Trick Baseball Plays

[Dougie8 0]

Hey

To all you baseball players out there:

I'm playing in a league with alot of first years, they dont really watch the ball all that well. I have already gotten a first year with the hidden ball trick on second, and I was just wondering if theres any other classics out there that I might be able to pull off?

Thanks in advance!

[RadioGaGa 162]

How did you do the hidden ball...fake the throw back to the pitcher from one of the bases?

You could also try...guy on base (any base really). Have a "meeting" at the mound...(cathcer, pitcher, a couple of the basemen) give the baseman the ball...everyone goes back...pitcher leans in for signs....baserunner will start his lead...and you nail him.

[Eazy_b97 1]

When I used to catch and there was runners on 1st/3rd, the one on first would always steal in hopes that I'd throw, and the person on 3rd could take off. So I started doing a quick pump and toss down to 3rd, hopefully catching the guy on a jump. I got a runner or two on it, and if nothing else, keeps them honest.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

How did you do the hidden ball...fake the throw back to the pitcher from one of the bases?

You could also try...guy on base (any base really). Have a "meeting" at the mound...(cathcer, pitcher, a couple of the basemen) give the baseman the ball...everyone goes back...pitcher leans in for signs....baserunner will start his lead...and you nail him.

Doesn't work. The pitcher must have the ball when he toes the rubber...if he doesn't have the ball it is a balk.

[Dangles 0]

When I used to catch and there was runners on 1st/3rd, the one on first would always steal in hopes that I'd throw, and the person on 3rd could take off. So I started doing a quick pump and toss down to 3rd, hopefully catching the guy on a jump. I got a runner or two on it, and if nothing else, keeps them honest.

Eazy - I did something similar when I caught but I had a variation on it.

With runners on first and third, the guy on first tries to steal, then the shortstop runs in behind the mound, and the pitcher ducks out of the way. Then, you ( the catcher ) act like your trying to gun the guy at second, but you toss it to the shortstop who in return fires it back to you to get the guy at home, who was running in from third.

[Dougie8 0]

How did you do the hidden ball...fake the throw back to the pitcher from one of the bases?

You could also try...guy on base (any base really). Have a "meeting" at the mound...(cathcer, pitcher, a couple of the basemen) give the baseman the ball...everyone goes back...pitcher leans in for signs....baserunner will start his lead...and you nail him.

Yeah, I was on second, faked the ball to the pitcher and tagged him, your pitcher has to know what your doing though, because if he goes on the rubber or yells for the ball (which almost happend to me :P). It wont work. When I'm pitching now this one kid will always try it, he doesnt exactly fake the throw the best, so I just have to act like i'm fairly mad, at my last pitch and just look up into the sky off the mound and adjust my hat

[Chadd 916]

When I used to catch and there was runners on 1st/3rd, the one on first would always steal in hopes that I'd throw, and the person on 3rd could take off. So I started doing a quick pump and toss down to 3rd, hopefully catching the guy on a jump. I got a runner or two on it, and if nothing else, keeps them honest.

I used to have my pitcher crouch making the runner on third think I was going to throw it through to second but I would fire it to the pitcher and the guy on third almost always bought it. I managed to catch a couple guys at second who were a little slow to get back to the bag after a pitch too.

[New Player 0]

Here's a more elaborate play you guys can try.

Runners on first and third. When the pitcher steps on the rubber the runner on first takes his lead by runing as hard as he can toward second but into the outfield grass. His goal is to be 10-20 feet into the outfeild grass halfway between 1st and 2nd or as close as he can before the pitcher can step off and run at him. Should the pitcher throw the ball to 1st he should continue taking his lead and wait till the 1st baseman has the ball (first base coach should have key words to alert the runner to the situation). The important thing to remember is that the baseline rule is only in affect when the a deffensive player has the ball and is making a play on the runner. The 1st baseman can't make a play until he catches the ball and the pitcher can't make a play until he steps off. They both however must advance the ball in their possession towards the runner.

At this key point they are making a play and the runners baseline is established. His baseline is now a direct line from where he is currently standing to the next base (which ever base he decides to go to in this case 1st or 2nd). If the deffence decides to make a play on him he should not move and wait until the last possible moment then decide which direction is the best to go to avoid the tag. Should they get close enough to make the tag the runner on 3rd should be able to score easily. Should they not make a play he should easily steal second on the next pitch.

Key points

1. If a feilder with the ball approaches close enough, the runner needs to make sure his first move is directly towards 1st or 2nd. Any other movement and he will be rulled out of the base path.

2. Every throw the deffence make changes the current base path. For example, if the pitcher gets close enough and he takes off towards 1st, once the pitcher throws the ball and the 1st baseman catches it the baseline has now changed to where the runner is now and 2nd.

