the second baseman may be forced to go "out." If wide to the inside, he cannot very well go "out" or "back."

Actually, we've discussed last things first in describing these steps. One must not overlook the importance of getting to the base to receive the throw. If anything, the young second baseman should do his best to be at the base waiting for the toss. He must also be sure to avoid making his put-out "on the grass," as the umpires say. He's got to have part of his body touching the base when he catches the ball.

"THROW WILD TO THE GLOVE SIDE"

The first throw is as important as any other phase of the double play. It should be aimed at the glove shoulder. As the pros say-"If you must throw wild-throw wild to the glove sidel" That means that if the infielder has to hurry, he should "hurry" to the glove side, where his teammate has a chance to get the ball. If the ball goes to the barehand side, the receiver rarely can make the catch. Every fielder must keep in mind that it is of utmost importance to put out the lead runner. Be sure of that one! Look on the relay to 1st for the second out as a bonus. When close to the bag, the second baseman should use an underhand toss with a little "mustard" on it (force). Again, like the first baseman, he should "show the ball" by keeping the throwing hand away from the body.

If 2nd base is only a step or two away, the second baseman should wave the shortstop off, tag the base, then throw to 1st.

OTHER DUTIES

The second baseman has specific assignments on infield flies, bunts, steals and extra base hits. While all of these responsibilities are touched on in other sections of the book, it might be well to go over them here.

The second baseman is to field all fly balls from short center to the short right field fence and everything to the mound in front of his normal field position. On any fly ball deep to the area described, he starts immediately, determined to catch the ball. That's his territory. He never gives lip on the ball unless an outfielder calls for the catch] The outfielder always has the "right of way" as he is in a much better position to catch the ball, view the situation in the infield and make a throw.

It is also most important for the first baseman and second baseman to understand that balls directly behind the first baseman are the second baseman's responsibility (unless, of course, the first baseman need only take a few steps back to make the catch).

After catching a "pop fly" with men on base, the infielder must quickly get into position to throw in case a runner breaks. He must be careful, however, not to be bluffed into throwing the ball unnecessarily. The best practice is to catch the ball, hold on to it and run rapidly to the mound. (See Chapter 18.)

STEALS

Protecting the bag against the first-to-second base steal is another big job for the second baseman. With a runner on 1st, it's best if he shortens up his position, so he can get to the base ahead of the catcher's throw. If the batter hits consistently to right (regardless of whether he is right or left-handed) he should have the shortstop take the throw, wait for the ball to pass the batter, then race to his right to back up the shortstop.

When covering the base on steals, the second baseman straddles the base, facing the catcher. His toes are even with the corner that points into center field.

Many beginners form the bad habit of standing to the home plate side of 2nd to receive the catcher's throw. Even if the throw is good, he will not have much of a chance of getting the tag on the runner from this position.

Young second basemen are also inclined to move into the diamond toward the throw if it seems to be low enough to hit the dirt. This again is a mistake. He should hold his position behind the base. If the ball bounces with any force, he will have a chance to tag the runner. Like any other fielder, however, the second baseman should forget the base and go after the ball if (a) it's obvious that the runner has the throw beaten, or (b) the throw is wild.

Baseman should always leave corner of base open when awaiting ball to make tag on approaching runner. At right, second baseman defends against steal and awaits throw from RF.
	Fig. 33	Fig. 34

The catcher can learn a great deal about hitters by watching their foot movements. Does the batter step away from the plate when he strides forward for the swing? If he does, pitch him outside. Does the batter stand too close, or too far away? Is he deep, or up in front of the batter's box? The catcher should look for other clues too. Can the hitter get "around" on the fast ball? Does he wear glasses? Does he have a bad wrist? Is he a nervous hitter? Where does he hit in the batting order? Has he ever gotten a hit off the pitcher? If so, was it a curve ball, or a fast ball?

The technique for making the tag is the same for the second baseman as for any other infielder and the same general principles apply. The infielder must never try to hold the runner back with the ball. He ought to make the tag firmly, to be sure, but the tagging hand should ride with the runner's body. Secondly, the infielder should place his feet in such a way as to leave one side or one corner of the base open. By doing so, he encourages the runner to slide to the open spot. That way, the infielder can have his head turned away from the runner as he watches the ball and still know, in advance, where to make the tag. His objective is to catch the ball and, with a quick sweep of the arm and hand, lay the ball on the open side of the base, forcing the runner to tag himself out.

The infielder must never try to make a high tag on a sliding runner. The thing to keep in mind is this: To be safe, the runner must touch the base. The base is on the ground-not in the air above it. An infielder, to make this point even clearer, may make a nice tag on a runner's chest, but it does him no good if the runner's feet (the part of the body to arrive first) have already gone by and made contact with the base.

When making the tag, by the way, the infielder will be able to control the ball better if the back of the glove hand faces the oncoming runner. With the palm of the glove hand facing the runner, the runner's feet are apt to strike above the wrist, snap the hand up and cause the ball to pop out.

HOLDING THE RUNNER

When playing a runner leading away from the base, any infielder has these objectives-catch the runner off the base; make the runner run the full 90 feet to the next base. The latter objective is very important at 2nd, because it is the spot from which a runner can score on a good single.

The runner leading away from 2nd usually has the second baseman in his field of vision. If the second baseman bluffs a run for the bag, the runner will see him and start for the base. By the same token, if the second baseman doesn't pay any attention to the runner, he gives the runner an opportunity to stretch his lead.

