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LF → relay (SS) → 2B
Nobody on base. The batter lines a single to left field and rounds first hard, trying to stretch it into a double. The shortstop goes out as the relay man and the throw goes to second for the tag.
CF → relay (2B) → 2B
A base hit up the middle into center field. The batter rounds first hard looking for two, so the second baseman goes out as the relay man and the shortstop covers second for the tag.
SS (6) → 1B (3)
A routine ground ball to the shortstop with nobody on. The throw goes across to first for the out — and everyone else has a job backing it up or covering a base.
RF → relay (2B) → 3B
A ball slices down the right-field line and into the corner. The batter is flying around the bases for a triple, so the second baseman goes out as the relay man and the throw goes to third.
LF → relay (SS) → 2B
The ball splits the left-center gap and the batter hustles for a double. The left fielder runs it down and the shortstop becomes the relay man with the throw to second.
RF → cutoff (1B) → C at plate
A base hit to right field with a runner on second who is trying to score. The right fielder charges and throws through the first baseman, who lines up as the cutoff to the plate.
RF → cutoff (SS) → 3B
A single to right with a runner on first trying to go first-to-third. The shortstop becomes the cutoff lined up with third — ready to cut it if the runner holds, or relay it if he goes.
RF → cutoff (1B) → C at plate
A medium fly ball to right with a runner on third. The runner tags up and tries to score; the right fielder catches it and throws home through the first-base cutoff.
LF → cutoff (3B) → C
A single to left with runners on first and second; the lead runner tries to score. The left fielder throws home through the third-base cutoff — and the shortstop covers third.
SS fields → look runner → 1B (3)
A ground ball to short with a runner on third, one out, infield back. The shortstop checks the runner back, then takes the sure out at first and concedes the run.
Bunt → 1B fields → 2B covers first
A sacrifice bunt with a runner on first and nobody out. The corners crash, the second baseman covers first, and the defense takes the sure out at first base.
Bunt → P/3B fields → out at first, cover third
A sacrifice bunt with a runner on second. Take the sure out at first — but the shortstop must cover third so the runner can't advance there uncontested.
Bunt → P fields → throw home
A squeeze attempt with the runner breaking from third on the pitch. The corners and pitcher charge; field it clean and the only play may be a quick flip home.
Bunt → 1B/P fields → 2B covers first
A speedy batter drags a bunt toward first to beat it out. The first baseman and pitcher converge, one calls it, and the second baseman covers first for a bang-bang play.
SS (6) → 2B (4) → 1B (3)
A ground ball to the shortstop with a runner on first and nobody out. Short to second to first — the classic around-the-horn double play.
2B (4) → SS (6) → 1B (3)
A ground ball to the second baseman with a runner on first. He feeds the shortstop covering second, who relays to first to complete the turn.
3B (5) → 2B (4) → 1B (3)
A sharp ground ball to third with a runner on first. Third to second to first — around the horn for two.
1B (3) → SS (6) → 1B (3)
A ground ball to the first baseman with a runner on first. He throws to the shortstop covering second, then sprints back to first for the return throw.
P (1) → SS (6) → 1B (3)
A ground ball hit right back to the pitcher with a runner on first. He turns and feeds the shortstop covering second, who relays to first.
Priority: SS/2B over P/C
A high pop-up over the middle of the infield. Priority rules decide who takes it — the shortstop or second baseman calls off the pitcher and catcher, loud and early.
Priority: 1B vs C vs P — call it
A foul pop-up near the first-base dugout. The first baseman, catcher, and pitcher must sort out who has the angle — the corner infielder usually has the best one.
Priority: RF over 2B over 1B
A shallow bloop into no-man's land in short right. The right fielder charging in has priority and the easier play — he calls off the infielders.
Run him hard one way; one throw
A runner is hung up between first and second. Run him hard back toward first, force him to commit, and tag him with as few throws as possible.
Run him back to third; protect the plate
A runner is trapped between third and home. Always run him BACK toward third so the play stays away from the plate.
Catcher throws to 2B; watch the runner at 3rd
Runners on first and third; the runner on first breaks for second. The catcher throws through to second for the tag — but the whole defense is watching the runner at third.
Cut man reads the runner — home if he breaks
Same first-and-third look, but the runner on third gambles for the plate. The pitcher cuts the throw to second and fires home.
