Baseball Coaching Digest - Stop and See - 1st & 3rd Double Steal Base Running Play

Name - "1st & 3rd Stop and See Steal" Playquickly back toward first base. If the defense
Type of Play - Offensivequickly throws to first base, he will get in a run
Situation - Runners at 1st and 3rd base with 2down. If the defense throws to home to get the
outs.third base runner who has his break for home,
Objective - The offense will use this play tothe 1B runner will advance on to second base.
achieve one of the following 3 results:The third base runner will also read the catcher's
1. The first base runner wants to steal and drawactions. He will expect a full-arm fake and check
a throw to 2B in hopes of scoring the third baseback to third base. If the catcher releases the ball
runner.toward second base, the third base runner will
2. The first base runner will advance to 2B if amake sure that the ball clears the pitcher and any
throw down is not made by the catcher.possible cut-off man. If the 3B runner "reads the
3. The first base runner will try to create aball through", he breaks hard and slides hard in
rundown if a throw down is made. The offensehome.
tries to force a defensive error or "buy time" forHow do you stop it?
the third base runner to score.It is hard for the defense to stop this play. They
Details-are not aware that the 1B runner may stop. The
The first base runner will take his normal lead. Hebest method of defending this play is for the
wants to make sure that he does not get pickedshortstop or second baseman to take the throw
off by the pitcher. The offensive team wants theand quickly throw to home plate. The defense
catcher to throw to second. The third basemust communicate.
runner will take an aggressive but safe lead. ThePoints to Remember?
third base runner will make sure that the catcher's1. The 1B runner has to make sure not to get
throw down clears the pitcher or any possiblepicked and that he properly reads the catcher.
cut-off man. The 1B runner will execute a straight2. The third base runner must take an aggressive
steal and will look in, like a hit and run, but he isbut safe lead. He is expecting a pitcher or infield
reading the catcher's actions and not the batter'scut or a full-arm fake by the catcher.
contact. The batter will be taking the pitch.3. The "stop and see" play is great for scoring a
If the 1B runner sees the ball going down to"cheap" run when the weak part of the batting
second, he will stop. He will stop and retreatorder is up.