3. You must talk about this play with the umpire before the game. Most umps don't understand this rule and it will be hard to pull this play off if the ump is confused as well (found this out on the 1st try in a game).

4. You will find that most teams will also be confused and try to just hold the ball and ask the ump whats going on. He is in no way obligated to tell them, and they may not call time. This is why point 3 is important. Should time be forced by an opposing manager steping on the field both runners will be awarded a base.

5. Since this may only work once in a game, you should wait till a key point to pull this off. Worst case senario you end up 2nd and 3rd. Once time is called, if asked the ump must explain to the other manager why he didn't call the runner out for being out of the base path.

Good luck with this one guys, it takes alot of practice and communication to pull off.

[Jason Harris 31]

I've never had the opportunity to do this, but there are also the outfield dekes, which are easier to do if there is a fence. Yazstremski was great at these using the Green Monster.

Basically, he'd act as though the ball was going over the fence by not moving an inch, or onto the wall by turning to play it off the wall, but at the last moment he'd turn around to catch it on the fly. Obviously, he was hoping to double up a base runner.

One thing I was able to do is lose a ball in the sun while playing left field, so if you could pretend to lose the ball....

[Cheesehead 0]

pitcher acts like he throws it to first base, who pretends the ball went to the bullpen. the guys in the bull pen have to pretend also, and when hes about 3/4 way to the bag, throw it and get an out.

[Dougie8 0]

I've never had the opportunity to do this, but there are also the outfield dekes, which are easier to do if there is a fence. Yazstremski was great at these using the Green Monster.

Basically, he'd act as though the ball was going over the fence by not moving an inch, or onto the wall by turning to play it off the wall, but at the last moment he'd turn around to catch it on the fly. Obviously, he was hoping to double up a base runner

Runners on first and third. When the pitcher steps on the rubber the runner on first takes his lead by runing as hard as he can toward second but into the outfield grass. His goal is to be 10-20 feet into the outfeild grass halfway between 1st and 2nd or as close as he can before the pitcher can step off and run at him. Should the pitcher throw the ball to 1st he should continue taking his lead and wait till the 1st baseman has the ball (first base coach should have key words to alert the runner to the situation). The important thing to remember is that the baseline rule is only in affect when the a deffensive player has the ball and is making a play on the runner. The 1st baseman can't make a play until he catches the ball and the pitcher can't make a play until he steps off. They both however must advance the ball in their possession towards the runner.

At this key point they are making a play and the runners baseline is established. His baseline is now a direct line from where he is currently standing to the next base (which ever base he decides to go to in this case 1st or 2nd). If the deffence decides to make a play on him he should not move and wait until the last possible moment then decide which direction is the best to go to avoid the tag. Should they get close enough to make the tag the runner on 3rd should be able to score easily. Should they not make a play he should easily steal second on the next pitch.

Key points

1. If a feilder with the ball approaches close enough, the runner needs to make sure his first move is directly towards 1st or 2nd. Any other movement and he will be rulled out of the base path.

2. Every throw the deffence make changes the current base path. For example, if the pitcher gets close enough and he takes off towards 1st, once the pitcher throws the ball and the 1st baseman catches it the baseline has now changed to where the runner is now and 2nd.

3. You must talk about this play with the umpire before the game. Most umps don't understand this rule and it will be hard to pull this play off if the ump is confused as well (found this out on the 1st try in a game).

4. You will find that most teams will also be confused and try to just hold the ball and ask the ump whats going on. He is in no way obligated to tell them, and they may not call time. This is why point 3 is important. Should time be forced by an opposing manager steping on the field both runners will be awarded a base.

5. Since this may only work once in a game, you should wait till a key point to pull this off. Worst case senario you end up 2nd and 3rd. Once time is called, if asked the ump must explain to the other manager why he didn't call the runner out for being out of the base path.

That sounds like it would work quite well Salming.

New Player, I dont really understand what your saying

[New Player 0]

New Player, I dont really understand what your saying

Basically, you're challeging the deffence to make a choice. They can either try to chase the out in right field which will allow the runner on third to score, or give up an easy stolen base. No team I've ever tried this against knew what was going on. Also no ump I've talked to did either.

Teams I've managed have pulled this play off at least 5 times and never has the other team recorded an out against us. Mostly due to the fact that no one understands that just because the runner on 1st is in right field he's not out of the baseline yet. The very first time we tried this play the ump called my runner out because we had not spoken before the game. After I was able to argue with him how he misinterputed the rule my runner was allowed to return to 1st but he had to explain his rullingto the other manager. And we didn't do it again that game.

