Covering 2nd base on a steal

[azmatsfan]

As far as middle infielders covering second on a steal attempt, I've seen both straddling the bag and covering in front of the bag (home plate side) taught by coaches. Also, I see both in the Majors Leagues. Personally I've taught my teams (Usually 9U or 10U) to cover in front of the bag. It lessens the chance of injuries and decreases the chance of the ball hitting off the runner before it reaches the fielder. I'm just curious of some of the thoughts out there. Is this just personal preference?

[vansmack]

As a 2nd baseman I always straddled the bag for a few reasons. You can use the bag to protect yourself and the ball can get to me faster in the air than I can catch and tag. It's a lot faster to receive the ball and drop my glove than it is to catch turn and tag

[JCincy]

In The Ripken Way they recommend straddling the bag -- the left foot on the right field corner of the bag and the right foot on the opposite corner. This is the better position, IF your catcher can consistently throw strikes to the base.

My 12 yo rec league catchers still don't get the throw to 2nd on a consistent basis. Therefore, I have my players play on the infield side of the bag, ready to move to the ball. If he has to avoid the runner to get to the ball, that can be a real problem and cause us to give up another base.

[Jake Patterson]

In The Ripken Way they recommend straddling the bag -- the left foot on the right field corner of the bag and the right foot on the opposite corner. This is the better position, IF your catcher can consistently throw strikes to the base.

My 12 yo rec league catchers still don't get the throw to 2nd on a consistent basis. Therefore, I have my players play on the infield side of the bag, ready to move to the ball. If he has to avoid the runner to get to the ball, that can be a real problem and cause us to give up another base.

Why would you teach straddling a bag... Does this not give an open opportunity for the runner??? Why not slightly in front?

[Ursa Major]

In The Ripken Way they recommend straddling the bag -- the left foot on the right field corner of the bag and the right foot on the opposite corner. This is the better position, IF your catcher can consistently throw strikes to the base.

My 12 yo rec league catchers still don't get the throw to 2nd on a consistent basis. Therefore, I have my players play on the infield side of the bag, ready to move to the ball. If he has to avoid the runner to get to the ball, that can be a real problem and cause us to give up another base.

It really depends on the age level of the kids and the skill level and propensities of the players. It's okay to straddle the bag so long as the kid has the presence of mind to push off with his left foot towards home of the throw will be off line, particularly to the 1B side of the bag, so he can catch it in front of the runner. But he has to be far enough back to catch the ball on the bag if the throw happens to be online. It drives me nuts to see a SS take a good throw three feet in front of the bag and actually have to step back to make the tag, rendering the chance of catching the runner pretty much nil. A reasonable compromise for JCincy's kids might be to have them brace the outside of their left foot against the inside point of the bag (this tells them where they are without having to look at the bag), but keeps them out of harm's way on most throws.

But, like I said, you have to know the kid. Some out of habit will reflexively come towards home to catch the ball, so you need to start them deeper. Others may retreat away from the ball, so you'll want to start them on the plate side of the bag.

[jbolt_2000]

Why would you teach straddling a bag... Does this not give an open opportunity for the runner??? Why not slightly in front?

Aren't you setting yourself up injury if you position yourself in front?
I can see setting your right foot in front of the base closer to the RF side to force the runner into the middle or inside of the bag. But aren't you in danger of getting spiked in the shin by an aggressive runner?

[bryan2137]

My 12 yo rec league catchers still don't get the throw to 2nd on a consistent basis.

Try to get them to throw the long hop. Most kids at that age should be able to throw it consistently on a line and have it land between the base and the mound giving the cover man a nice long 1 hopper to receive cleanly

[PhillyGreen]

Why would you teach straddling a bag... Does this not give an open opportunity for the runner??? Why not slightly in front?

We teach straddling the bag because the catcher is taught to throw the ball at the base and not the person covering. This way the ball is already low if right in front of the bag the runner slides into the tag or if it is right at the base it makes for an easier sweep tag.

[Standballdad]

We teach straddling the bag because the catcher is taught to throw the ball at the base and not the person covering. This way the ball is already low if right in front of the bag the runner slides into the tag or if it is right at the base it makes for an easier sweep tag.

Standing in front of the bag will give the advantage to the runner on a good throw. Fielder must catch the ball and then apply a tag.

We also teach the straddle. If a ball is in the dirt and you are in front of the bag, it will require you to pick the ball short of the bag and then apply the tag. If you are straddling the bag, a ball in the dirt can be picked at the bag. Its much quicker.

[CircleChange11]

Straddling the bag is great ... until the throw sails toward the 1B side (even a little).

I teach in front of the bag ... then any throw sailing to the 1B side can still be caught without collision and even an attempt at a tag.

Straddling the bag requires consistent strikes by the catcher. Since shortstops are often the teams best player, I'm not sure why you'd want to put him in that spot. At the ages where metal spikes are the norm, seems like you're asking for it.

Why give the runner a chance to interfere with the catch? If you're on the home plate side of the bag and a "strike is thrown" the glove shouldn't really need to move to make a tag (still can drop down), unless the defender reaches for the throw as if he were stretching at 1B (who teaches that?).

We went through this all year this season. "Get in front of the base" (but our SS was unconsciously putting his left foot ON the base). Same thing at 3rd or any other base when a throw is coming from the OF. Again, why give the runner a chance to get in your way?

[Standballdad]

Straddling the bag is great ... until the throw sails toward the 1B side (even a little).

I teach in front of the bag ... then any throw sailing to the 1B side can still be caught without collision and even an attempt at a tag.

Straddling the bag requires consistent strikes by the catcher. Since shortstops are often the teams best player, I'm not sure why you'd want to put him in that spot. At the ages where metal spikes are the norm, seems like you're asking for it.

Why give the runner a chance to interfere with the catch? If you're on the home plate side of the bag and a "strike is thrown" the glove shouldn't really need to move to make a tag (still can drop down), unless the defender reaches for the throw as if he were stretching at 1B (who teaches that?).

We went through this all year this season. "Get in front of the base" (but our SS was unconsciously putting his left foot ON the base). Same thing at 3rd or any other base when a throw is coming from the OF. Again, why give the runner a chance to get in your way?

Taking the ball in front of the bag is slower. Let the ball travel to the bag. At the higher levels it does matter.

[CircleChange11]

Taking the ball in front of the bag is slower. Let the ball travel to the bag. At the higher levels it does matter.

After I wrote that I read the rest of the comments and it became apparent we're talking about players at different levels ... specifically, dealing with catchers that are likely far more accurate and consistent.

[Standballdad]

After I wrote that I read the rest of the comments and it became apparent we're talking about players at different levels ... specifically, dealing with catchers that are likely far more accurate and consistent.

Okay, fair enough.

[Swing2Hit]

I read sometime ago that the proper way to cover the bag is to begin in front of bag toward catcher with feet at shoulder width apart. If throw is on line drop step with your left foot to now straddle bag. If throw is not on line and into the runner, fielder has an opportunity to move forward without fear of being plowed by the base-runner. Once a fielder gets locked into straddling the bag there is little chance that a throw too far up the line can be caught without someone getting hurt. To do this the fielder has to have time and often that is not the case. I teach them to go toward the front of the bag and if throw looks good angle a little back to straddle. They have to make the call. Catching a ball in front of the bag makes for a very long and slow tagging process.