Bases loaded

[brickdust101]

Helping a guy with a 13u team < on defense he has the fielders behind the runners with bases loaded why would you do that?

[Bolts-Baseball]

He's got 2 outs...?

[korp]

Or 1 out have middle infield play double play depth and corners go where the ball takes them.

[azmatsfan]

He's got 2 outs...?

or a big lead and is willing to sacrifice a run for a sure out?

[beemax]

Helping a guy with a 13u team < on defense he has the fielders behind the runners with bases loaded why would you do that?

There are a number of situations that call for different defenses with the bases loaded. It depends on the number of outs, score, inning, etc. If he calls for the infield to always play behind the runners with the bases loaded, that's a problem, but we need to know more details of the situation before we got into too much detail here.

[Slapper23]

I second Beemax's post. Pulling the infield in is always a two-edged sword - you increase your chances at cutting the runner down at the plate, but also increase the chances of the ball getting through the infield and a couple of runs scoring. In the past, I often left the infield at normal depth with bases loaded if we were early in the game. Might even pitch the kid down and in hoping for a ground ball to 3rd. Of course in fastpitch, the 1-2-3 DP is always a coach favorite in this situation. Have to know the situation we're talking about here.

Mike

[Jake Patterson]

There are a number of situations that call for different defenses with the bases loaded. It depends on the number of outs, score, inning, etc. If he calls for the infield to always play behind the runners with the bases loaded, that's a problem, but we need to know more details of the situation before we got into too much detail here.Agree, score also plays a role in the decision.

[skipper5]

At the 13-15 yo level, trying to choke off runs at the plate in early innings is an extremely common coaching mistake. It's not only bad strategy, but it also sends the wrong message to the team, which should be absorbing the importance of avoiding the big-inning.

Players become more confident and resilient when they realize that their coach doesn't hit the panic button just because the opposition has the bases-loaded.

I appreciate that there are appropriate times for this strategy in later innings. Score plays a role, etc., etc.

Also keep in mind ( and you won't read this in any baseball books) that when young defenses are playing tentatively, they seem to choke more on throws for force plays at home than on throws to the bases. If my defense is on a roll, and the inning/score also calls for it, I'm more likely to bring my IF in and try to choke off a run.