While the second baseman does not always have a good chance to work a pickoff play with the pitcher, he can decoy the runner into such a play for the shortstop. Visualize this:

Runner and second baseman on the bag just before the pitcher steps on the rubber. Pitcher stretches. Second baseman moves to his position. Runner leads away. Pitcher waits. Second baseman runs back to bag, runner returns to bag.

As the second baseman turns his back on the runner and returns to his position, the runner instinctively leads off. At this instant, the shortstop rushes to the base, the pitcher whirls and throws. The shortstop is back of the runner and out of his field of vision, thus the runner must rely on the voice signal of the third base coach to realize he's in danger. If the play works, the defense has an out. If not, it has put enough pressure on the runner to keep him reasonably close to the bag.

The second baseman returns to the base after every pitch and does not leave again until the pitcher is on the rubber. Then he should always move to keep pressure on the runner. Cut It!

With runners on 1st and 3rd in anything below the high school level of ball the defense has a tough problem. If the runner on 1st breaks for 2nd and the catcher makes his throw to 2nd, the runner on 3rd can usually score. In college or professional ball, the second baseman can often go to the base to play the runner going from 1st to 2nd. Then, if he sees the runner on 3rd try for home, he probably has enough power in his throwing arm to fire to the plate to catch him.

But, in the younger groups, second basemen rarely have that power. Here's a cut-off play that will help the defense in this situation.

The offense, first of all, will probably order the runner to steal on the 1st pitch and have the batter "take" to avoid a double play on a line drive. If the defense expects the play, the pitcher should "pitch out", giving the catcher a good chance to get the ball away to 2nd.

The second baseman, instead of going to the 2nd, runs to a spot halfway between the mound and the bag and on a direct line between 2nd and home. The shortstop covers 2nd, the third baseman 3rd. The catcher fires right at the second baseman's head.

If the runner on 3rd does not break, the shortstop yells "Let It Go!" The second baseman does and ducks out of the way.

If the runner on 3rd is breaking, the shortstop should yell "Cut It!" The second baseman cuts the ball off and throws to the plate. There are these "ifs":

If the runner going from 3rd to home stops halfway down the line-charge him.

If the catcher's throw is off line, cut it off whether the runner on 3rd goes or not.

Relays

Every time a batter gets a base hit, the second baseman has a specific assignment-a spot to run to. The situation tells him in advance where that spot will be.

For example:

Any time there is a runner on 1st, 1st and 2nd, or 1st, 2nd, or 3rd and the batter get's a single, there's only one place for the second baseman to go-2nd base.

If there's no one on and the ball is singled to right, the shortstop takes the base, with the second baseman in a position some 15 feet away in a direct line with the fielder. The second baseman does this to shorten up the outfielder's throw and make sure that it is handled "clean." After catching the ball, he runs it into the diamond.

If there's no one on and the ball is singled to left, the reverse applies; second baseman takes the bag and short-stop goes out to get the ball.

Now then, if the ball goes for more than a single in the right half of the diamond, the second baseman must hustle to the outfield to help bring the ball in and try to catch the runner. This is called the "relay" play. It works this way.

As soon as the second baseman realizes that the ball is riding for extra bases, he should turn and run-and really run!-toward the outfielder. If the ball appears to be settling 100 feet beyond the second baseman's position, he should come to a stop about 50 feet out. Judging depth will be no problem for the second baseman if he starts running immediately, runs hard and says to himself:

"I will stop just before the outfielder picks up the ball."

On receiving the ball from the outfielder, the second baseman should also say to himself, "I am now an outfielder and I must throw like an outfielder; directly overhand and with full power."

When the ball is cracked for extra bases to the left half of the diamond, the second baseman covers 2nd base and the shortstop becomes the relay man.

There are two things about the preceding explanation that may arouse some argument. One involves the batted ball that goes for a double. In professional ranks, the second baseman, because of his vast experience and the throwing power of the outfielders, will go directly to the bag on hits to the right side with the shortstop backing up.

With players of up to high school age, it is a much better practice to have the second baseman go to the relay post on all extra base hits to right. This makes up for lack of throwing power on the part of the outfielder and also eliminates the possibility of indecision or confusion on the part of an inexperienced second baseman. (The outfielder, by the way, can still throw directly to 2nd if he so chooses.)

The other point involves the relay itself. Many managers emphasize that the first throw should be the longer of the two relay tosses. This writer has found that the young out-fielder has trouble judging distance in this situation and, if anything, the first throw should be somewhat shorter than the second. If the infielder is to have any chance at all, the first throw has to be a hard strike to the infielder's chest. If the first throw is weak, low, or off line, the opportunity for a put-out is lost at the very start of the play.

Backing up Bases

If infield practice is conducted properly (see Chapter 25), the second, baseman will have no difficulty learning to back up the proper base. Here are the usual back-up situations:

Catcher to first baseman covering 1st (on "topped" balls, bunts, wild pitches, passed balls)
Shortstop to first baseman on double play
Pitcher to first baseman on balls hit to left of pitcher
Catcher to pitcher when bases loaded and score is close
Cutoff man (first baseman) to shortstop covering 2nd

In backing up any play, the second baseman-or any fielder-should run to a point at least 20 feet in back of the base. Thus, if the ball goes by the person covering the bag, the boy backing up will have enough room to see and field it. If the second baseman moves to back up a base and finds it uncovered, he should quickly go in and play the base.

The second baseman covers 1st base on all bunts (See Figs. 40, 41.) He must not leave his position, however until he's sure the batter intends to lay the ball down. After retiring a bunter at 1st, he should quickly run the ball to the mound.

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