If you don't understand why he's not out of the baseline until a play is being made on him, we all are coached when we hit a ball to the outfield not to run directly to 1st in a straight line (like on a ground ball), but to start an arch half way between home and 1st to give us a better angle toward 2nd when we round 1st. Even though that arch will take you more than 3 feet out of the baseline you're not out because no one is making a play on you.

If you have a more specific question maybe I can clarify it more for you.

[mrusse01 0]

haha, that is a sweet play New Player. I didn't know that rule about not being out of the basepath unless someone is making a play on you, but it does make sense.

I guess the one flaw in that plan would be if the RF took off and ran to beside the runner. The pitcher could then fire the ball to the RF who would tag the runner out while still holding the runner at 3rd from going home. What would happen in that case? Should the runner take off towards second as soon as the pitcher throws the ball, or should he start moving if he sees the RF coming in on him? Can he run wherever he wants until the ball is actually possessed by a player moving on him? What if the pitcher starts moving towards the runner while the RF is moving in at the same time?

I guess that is pretty much hypothetical, because I can't imagine a team ever being organized enough to actually try and stop that play.

[mrusse01 0]

The hidden ball trick is a good move, I pulled it off once, but try it too many times and you'll likely get thrown at.

And Chadd, you picked someone off of SECOND base as a catcher? wow, you must have a cannon.

[New Player 0]

haha, that is a sweet play New Player. I didn't know that rule about not being out of the basepath unless someone is making a play on you, but it does make sense.

I guess the one flaw in that plan would be if the RF took off and ran to beside the runner. The pitcher could then fire the ball to the RF who would tag the runner out while still holding the runner at 3rd from going home. What would happen in that case? Should the runner take off towards second as soon as the pitcher throws the ball, or should he start moving if he sees the RF coming in on him? Can he run wherever he wants until the ball is actually possessed by a player moving on him? What if the pitcher starts moving towards the runner while the RF is moving in at the same time?

I guess that is pretty much hypothetical, because I can't imagine a team ever being organized enough to actually try and stop that play.

Ok, the RF could run and stand next to the runner, but he doesn't have the ball so it wouldn't matter(in fact the runner could run away from him in any direction including furthur into the outfield). If the pitcher does throw the RF the ball thats as good as a single and the runner on third can score. And the runner from 1st (depending on which base he's closest to) should take of to that base.

Should the pitcher run at him with the RF standing next to the runner from 1st. The runner on 1st should stay still and see how far they are going to take the ball into the OF. The further from the mound the pitcher gets, the longer he is going to make the throw to third (or home for that matter) so the runner on 3rd can creep further down the line. Plus if he gets into the OF(or pretty close), he'll have to turn and fire home.

I know some of you are still skeptical, but the reason this play works is because when the pitcher steps off he will be reluctant to throw or run at the runner on 1st because of the runner on third. Compounding his problem, the runner on 1st is running into the outfield. Everyone, players, managers, and fans are going to be screaming "he's out of the baseline". Not realizing he's not yet because noone has made a play on him. While they are screaming about he's not in the baseline and the ump isn't saying anything to the deffence, the runner on 1st is getting further into the outfield and closer to second. At this point they can either throw a pitch, or try and make an out.

Even if you never use this play, I think this is an important rule for your players to understand. Imagine yourself on the mound, you toe the rubber, look in for your sign, and the runner on 1st takes off into the outfield. Had you not read this, what would you do?

[mrusse01 0]

I would probably just stand there and look confused, possibly taking a few steps out towards the runner.

The runner would have to be aware though, because if the pitcher steps off and takes even one step towards the runner isn't he 'making a play' on the runner, and hence the runner would have to stop running into the outfield and move directly towards 1st or 2nd?

[New Player 0]

I would probably just stand there and look confused, possibly taking a few steps out towards the runner.

The runner would have to be aware though, because if the pitcher steps off and takes even one step towards the runner isn't he 'making a play' on the runner, and hence the runner would have to stop running into the outfield and move directly towards 1st or 2nd?

No, and it's a judgement call by the ump. Taking just one step would not constitute making a play. You have to countinuously move at the runner in order to be making a play. If you stopoed to look at 3rd you would in efect abandon your play.

It's kind of a tough call. The only real way to stop this play is to step off and make an imediate throw to 1st and have the 1st baseman make a play on the runner. Or run at him after you step off. If you do this the runner won't have a chance to get that far into the outfield.

Problem is not being prepared for this and no time to think, you'd stand there to long allowing the runner to get to his position.

[mrusse01 0]

hmm...interesting.

What has been the reaction most of the time when your team has done it? I would assume confusion reigns and you eventually end up just getting runners 2nd and 3rd...how many time have you actually scored a runner on it?

