Trailing the runner

[Tksjewelry]

I had a 14u wreck ball game last night. I'm BU in A. BR hits a pop up to shallow LF. F6 goes out for it, should be an easy catch and an out. I'm out at a 45 ready to watch the touch on B1. F6 misses the ball and it shoots of his glove to deep LF. BR heads for 2nd. Now I'm trailing the runner. This has happened to me a few times. On a short field it's no big deal because it's only really a few steps and can get into position, but when I get to the big fields, this becomes a problem for my short, stubby legs. I've tried busting inside to button hook over if I need to but it seems to be infield plays where I've run into the most crazy dropped balls or crap throws. 

I know I'm doing something wrong but what I can do better I'm not sure. Suggestions? 

[noumpere]

On a fly ball, if you don't go out you should go in.

 

On the grounders, you should bust inside ahead of the runner as soon as you read a bad throw.  Pivot and take the runner to second.  Go for angle over distance.

[maven]

It sounds as if you might be pivoting and then stopping. When the BR rounds 1B, he's already past you.

Instead, when you pivot, get in the habit of going a few steps toward 2B ahead of the BR as he rounds the base. You should also pick up the ball (visually, of course) once you see the BR's touch at 1B. That way, you'll know whether he's going to 2B and can adjust accordingly. If you do it right, you will have to run about 50 feet in the time it takes him to run 90 feet.

If the fielder comes up with the ball cleanly and the BR goes back into 1B, go with him, stopping at the cutout. As a general rule, if he's moving, you're moving.

The other thing to bear in mind is: we get older and slower, and the kids stay the same age. You will get beat: if not every play, then sometimes. Do your best to anticipate the play and get where you need to be, but take angle over distance, and be set for your call.

I looked briefly for a good example on YouTube and became demoralized at how bad the "training videos" are. The pivot training starts at 2:04 in this one: this guy does OK, but he starts WAY too deep and then is behind the runner when he pivots. He does seem to see the touch at 1B at least.

 

[woodiemiller]

It sounds as if you might be pivoting and then stopping. When the BR rounds 1B, he's already past you.

Instead, when you pivot, get in the habit of going a few steps toward 2B ahead of the BR as he rounds the base. You should also pick up the ball (visually, of course) once you see the BR's touch at 1B. That way, you'll know whether he's going to 2B and can adjust accordingly. If you do it right, you will have to run about 50 feet in the time it takes him to run 90 feet.

If the fielder comes up with the ball cleanly and the BR goes back into 1B, go with him, stopping at the cutout. As a general rule, if he's moving, you're moving.

The other thing to bear in mind is: we get older and slower, and the kids stay the same age. You will get beat: if not every play, then sometimes. Do your best to anticipate the play and get where you need to be, but take angle over distance, and be set for your call.

I looked briefly for a good example on YouTube and became demoralized at how bad the "training videos" are. The pivot training starts at 2:04 in this one: this guy does OK, but he starts WAY too deep and then is behind the runner when he pivots. He does seem to see the touch at 1B at least.

 

​Didnt I mention that the base umpire should only take a couple of steps in fair territory to make a call at 1b from the "A" & everybody ridiculed me? This justifies me from earlier.

[umpstu]

Watch the ball, glance at the runner.  He should be picking the ball up.  He doesn't even bother looking at the ball when he comes in for a pivot.  Good way to get hit in the head.

[zm1283]

Your pivot can also match what kind of ball is hit. If it's a double off the bat in the gap, pivot more toward second base out behind the pitcher's mound. (Or don't pivot at all and just peek over your shoulder) If it's a clean single to center field or a routine fly ball that is going to be caught, pivot closer to the cutout. You shouldn't pivot in the same spot every time the ball is hit. In the OP, if you think the ball has a chance to drop, pivot more toward the back of the mound. If the B/R retreats to first you can always get back to the cutout for a play there. 

