Bunt Defense

Baseball Defense CUTOFF & RELAYS

Part 2: Bunt Defense

Table of Contents

Chapter 20: Bunt Defense - Basic Runner on 1st ...... 3 Chapter 21: Bunt Defense - Play at 3rd with Runners on 1st and 2nd ...... 4 Chapter 22: Bunt Defense - “Wheel Play” Shortstop Early Break to 3rd Base with Runners on 1st and 2nd ...... 5 Chapter 23: Bunt Defense - “Wheel Play” Fake with Pick-Off at 2nd Base with Runners on 1st and 2nd...... 6 Chapter 24: Bunt Defense - Fake Pick-Off at 2nd Base with Runners on 1st and 2nd ...... 7 Chapter 25: Bunt Defense – 2nd Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st ...... 8 Chapter 26: Bunt Defense - First Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st ...... 9 Chapter 27: Bunt Defense - First Baseman Early Break Pick-Off from Catcher with Runner on 1st ...... 10

LF RF

SS 2B

3B 1B P

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Move forward to home plate area. React to ball. Catcher: Cover area immediately in front of home plate. Move to cover 3rd base if 3B fields the ball. Make play call for fielders. 1st Baseman: Charge in when pitcher throws ball. Cover 1st base area if ball goes by pitcher. 2nd Baseman: Hold your ground until you are sure the ball has been bunted, then cover 1st base for play.. 3rd Baseman: Charge in when pitcher throws ball. Cover 3rd base area. Shortstop: Hold your ground until you are sure the ball has been bunted, then cover 2nd base for play. Left Field: Back up 2nd base area. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base. NOTE: While the intent is to get the out with the lead runner and possibly turning a double play, always make sure of at least getting an out in this situation.

Chapter 21: Bunt Defense - Play at 3rd with Runners on 1st and 2nd

LF RF

SS 2B

P 1B

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Throw a quality strike, not convinced batter is bunting. Cover 3rd base side. Catcher: Cover area immediately in front of home plate. Move to cover 3rd base if 3B fields the ball. Make play call for fielders. * 1st Baseman: Charge in when pitcher throws ball. Cover 1st base area. 2nd Baseman: Shorten up. Hold ground until sure batter is bunting. Cover 1st base. 3rd Baseman: Hold position and cover 3rd base if pitcher can field bunt. Call pitcher off ball if you think you can field the ball and make out at 1st base. Shortstop: Keep runner close at 2nd base, then cover 2nd base. Left Field: Back up 3rd base area for overthrows. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base. NOTE: While the intent is to get the out with the lead runner and possibly turning a double play, always make sure of at least getting an out in this situation. Voice commands: 1-1-1 or 3-3-3.

Chapter 22: Bunt Defense - “Wheel Play” Shortstop Early Break to 3rd Base with Runners on 1st and 2nd

LF RF

SS 2B

3B P 1B

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Keep the runner close to 2nd base. As you get into the set position, the SS will take a hard step towards 2nd base, freezing the runner. When the SS breaks towards 3rd base and has two steps on the runner, deliver a high strike to the batter and cover bunts directly in front of the pitching mound. If the runner takes off towards 3rd base when the SS breaks, either step off or complete an inside pick-off move towards 2nd base and get the runner in a run down. Catcher: Covers home plate and directs the play in front of him. 1st Baseman: Charges toward home plate and has 1st base area coverage. 2nd Baseman: Covers 2nd base on play and will key off SS’s break to 3rd base. 3rd Baseman: Breaks towards home plate for coverage of bunts down 3rd base area. If the runner breaks with the SS and the pitcher steps off, or completes an inside pickoff move, he should retreat back to 3rd base to cover the play at third.

Shortstop: Controlled, walking approach off of the right shoulder of the runner, fakes a pickoff at 2nd base, then breaks hard towards 3rd base. Left Field: Move in towards 3rd base area for overthrows. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base.

Chapter 23: Bunt Defense - “Wheel Play” Fake with Pick-Off at 2nd Base with Runners on 1st and 2nd

LF RF

SS 2B

3B 1B P

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Key off SS’s fake break to 3rd base. Pickoff throw to 2B. Catcher: Cover home plate. 1st Baseman: Charge toward home plate. 2nd Baseman: Cover 2nd base on pickoff. Key off SS’s fake break to 3rd base. 3rd Baseman: Fake break to home plate off SS’s fake break.

