Pickoff and Chase Plays
Dr. Carroll B. Land   Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)
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OFFENSIVE PLAYS

  1. Ground Ball - Runner at 3B
    1. Lead equal to depth of 3rd Baseman - do not creep
    2. Study ball to Home Plate and off the bat
    3. Break the instant you can see ball in downward flight
    4. If ball hit in 3B direction - run inside line to interfere w/ defense's vision

  2. Suicide Squeeze -  sign good for one pitch only
    1. Runner at 3B same lead
    2. Break when pitcher's arm starts forward
    3. Batter bunts ball on ground- do not square until pitcher arm is going forward

  3. Passed Ball
    Runners on 1B and 2B
    1. Cue is what runner at 2B does
    2. Runner at 1B does same - either holds or moves up
    3. Make judgment by - if ball gets 10 to 12 feet away in any direction... read and react before ball stops.
    Runners on 1B and 3B
    1. Runner on 1B makes decision same as above - be willing to take a chance-runner on 3B allows you more space.
    2. Runner on 3B creeps as far as third baseman allows
    3. If not chased back to bag and catcher's throw is going to be long, make judgment about taking home for score
    4. If short throw, aid 1B runner in being safe at 2B by faking home caution not to go too far/go at right time to help!

  4. Fly Ball Tag Situations
    Runners at 2B and 3B  Runner at 3B is cue- If he goes, both go
    1. 3B runner gets to starting position and looks at coach for start sign
    2. Coach says yes or no and draws throw
    3. If coach says yes, he puts hand in middle of chest pointing up at 45-degrees
    4. At instant ball is caught, coach drops hand and runner starts
    5. Runner at 2B reacts same. Continues to read lead runner and throw. Adjusts to both. Make sure not to make third out until lead runner crosses home plate!
    Runners at 1B and 3B
    1. Runner on 3B same as above.
    2. Runner on 1B reads depth and direction of fly ball. If straight away - on guaranteed catch then runner tags up.
    3. 1B runner breaks for 2B reading both runners going to Home Plate and throw
    4. If throw goes through to Home Plate, go straight on to 2B.
    5. If throw is cut, runner must read timing of throw. If it can be beaten, go on! If not, delay to make certain not to make 3rd out before run crosses home plate!

  5. Steal
    Runners on 1B and 2B -  2B runner is cue
    1. Both runners break as soon as released and slide straight to bag unless tag man has ball and then slide to avoid the tag.
    1B and 3B -  Have two distinct plays!
    1. Single steal sign means man on 1B is steal man; man on 3B is helper
    2. Double steal sign means man on 3B is steal man; man on 1B adjusts going to 2B
    Single Steal
    1. On single steal, 1B runner gets maximum lead and goes instant pitcher releases him.
    2. Man on 3B shortens lead. As thrown ball from catcher goes over pitcher's head, runner on 3B takes 2-3 short steps towards Home Plate and looking to Home Plate. He then stops and retreats to 3B.
    Double Steal
    1. Both runners take maximum lead. Runner on 1B breaks the instant pitcher allows.
    2. Runner on 3B breaks the instant catcher releases throw or sooner if body motion is read, realizing the throw is going in direction of 2B.

PICKOFF AND CHASE PLAYS AT SECOND BASE

  1. Chase & Release-C&R -  Regular-No Play
    1. Either 2B or SS as chaser to make runner "start back-to-base"
      1. Wait until pitcher looks
      2. Make a move at half speed toward base looking at runner
      3. When runner takes a step or two toward bag, release and retreat immediately
      4. If runner does not respond to chase, continue on to bag - even activate T & S for throw from pitcher
      5. Pitcher delivers the ball as chaser is retreating to normal fielding position Pitcher does not wait until full retreat is complete

  2. Daylight & Sprint-D&S
    1. Daylight on short stop.
      1. SS in act of C & R if he gets inside runner, it is an automatic start of the sprint to bag
      2. Pitcher reads and turns and fires

  3. Thrust & Sprint -T&S -   #1 Play
    1. Either 2B or SS can put this play on by reading runner's distance from bag, poor habits or slow response to coach. Chaser has made a decision he can beat runner to bag for an out.
      1. Chaser's first move is, at same time taking first step, "thrust" glove to bag and "sprint" straight to bag.
      2. Pitcher must "turn" on the first step of chaser and fire.
Timed Plays

  1. Time & Trap - T&T
    1. Single chaser with sign and acknowledgment from either chaser or pitcher
  2. Chase-Release-Trap - CRT
    1. Double chase and trap-sequence = 2B or SS chase and release/opposite traps runner, takes throw for tag.
      1. When pitcher looks at 2B, either SS or 2B uses half speed 1 to 2 or 3 step chase to get runner to begin retreat.
      2. Once retreat is definitely begun, chaser releases - pitcher continues to look
      3. At the instant runner reverses and starts toward 3B, the trap man begins an instant sprint and continues to bag.
      4. Pitcher turns and fires
Run Downs - Defensive Work

  1. Review Rundown
    1. Man with ball "sprints" at trapped runner with ball held high in throwing position- chaser
    2. Man on opposite end of trap must close gap simultaneously at half speed tag man. Call for "ball" when runner is 3 - 4 full strides away - Timing is critical for 1-throw only concept!
    3. Chaser anticipates timing- may release ball before command if need be. Lob ball softly with lead.
    4. Tag man makes tag immediately, looking instantly to preceeding base for possible play on trailing runner.
KEYS
SPRINT ! INSTANT START ! CLOSE GAP !
Teamwork + Spirit and Hard Work = Success


Dr. Carroll B. Land Dr. Carroll B. Land has served Point Loma Nazarene University (NAIA - California) as a player, coach, professor and administrator. However, Dr. Land's devotion to NAIA baseball goes far beyond his own university, having served as president of the NAIA and American Baseball Coaches Association, and as a board member of the United States Baseball Federation and the United States Olympic Committee. Over the years Dr. Land has been honored with inductions into the Point Loma Nazarene, ABCA and NAIA Hall of Fames. In 1998, Point Loma's baseball field, which Baseball America acclaimed as "America's Most Scenic Ballpark", was renamed Carroll B. Land Stadium in tribute to the man who guided the team for almost four decades. Recently, the NAIA chose Land as the 2000-01 NAIA West Regional Athletic Director of the Year. He has been Point Loma's AD since 1968, remaining in the position after he retired as coach in 1999 after 39 years of leadership with the Crusaders.
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