[zm1283]

I had a 14u wreck ball game last night. I'm BU in A. BR hits a pop up to shallow LF. F6 goes out for it, should be an easy catch and an out. I'm out at a 45 ready to watch the touch on B1. F6 misses the ball and it shoots of his glove to deep LF. BR heads for 2nd. Now I'm trailing the runner. This has happened to me a few times. On a short field it's no big deal because it's only really a few steps and can get into position, but when I get to the big fields, this becomes a problem for my short, stubby legs. I've tried busting inside to button hook over if I need to but it seems to be infield plays where I've run into the most crazy dropped balls or crap throws. 

I know I'm doing something wrong but what I can do better I'm not sure. Suggestions? 

​Honest question: What does this mean? I've never heard it before.

[maineump]

It sounds like you read the fly ball to be catchable by the infielder, so you set up the same as if it was a grounder for the possible play at first.

So if you come in and pivot, you might be in the way of a throw on a dropped ball? On a big field, if you 'get caught' behind the runner - take a short cut to the working area. I don't see the runner trying to take the extra base on the big field, because the ball would still be in shallow LF, so it probably won't be a problem.

What would you do if it was a ground ball and an overthrow? I would treat it the same way.

Edited May 7, 2015 by maineump

[ZebraStripes]

​Honest question: What does this mean? I've never heard it before.

​45 degree angle to watch the batter runner touch first base

[noumpere]

It sounds like you read the fly ball to be catchable by the infielder, so you set up the same as if it was a grounder for the possible play at first.

​That's how I read it, too.  If that's is what she did, that's wrong.  Pop-up means Pivot.  (with the possible exception on one that's right about where you'd pivot)

[zm1283]

​That's how I read it, too.  If that's is what she did, that's wrong.  Pop-up means Pivot.  (with the possible exception on one that's right about where you'd pivot)

​You can still pivot. Just pivot somewhere else. 

[Tksjewelry]

​That's how I read it, too.  If that's is what she did, that's wrong.  Pop-up means Pivot.  (with the possible exception on one that's right about where you'd pivot)

Yeah, that's what I was doing. I knew something was wrong about how I was set up, just didn't know how. 

It sounds as if you might be pivoting and then stopping. When the BR rounds 1B, he's already past you.

Instead, when you pivot, get in the habit of going a few steps toward 2B ahead of the BR as he rounds the base. You should also pick up the ball (visually, of course) once you see the BR's touch at 1B. That way, you'll know whether he's going to 2B and can adjust accordingly. If you do it right, you will have to run about 50 feet in the time it takes him to run 90 feet.

If the fielder comes up with the ball cleanly and the BR goes back into 1B, go with him, stopping at the cutout. As a general rule, if he's moving, you're moving.

The other thing to bear in mind is: we get older and slower, and the kids stay the same age. You will get beat: if not every play, then sometimes. Do your best to anticipate the play and get where you need to be, but take angle over distance, and be set for your call.

I looked briefly for a good example on YouTube and became demoralized at how bad the "training videos" are. The pivot training starts at 2:04 in this one: this guy does OK, but he starts WAY too deep and then is behind the runner when he pivots. He does seem to see the touch at 1B at least.

 

Thanks! I'll try that out tonight. 

[catsbackr]

Don't pivot.

[BillKen]

Is pro school teaching that PU takes the runner into 2B and U1 stays with the ball in A?

I've heard this rumor...

[Tksjewelry]

OK, last night was way better. I only got caught outside on a ground ball to F4 that got thrown poorly. It was such a bad throw that I went straight to third (no pivot!) to see the touch on second and was in position to see the touch on third as the ball sailed over the third baseman head. *shakeshead* yeah, it was a l-o-n-g hour fifty. On the bright side, I got to work on this a lot. 

[Tksjewelry]

Tournament ball today 13u AAA. Yeah, today was much much better. Thanks guys so much. I even had a complement on my field work from an umpire I didn't know who stopped by and watched our game for an inning or two after his was over. 

[DVA7130]

Is pro school teaching that PU takes the runner into 2B and U1 stays with the ball in A?

I've heard this rumor...

​No.

Unless they were talking about a trouble ball which is a different fish.

[noumpere]

Or perhaps when U1 gets pinched by F4.

 

Should happen < 1% of the time.