Where SS/2B set up when stealing 2nd?

[Freestate]

Where do you coach the shortstop or second baseman be positioned to receive a throw when a baserunner is stealing 2B? I've seen/heard "straddle the bag". I've also seen/heard to set up inside the baseline and then sweep the tag "behind" you. In either case, do your feet face home or more toward 1B? Does it make a difference if the fielder is a lefty or righty? This is for 13U if it makes any difference. Thanks.

[Coach C]

There was a thread on this in the past few weeks, you might do a search.
I coach 9-12, shortstop inside the bag sweep tag (if the throw is online). 2B backup SS, CF backup 2nd. Have not seen a left handed SS.

[Jake Patterson]

Where do you coach the shortstop or second baseman be positioned to receive a throw when a baserunner is stealing 2B? I've seen/heard "straddle the bag". I've also seen/heard to set up inside the baseline and then sweep the tag "behind" you. In either case, do your feet face home or more toward 1B? Does it make a difference if the fielder is a lefty or righty? This is for 13U if it makes any difference. Thanks.Because of the age I would not get too hung up on the details of where the feet point. Getting the SS to the bag somewhat straddling the bag, with left foot pointing to the first base line and the right foot to the plate would be acceptable. 2B backs up SS, the CF backing up favoring LF side, RF favoring the RF side. LF looks for a past ball and a possible advancement to 3B.

[Freestate]

CoachC, I looked at thread titles going back a couple of months, and couldn't find anything. Do you recall the thread title?

So, there's one vote for inside the baseline and sweep the tag, and one vote for straddle the bag. It seems like straddling the bag increases the chance of a collision (or at least the fileder being distracted by the possibility of a collision) and increases the chance that the ball will be knocked loose if the ball and runner arrive at the same time. But, I can see that straddling provides the quickest tag assuming a perfect throw.

I note that both CoachC and Jake use the SS as the one fielding the throw in their descriptions. Do you always have the SS cover? We've been having the SS cover with left handed batters, and the 2B cover for righties. This assumes that the batter is more likely to pull the ball.

[sid17]

I found the thread.
http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=87621&highlight=throws+to+2nd

[Rufus67]

Not to hijack the thread, but why have both the 2B and SS moving to cover (one on/in front of the bag, the other backing up)? Doesn't that open two holes in the infield through which a batter can hit a ball? Would it make more sense to have one play their position and the other cover the bag with the CF backing up the throw?

[Coach C]

CoachC, I looked at thread titles going back a couple of months, and couldn't find anything. Do you recall the thread title?

So, there's one vote for inside the baseline and sweep the tag, and one vote for straddle the bag. It seems like straddling the bag increases the chance of a collision (or at least the fileder being distracted by the possibility of a collision) and increases the chance that the ball will be knocked loose if the ball and runner arrive at the same time. But, I can see that straddling provides the quickest tag assuming a perfect throw.

I note that both CoachC and Jake use the SS as the one fielding the throw in their descriptions. Do you always have the SS cover? We've been having the SS cover with left handed batters, and the 2B cover for righties. This assumes that the batter is more likely to pull the ball.


The age that I coach is younger so the throws are generally not online and runners dont always slide into second. It has worked fine being on the inside, I know I they need to straddle, we shall see.

[Coach C]

Not to hijack the thread, but why have both the 2B and SS moving to cover (one on/in front of the bag, the other backing up)? Doesn't that open two holes in the infield through which a batter can hit a ball? Would it make more sense to have one play their position and the other cover the bag with the CF backing up the throw?

The batter can't hit the ball if it's being thrown down. If your SS and 2B can't get to the bag in time you might as well not throw it down.

[HYP]

not to hijack the thread, but why have both the 2b and ss moving to cover (one on/in front of the bag, the other backing up)? Doesn't that open two holes in the infield through which a batter can hit a ball? Would it make more sense to have one play their position and the other cover the bag with the cf backing up the throw?

yes.......

[HYP]

The batter can't hit the ball if it's being thrown down. If your SS and 2B can't get to the bag in time you might as well not throw it down.

One should be moving to the bag as the runner breaks. The other should hold their ground until they know that the ball is not being hit.

That is why offenses have a hit and run. To pull one of the middle infielders out of position. If they pull both MI out of position, bonus.

[skipper5]

On the OP's set-up question, I abstain.

As for who covers: In 13u baseball, I almost always have my SS cover the bag because he is almost always considerably better at converting marginal throws into tag-outs.

On balance, this has helped my teams more than it has hurt (due to leaving the pull-side open for RH batters).

Picks/sweep-tags on marginal throws to second really seem to lift the morale of your defense and pitcher, and reinforce what we tell our 13u catchers, which is to get rid of the ball quickly, on a line, in the direction of second base. Line-drive one-hop (or two-hop) throws are preferable to rainbows that make all the way to the base in the air--the SS can convert it into an out.

Since the ball and the defender often reach the base at the same time, and few throws are exactly on the money, I haven't made it much of a coaching point as to how the SS sets up when he gets there.

edited: Our most important defensive play last summer came when our SS was covering on a run-and-hit and converted a scorching groundball through the middle into a one-throw 6-3 double play. Don't stress about leaving the 6-hole open--there are lots of grounders through the middle.

[Rajun Cajun]

I teach, right handed batter at the plate, the SS must stay put and insure the ball is not hit before breaking. When he breaks he is the back up since he is late. The 2B covers the bag and yells "MY BAG" before the batter even gets in the box.

Left handed batter at the plate the 2B plays the ball/batter, and SS covers the steal. The 2B will break late after the batter takes or swings and misses. 2B will back up the play. SS yells "My Bag" before the batter gets in the box. This is with one or zero outs. Two outs our guys will be playing normal depth (not pinching the middle). This results in a slower break. At least the covering infielder should cheat a little here.

[Jake Patterson]

I teach, right handed batter at the plate, the SS must stay put and insure the ball is not hit before breaking. When he breaks he is the back up since he is late. The 2B covers the bag and yells "MY BAG" before the batter even gets in the box.

Left handed batter at the plate the 2B plays the ball/batter, and SS covers the steal. The 2B will break late after the batter takes or swings and misses. 2B will back up the play. SS yells "My Bag" before the batter gets in the box. This is with one or zero outs. Two outs our guys will be playing normal depth (not pinching the middle). This results in a slower break. At least the covering infielder should cheat a little here.One of the biggest problems with 2B covering is you have a greater chance of the C throwing behind him. The key at this age is insuring the players know what they are doing. Taking a few minutes during practice and running everyone through the different scenarios is time well spent.
Jake