"Coach Dunns Quick Pitches" -- By Coach Jack Dunn

Enhanced Situation Hitting Drills PART II

Additional Situation Hitting Drills

There are many situation-hitting variations that can be practiced. The following are a few examples:

Runner on Second Base Only.

This drill is designed to teach the base runner at second base to react correctly to ground balls and fly balls when he is the only runner on base.

Areas of emphasis and concentration for the base runner and coach.

1. Primary and Secondary Leads Off Second Base.
1. Primary Lead:
1. General Rule: As far as you know you can get back safely!
2. Establish lead as the pitcher goes into his stretch.
3. Look only at pitcher! Not at the infielders.
4. Build your lead as pitcher delivers the ball.
2. Secondary Lead:
1. Two or three shuffle steps sideways as the pitch is delivered.
2. The base runner should not cross over until he is ready to advance toward third base.
3. Crossing of the legs prematurely makes the base runner vulnerable to being picked off, or being doubled up on a line drive as loss of lateral movement results.
2. Ground Balls: Know when to advance to third base.
1. Advance if:
1. The ball is by the pitcher and to the shortstop's left... Be sure the ball is by the pitcher!
2. The ball is topped, or is a slow roller that brings the third baseman in toward home plate.
3. The ball is a slow roller to the shortstop that brings him into the baseline or farther.
4. The ball takes the third baseman deep into the "hole."
5. The ball takes the shortstop into "the hole" toward third base. "Read White" and advance on his throw to first base.
6. The ball forces the third baseman to backhand the ball behind third base. "Read White!" Advance on the third baseman's throw to first base.
2. Attention: If the base runner makes a mistake and advances when he shouldn't, he should "get in the run down" to allow the batter/runner time to advance to second base... no damage done!
1. Fly Balls
• The number of outs dictates how the runner at second base will react to fly balls hit to the outfield.
• These fly balls are often hit deep and the base runner is uncertain whether they will be caught or not.
• The strategy for the runner at second base remains the same whether other bases are occupied or not.
• No Out Strategy = Tag UP.
• The base runner "tags up" on all fly balls hoping to advance to third base after the catch
2. If the fly ball drops in, the base runner will at least be at third base with nobody out if he is unable to score.
3. If the base runner "hangs out" and does not tag up and the ball is caught the offensive team now has a runner on second base with one out and has lost the third base with one out situation, thus greatly decreasing their chances of scoring a run.
4. Tag up on all routine fly balls. Fake a break to third base to draw a throw, or advance if possible.
5. One Out Strategy = Hang Out.
• The base runner "hangs out," that is, goes as far off second base as he knows he can get back safely on fly balls he is uncertain will be caught!
• By "hanging out" the base runner greatly enhances his chances of scoring should the ball drop safely.
• If the ball is caught, the base runner returns to second base. The offensive team now has a runner on second base and two outs.
• If the base runner "tags up" instead of "hanging out" and the ball drops in safely the offensive team may lose a scoring opportunity... third base vs. a run.
• With one out, scoring a run should have priority over third base on fly balls that the base runner is uncertain will be caught.
6. Hang out! If in doubt with one out!
• Exception to the rule:
  Regardless of the number of outs, the runner on second base should "hang out" on all shallow fly balls in front of the outfielders. The rationale is that the runner will not be able to advance after the catch because the outfielders will be too close to the infielder. Hanging out gives the runner a chance to advance should the ball drop safely.
• The base runner at second base can do one of two things. He can either "tag up" or "hang out" which one he chooses can impact the out come of the game.
7. Hitters – with no outs should hit the ball to the right side of the infield to advance the runner to third base.
• Summary: the base runner at second base must understand which base has priority when a fly ball is hit to the outfield with less than two outs. The Priority System depends upon the number of outs. Third base vs. home plate (scoring a run.)
• Third Base has priority with no outs... Tag UP.
• Home plate (Scoring a run) has priority with one out... Hang OUT if in doubt.
8. Run the drill with no outs and then with one out to expose the base runner to both situations.

