First thing to teach a pitcher who is moving to open bases?

[HYP]

I don't think the major problem is learning to much information at once. It is more of runners running everywhere. You can tell the youth to not worry about the runners all you want, but you know what is going through their minds. It is discouraging watching the other team run all over the place, and not being able to do much about it. I believe leading off comes with moving the bases. However, this then puts stress on the catcher.

First lesson in self control. Pitchers learn quickly to throw strikes with runners on base and defense makes plays. This will limit the damage of runners stealing.

[Chris O'Leary]

Do you mean just step back and hold runner or step back and throw to first? I personally never teach stepping over the rubber. I only teach pivot and throw. The step back IMO is a wasted move. Unless you believe the runner is getting to big of a lead and you just need to regroup. You can then just step off.

Stepping off doesn't accomplish much, but it's a first step toward getting pitchers to just think about the runner and not just let them get a running start.

[jdfromfla]

I agree with Chris, barges wanted basic, it doesn't get more basic than stepping off or just holding the ball. At this age, depending on skill-set on the field, each time the ball leaves his hand messing with pick-off attempts is a heightened scoring possibility.
I like Root's approach also but you'll have to practice it with a trusted fielder many times to get it reasonably safe to work in game situations.

[skipper5]

If this were a thread about how to steal bases, then guys would be posting that the pickoff moves of most RHPs don't pose much of a threat or deterrent. And I would agree.

But since it's a thread about how to deter basestealing, guys are posting about how important it is to throw over.

[jdfromfla]

Well throwing over is really only part of the methodology of keeping the run game suppressed.
I teach varying time holding the ball, stepping off and a few pics. At the age range barges is discussing the low pct. of lost bases, holding back the flood gates would seem the most logical step to begin, so I recommend the plays easiest on the pitcher and fielders and a great basis/foundation for beginning to learn and incorporate pics into the infield strategy. Top-level travel squads may be able to initiate the process of learning pics but my expectation would be that they (Pics) need a bit more mature player/athleticism to pull off reliably...with of course exceptions for the "elite, mostly elite and super-elite".
I understand the whats and whys of the other posters..just laying out my logic too.

[Roothog66]

If this were a thread about how to steal bases, then guys would be posting that the pickoff moves of most RHPs don't pose much of a threat or deterrent. And I would agree.

But since it's a thread about how to deter basestealing, guys are posting about how important it is to throw over.

LOL! That's how baseball coaching works, or didn't you get the memo? That reminds me of a time when I was a highschool pitching coach and the head coach came over and gave my pitchers a big speech on how important it was to get hitters to hit the ball on the ground. Keep it low, he said. The ground ball is a pitchers best friend. Out of curiosity, I followed him over to the batting cage where he went into a coaching session teaching hitters to hit down on the ball and keep it hard on the ground. I could only shake my head.

[HYP]

If this were a thread about how to steal bases, then guys would be posting that the pickoff moves of most RHPs don't pose much of a threat or deterrent. And I would agree.

But since it's a thread about how to deter basestealing, guys are posting about how important it is to throw over.

Agreed. RHP picking over very rarely will become an out. At the high school level we use it, mostly, to gain information and possibly take away a little of his lead. Problem is, it sometimes increases the lead. We will do it to see if batter is squaring to bunt and which way the runner is leaning.

The only time it will become an out is if the pitcher gets away with a balk move and the runner was going.

[bbrages]

RHP can pick effectively with a runner on third, though, right? I'm expecting a lot of runners making it to third, lol.

[Roothog66]

Agreed. RHP picking over very rarely will become an out. At the high school level we use it, mostly, to gain information and possibly take away a little of his lead. Problem is, it sometimes increases the lead. We will do it to see if batter is squaring to bunt and which way the runner is leaning.

The only time it will become an out is if the pitcher gets away with a balk move and the runner was going.

You just mentioned the negative side effect I've seen a number of times. If your pickoff move isn't very good it just encourages the runner to take a bigger lead.

[Roothog66]

In fact, one thing we used to do at 9 and 10 with a pitcher who did, indeed, have a good pickoff move was to have him throw weakly over a few times to encourage a bigger lead and then get him with the real move. Later my pitchers learn to do this with mechanics so that they don't really throw over faster, just more compact and efficient.

[omg]

Uh, lets see;

1. Come to a complete and definite stop in the set position.
2. Put the pivot foot next to the rubber and not on top of the rubber.
3. Then, after that, have the chin go down when looking at a runner on first, not up and don't turn the shoulder to look.