Shortstop: Controlled, walking approach off of the right shoulder of the runner, then break toward 3rd base. Left Field: Move in towards 2nd base area. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base.

Chapter 24: Bunt Defense - Fake Pick-Off at 2nd Base with Runners on 1st and 2nd

LF RF

SS 2B

3B 1B P

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Key on runner. The runner must take a step back toward 2nd base when the SS fakes to the bag. Pitcher delivers a quality strike, then covers 3rd base side. Take a deeper angle toward 3rd base on this play. Catcher: Cover area immediately in front of home plate. Call play as it develops. 1st Baseman: Charge toward home plate covering 1st base side. 2nd Baseman: Shorten up. Cover 1st base on play. 3rd Baseman: Same as regular bunt defense, if ball gets past pitcher, call pitcher off and make the play at first. If pitcher makes play, 3B must cover 3rd base for play. Shortstop: Must allow pitcher to come to set position and have eye contact before breaking toward 2nd base. Break hard behind runner at 2nd base. Has option to run pickoff play off sign. Left Field: Move in towards 3rd base area to back up throws. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base.

Chapter 25: Bunt Defense – 2nd Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st

LF RF

SS 2B

1 3B B P

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Hold runner at 1st base. Throw a quality strike, not convinced batter is bunting. Cover area in front of mound for bunt. Catcher: Cover area immediately in front of home plate. Move to cover 3rd base if 3B fields the ball. Make play call for fielders. * 1st Baseman: Holds runner on 1st base, maintains his position at bag. 2nd Baseman: Shorten up. Charge in towards 1st baseman cover area for bunt. 3rd Baseman: Takes a starting position several steps on the infield grass and when pitcher throws ball to home, charges in to cover 3rd base line for bunt. Shortstop: Maintains normal positioning, holds his position to make sure batter is bunting, then covers 2nd base for play at second.

Left Field: Back up 2nd base area for overthrows. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base. NOTE: While the intent is to get the out with the lead runner and possibly turning a double play, always make sure of at least getting an out in this situation.

Chapter 26: Bunt Defense - First Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st

LF RF

SS 2B

3B 1B P

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Throw a quality strike, not convinced batter is bunting. Cover area directly in front of the mound area for bunt. Catcher: Cover area immediately in front of home plate. Move to cover 3rd base if 3B fields the ball. Make play call for fielders. * 1st Baseman: Holds the runner on 1st base and then charges in to cover the 1st base side for bunt when pitcher is in the set position and begins his throw to home. 2nd Baseman: Shorten up. Hold ground until sure batter is bunting. Covers 1st base for throw. 3rd Baseman: Positions himself several steps on the grass prior to the pitch, and covers the 3rd base line for bunt. Shortstop: Maintains normal positioning, holds ground until sure batter is bunting, then covers 2nd base for throws.

Left Field: Back up 3rd base area for overthrows. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base. NOTE: While the intent is to get the out with the lead runner and possibly turning a double play, always make sure of at least getting an out in this situation.

Chapter 27: Bunt Defense - First Baseman Early Break Pick-Off from Catcher with Runner on 1st

LF RF

SS 2B

1B 3B P

Positioning: Fly Ball: Ground Ball: Throw: C

Pitcher: Throw a quality strike, not convinced batter is bunting. Cover 3rd base side. Catcher: Gives the pitchout sign to pitcher. On the pitchout he throws to 1st base, if there is a play at 1st base, with the 2nd baseman covering. 1st Baseman: When the pitcher begins his throw to home, he will begin to charge in to defend a bunt. When the catcher throws to the 2nd baseman covering 1st base for the pickoff, he then retreats back to 1st base in case there is a run down with the runner. 2nd Baseman: Shorten up and when the pitcher throws a pitchout to the catcher, he sprints to 1st base to cover for the pick-off throw from the catcher. 3rd Baseman: Takes a position several steps onto the infield grass and charges in as if he is expecting a bunt down the 3rd base line by the hitter.

Shortstop: Maintains normal position, then cover 2nd base in case of the runner takes towards 2nd base. Left Field: Back up 2nd base area for overthrows.. Center Field: Back up 2nd base for overthrows. Right Field: Move in towards 1st base area for backup to throws to 1st base.

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