Runner on Third Base Only -- This drill is designed to:

1. Give the hitters practice "driving in" runs.
2. To give the base runner at third base practice correct base running techniques.
3. To give the defense practice throwing the runner out at home plate.
4. Run Drill mostly as a one out situation.
5. Hitters:
1. Read the Defense: If the infield is "playing back," the defense is conceding the run. A ground ball to the shortstop or second baseman will score a run.
2. Reading the defense will take the pressure off the hitter if the infield is playing back.
3. Concede Power for Contact: with a runner on third base and less than two outs "get the ball in play!" Use a compact swing, that is, don't swing for the fences.
6. RBI Contest: Have the hitters count the number of times they successfully drive the runner from third base home. This will create competition and force the hitters to concentrate.
7. Base Runner at Third Base:
1. Primary Lead – In foul territory about one foot off the foul line... if the runner is hit with a batted ball while in foul territory, he is not out.
2. Rule – Lead off is down in foul, back in fair territory to block the catcher's view of third base.
3. General Rule – The length of the lead off third base is determined by how far the third baseman plays from the base... runner can be the same distance from base as the third baseman. If the third baseman stands on the base, lead off as though you were leading off first base.
8. Secondary Lead at Third Base:
1. After taking the primary lead, the runner is ready for the secondary or walking lead, which is a four-step sequence... crossover with the left leg, then a step with the right leg followed by left and right steps. Steps one and two are "momentum steps." Steps three and four are "timing steps." The runner is walking directly toward the hitter in foul territory during this sequence.
2. If done correctly, the weight will land on the right foot as the ball enters the "impact zone." The right foot then becomes the "accelerator or brake."
9. Pitcher from Stretch:
1. This will probably result in a two-step secondary lead eliminating the momentum steps. Runner should be sure pitcher throws to home plate and doesn't have a pick off move to third base before taking the secondary lead.
2. Begin the lead when the pitcher's throwing arm is even with his body, a split second before his stride foot hits the ground. This will eliminate the pick off possibility. The secondary lead will have to be done quickly to insure proper timing and a large enough lead.
10. The runner on third base does one of two things when the ball is hit and nothing else. He either...
1. Tags up – on any ball hit in the air. Line drive or high fly.
2. Goes – attempts to score on a ground ball unless told otherwise by the coach beforehand.
3. If the runner will obviously be thrown out at home plate, the runner should get into a rundown. This will allow the batter runner to advance into scoring positions while the run down is taking place.
11. Winning Run on Third Base Drill: Runner on third base no outs or one out situation. The runner on third base represents the winning run in the last inning of the game. This situation is rarely if ever practiced and when it presents itself in a game is unfamiliar and intimidating.
1. Defensively:
• Infield on the edge of the grass: the infield must prevent the runner from scoring or the game is over.
• Outfielders in a short outfield position.
• The outfielders must assume a position that is shallow enough that it will enable them to throw the runner out at home plate should he attempt to score.
• Deep fly balls will score the runner anyway. The shallow position may enable the outfielder to catch a line drive that otherwise would be a base hit, plus prevent the runner from scoring on short fly balls.
• Offensively:
• The hitters' main concern is getting the ball in play. With the infield up close his chances of getting a hit are doubled so: "Concede power for contact" use a compact swing.

Runner on Second Base with Two Outs

1. Purpose:
1. To teach batter/runner to advance aggressively to second base forcing the defense to decide whether to cut the throw off allowing the runner from second base to score or to play on the runner attempting to score.
2. If the play is made on the runner attempting to score from second base and he is safe, the batter/runner will have advanced to second base and will be in scoring position.
3. If the throw from the outfield is cut-off and a play is made on the batter/runner advancing toward second base, the batter/runner must be extremely careful not to be tagged out before the base runner attempting to score from second base has crossed home plate.
4. "Get Hung Up" if there is any doubt that the base runner has not crossed home plate. This will allow the run to count before the third out is made.
5. In effect, the offense has conceded an out for a run.
2. Procedure:
1. Full team in the field.
2. Catcher in full gear behind the home plate.
3. Batting practice pitcher (assistant coach) or JUGS Pitching Machine on the mound throwing strikes.
4. Pitcher stands behind the mound and practices backing up home plate.
5. Runner on second base... two outs.
6. Runner on second base must attempt to score on all hits to the outfield.
7. Infield permits all ground balls and line drives to go through to the outfield. They make no attempt to field the ball.
8. Infielders assume defensive alignment position, and/or cover the proper base after ball has passed the infield.
9. Hitter advances to second base to force cut-off.
10. Hitter gets hung up if necessary with two outs to allow runner from second base to score.
11. Place pylon twenty (20) feet from home plate on the third base foul line... Base runner from second base "stops here" to avoid contact with the catcher. Pylon acts as a barrier and the runner is not to go beyond this point.
12. Catcher receives the outfielder's throws and simulates a play at home plate.

CONCLUSION:

Situation Hitting is an excellent way to practice defensive and offensive situations under game like conditions. Rather than take batting practice with everyone standing around except the batter, multiple aspects of the game can be taught and practiced simultaneously.

For more from Coach Dunn click on Coaches Corner on the JUGS® website.