[Langenbrunner15 0]

When I used to catch and there was runners on 1st/3rd, the one on first would always steal in hopes that I'd throw, and the person on 3rd could take off. So I started doing a quick pump and toss down to 3rd, hopefully catching the guy on a jump. I got a runner or two on it, and if nothing else, keeps them honest.

Eazy - I did something similar when I caught but I had a variation on it.

With runners on first and third, the guy on first tries to steal, then the shortstop runs in behind the mound, and the pitcher ducks out of the way. Then, you ( the catcher ) act like your trying to gun the guy at second, but you toss it to the shortstop who in return fires it back to you to get the guy at home, who was running in from third.

We do that, but to the 2nd baseman.

[UMWhockey 0]

there were two that we would use

1) I woud try to pick someone off at first (i was the catcher) and our right fielder would know what we are doing and run in to back it up. I would throw the ball over the first baseman to the right fielder and the runner would sometimes take off for second and it was an easy out.

2) Our pitcher would try to pick someone off at first and throw the ball low. the fist baseman would catch the throw, but act like the ball got away and start running for it. The guy on first would take off for second and the first baseman would throw him out.

[New Player 0]

hmm...interesting.

What has been the reaction most of the time when your team has done it? I would assume confusion reigns and you eventually end up just getting runners 2nd and 3rd...how many time have you actually scored a runner on it?

Of the 5 times we've tried it we've scored twice. But once my runner was incorrectly called out, so %50 success rate and never has an out been recorded that stood.

One time they actually tried to get the runner out in RF. Pitcher ended up running at the runner my guy waited till he got to close and went to 2nd, the pitcher threw wildly to the bag and he was safe. They actually let the run from 3rd score. It was a blow out in a babe ruth regional tourny (my team on the wrong side) but they kept stealing bases, double stealing, advancing on passed balls while up at least 15 runs. So I decided to see how much they knew about baseball. They protesed that my runner was out of the baseline, then their coach told them to just get the "easy" out.

The other time we scored the other manager walked onto the field screaming about my guy was out of the baseline. The ump awarded both runners one base and explained to the manager why he was wrong.

Other two times after the ump toled the pitcher he had a certain amount of time to deliver to the plate, they pitched and we stole 2nd.

It's kind of a busch league play, and I've really only used it when other teams were being dicks trying to pad their stats. At the end of games while shaking hands I've had 3 managers tell me that was an excellent lesson we just taught his team or something to that effect. ;)

[jrhky36 1]

How did you do the hidden ball...fake the throw back to the pitcher from one of the bases?

You could also try...guy on base (any base really). Have a "meeting" at the mound...(cathcer, pitcher, a couple of the basemen) give the baseman the ball...everyone goes back...pitcher leans in for signs....baserunner will start his lead...and you nail him.

thats a balk. runners advance 1 base.

for that to work the pitcher can not be touching the rubber

[TBLfan 25]

When I used to catch and there was runners on 1st/3rd, the one on first would always steal in hopes that I'd throw, and the person on 3rd could take off. So I started doing a quick pump and toss down to 3rd, hopefully catching the guy on a jump. I got a runner or two on it, and if nothing else, keeps them honest.

Eazy - I did something similar when I caught but I had a variation on it.

With runners on first and third, the guy on first tries to steal, then the shortstop runs in behind the mound, and the pitcher ducks out of the way. Then, you ( the catcher ) act like your trying to gun the guy at second, but you toss it to the shortstop who in return fires it back to you to get the guy at home, who was running in from third.

We do that, but to the 2nd baseman.

yeah we used to do that too. We always went to the 2nd baseman(normally me) because it's easier throwing home from 2nd if you're rh, which of course most infielders are rh.

[jrhky36 1]

i player pitcher, 1b and c in high school. in college i played 1b

heres one i used when pitching.

runners on first and third. fake a pick off throw to thrid and wheel around and nail the guy at first. i did that two times in one game. the important thing to remember is that first baseman HAS to be on the bag.

as a 1b i would from time to time fake a missed throw to see if the runner would bite

we did the 1st $3rd cut throw with the pitcher.

on a bunt we had the 2b charge instead of the 1b

as a catcher i would wipe out the back line of the batters box and redraw it closer to the plate. that worked several times. why because if the batter steps on or over the back line he is out.

best unusual play i ever saw was whne paul o'neil was playing for the red he kicked a ball to second and got the runner out.

[TBLfan 25]

best unusual play i ever saw was whne paul o'neil was playing for the red he kicked a ball to second and got the runner out.

I remember that, it was a beautiful soccer kick right to the bag!