RF → relay (2B) → C at plate
A ball is driven into the right-center gap with a runner on first trying to score. The second baseman sprints out as the relay man, lines up with the plate, and the throw comes home.
3B charges, SS covers third — get the lead runner
An aggressive wheel play to get the lead runner at third. The third baseman crashes on the bunt while the shortstop sneaks behind the runner to cover third.
LF → relay (SS) → trail (2B) → 3B
A ball to the wall in left-center with a runner on first. Two relay men line up in tandem — the shortstop deep and the second baseman trailing — to cover the long throw and hold the runner.
P → 1B, tag at first
The standard pickoff. The pitcher comes set, then makes a quick, accurate throw to the first baseman holding the runner, who applies a fast low tag.
SS sneaks in → P throws on 'daylight'
The shortstop sneaks in behind the runner. When the pitcher sees daylight open up between the runner and the shortstop, he spins and throws to second.
Silent count: 2B breaks, P throws blind
A pre-set timing play. On an agreed silent count, the second baseman breaks to the bag and the pitcher throws without looking — pure trust and timing.
C → 1B behind a lazy lead
After receiving the pitch, the catcher snaps a throw behind a runner who took too big a secondary lead off first.
C → 3B behind a walking lead
With a runner taking a big walking lead off third, the catcher fires behind him to the third baseman sneaking back to the bag.
Throw through to 2B; bank the out, let R3 score
Sometimes the right play is the simple one: throw straight through to second, take the sure out, and concede the run from third. A pre-pitch team decision based on score and outs.
Trap R1 in a rundown; hold R3 at third
The runner on first takes off. Instead of throwing it around, the defense traps him in a rundown between first and second — and holds the runner at third the whole time.
Pitchout → C back-picks R3 leaning
Expecting the runner on third to get greedy, the defense calls a pitchout and the catcher fires to third to back-pick him.
RHB → 2B covers; C → 2B
A straight steal of second with a right-handed batter at the plate. Righties pull to the left side, so the shortstop stays to field it and the SECOND BASEMAN covers the bag.
LHB → SS covers; C → SS
A straight steal with a left-handed batter up. Lefties pull to the right side, so the second baseman stays to field it and the SHORTSTOP covers the bag.
C → 3B, tag at third
A runner steals third. The catcher must step to clear the right-handed batter and fire a strike to the third baseman covering the bag.
K + C → 2B = double play
The batter swings through strike three while the runner is stealing. The catcher catches it clean and fires to second for a strikeout–caught-stealing double play.
Read it late — MIF reacts and covers
The runner breaks late, as the catcher lazily tosses the ball back to the pitcher. The middle infielders must recognize it and scramble to cover second.
Corner fields → out at first; SS covers third
A sacrifice bunt with runners on first and second. The corners crash; the safe play is the out at first while the shortstop covers third so the lead runner can't advance freely.
Catcher's ball — mask off, find it, squeeze
A pop-up straight up over home plate. It's the catcher's ball — toss the mask the opposite way, find it over the shoulder, and make a soft catch.
1B fields → P covers first (3-1)
A ground ball pulls the first baseman off the bag to his right. The pitcher breaks for first the instant the ball is hit to the right side, takes the underhand flip on the run, and finds the bag.
SS chases → 3B tags — one throw
The runner at second is caught leaning on a pickoff and gets hung up between second and third. The shortstop sprints him toward third and delivers one throw ahead of the runner for the tag.
C retrieves → P covers the plate
A pitch skips to the backstop with a runner on third. Two players sprint at once: the catcher to the ball, the pitcher to the plate. The flip beats the runner — or you eat the ball.
C → 1B, from inside the line
Strike three bounces in the dirt and gets away. With two outs the batter can always run — the catcher finds the ball, steps to the inside of the baseline, and throws to first to end the inning.
SS (6) → C (2) → 1B (3)
Bases loaded, nobody out. Ground ball to short — the force at home erases the run first, then the catcher steps inside the line and fires to first for the 6-2-3 double play.
Priority: LF over SS over 3B
A dying quail floats into shallow left behind third base. Third baseman drifts back, shortstop tracks it over his shoulder, left fielder charges — and priority sorts it out: the player moving in beats the players backing up.
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