Situation is less than 1 out and a runner on first. A bunt goes back to the pitcher. We had the SS covering on a steal and he broke to the bag with the runner.

Who is responsible for covering 3rd base? The runner on first took the extra base because 3rd was left uncovered. I always thought the shortstop should rotate over to third. Should we have had the 2nd baseman cover the bag on a steal?

Thoughts?


Bill

In this situation you should make the 3rd baseman stay covering 3rd. You make it the pitchers responsibility to cover the whole right side of the infield. While the pitcher covers the right side the first baseman should cover the left side. Imagine the plate being split in half; pitcher is right side, first baseman is left.

Another solution is IF the the third basman does not field the bunt but the pitcher or firstman do, then after not flieding the ball he has turn around and sprint back to the uncovered 3rd base.

Of course the situation varies on the players you have and the runners speed. If you have a quicker 3rd baseman then maybe the 2nd option would be better for your team. Especailly if you dont have a pitcher with some good speed to not only field his position but also cover the 3rd basemans duties as well.

But if you have a good athlete on the mound then maybe the 1st opption is better.

Honestly the way I like more is the 2nd because your 3rd baseman coming in on a ball has a greater chance to get the runner out at firstbase if the ball is bunted to him, rather than the pitcher who usually has to rush more and sometimes make an offbalance throw.

The most important thing with the second option is that your 3rd baseman gets back to 3rd if he doesnt get the bunted ball. This bunt coverage requires a little practice for the 3rd baseman for him to remember to run back a cover the base. But all in all is the most effective way I have seen it done.

Hope this info helps you.

Batter shows bunt and the steal is on SS covers 2nd- 2nd base covers 1st. 1st and 3rd charge. pitcher fields his area in front of the mound. If the 3b doesnt field the bunt - he returns to 3B. If the 3rd basemen does field it, the catcher covers 3B, as he should be popping out and running in that direction of the bunted ball.

Was it a left handed hitter at the plate? If not, the 2B should be covering on the steal. If 2B is covering I'd have 1st stay home, 3rd charge, and short cover 3rd. If it was a lefty I'd have short cover on the steal, third stay home, and first charge.

Thanks for all the input.

I learned a lot.

More input is welcome too.


Okay, I realize that as the boys move up levels the coverage is typically with a lefty the ss coves and with a righty batting the 2nd baseman covers.

Do you make exceptions based on the pitcher on the mound or just stick with the percentages?


Thanks,



BIll

quote:

Originally posted by sef22:
Batter shows bunt and the steal is on SS covers 2nd- 2nd base covers 1st. 1st and 3rd charge. pitcher fields his area in front of the mound. If the 3b doesnt field the bunt - he returns to 3B. If the 3rd basemen does field it, the catcher covers 3B, as he should be popping out and running in that direction of the bunted ball.

That is exactly how I was taught!I know this is an old thread but I would like to hear others opinions on coverage as well.

The reason being is that today at my son's youth baseball practice,we were running infield drills and bunt coverage came up.I was told I was wrong by the head coach for telling the 2b where he should be.He is the head coach so I didn't reply and left it at that.I don't have a problem with him running his team a ceratin way but my son is being confused when I teach him to do it one way and his coach tells him another.I would just like to hear how other coaches teach their bunt coverage as I would like to find out if I may be wrong in what I'm teaching my son.

This brought up another question for me. Since catchers are taught to block the plate, can they do it if they are covering third and can any infielder do it?

Doughnutman as long as you have the ball you can block access to any base at any time. But if you don't have the ball then you have to allow access to some part of the base.

Where most people mess up teaching bunt coverages is they tell corner fielders to charge but what not to do when they are not the one making the play. What ends up happening is they stand there and leave a base unoccupied.

Always teach the corner infielders to go back to the base they left as soon as they know they will not make the play.

For example a somewhat hard bunt back to the pitcher and you have both corners charging and 2B is covering 1B. Why have the 1B stand there (possibly in the way) while the pitcher is waiting for the 2B to cover 1B? As soon as the ball is down the corner fielder should know if he has it or not. In the play above he takes the throw from the pitcher and the 2B peels off and is back up in short right field.

It's easy to practice and takes good communication by all players.

Coach2709,
Would you prefer the 2B to take the throw from the pitcher who has the play in front of him(2B) or the 1B who is running back to the base with his back partially turned to the play?I guess the same question can be asked about if the the 1B fields the bunt,would you rather have the pitcher take the throw or the 2B?

I also agree that the players need to be taught what to do if they field as well as if they don't.

Thank you for the reply!!Aloha.

Here are my random thoughts on bunt coverages:

With a runner on first:

1. If the pitcher does not field the ball he goes to cover 3rd.
2. If the 3rd baseman does not field the ball he goes back to his bag.

3. The 1b-man creeps in but only goes hard to play the ball if he truly must play the ball (right up the first base line).. if the pitcher can get it get back and cover your bag.

4. ss/2b coverage of 2nd is dependent on the hitter, the pitcher, and the pitch (in upper level ball). Also work with your mid-infielders not to vacate too soon; they need to slide until the pitch is not going to be hit their way; then bust hard to the bag, catch and tag.

5. A catcher that will take charge of the bunt situation is worth his weight in sunflower seeds (that would be a bunch of seeds guys!!!)

Some guys are going to teach it differently.

Thats how I have always taught it trojan skipper.

quote:

Originally posted by Sugi:
Coach2709,
Would you prefer the 2B to take the throw from the pitcher who has the play in front of him(2B) or the 1B who is running back to the base with his back partially turned to the play?I guess the same question can be asked about if the the 1B fields the bunt,would you rather have the pitcher take the throw or the 2B?

I also agree that the players need to be taught what to do if they field as well as if they don't.

Thank you for the reply!!Aloha.

Sugi I guess I didn't explain it very well. Trojan Skipper did a better job with what he put here -

quote:

3. The 1b-man creeps in but only goes hard to play the ball if he truly must play the ball (right up the first base line).. if the pitcher can get it get back and cover your bag.

Think of it like this - if the bunt is hard down 3B or back at the pitcher the 1B should be able to see this and stay / get back in plenty of time. If the bunt is soft out in front of the plate then he should see this and realize he can't get there first so have enough time to stay / get back. But if the ball is bunted hard down the 1B line then he needs to see it and realize he will be the first one to get there so he comes up hard.

We teach the 2B to always assume he is going to have the bag until he sees or is called off by the 1B and then he gets into backup position.

Also, if the 1B is making the play then it might become a get over play with the pitcher.

Basically if you have the guys talking (saying mine or ball or whatever you have them say) when they want it EARLY then it allows the rest of the defense to adjust.

Hope that makes better sense than what I put earlier.

Thanks for the replies guys.I recognize all your user names as well respected coaches/people here on HSBBW and appreciate your thoughts.I was allways taught to cover as sef22 stated but it's been alot of years since I've played and many things may have changed since then.Nothing that has been posted thus far backs up my coaches coverage so I'm questioning his strategy/coverage in my mind.
If any others have thoughts on this subject,please post your coverage.

Great thread guys. There are three things you have to stress imo.
#1 Players know their responsibilites.
#2 Communication is KEY!
#3 Practice , Practice , Practice

The best teams in defending the bunt are also the teams that are the best in executing the bunt offense. Why? Because everytime you are working on bunt O you are working on bunt D.

Its very important to rep this over and over and over. Players learn each other and they learn how to properly communicate while making plays. Some guys can get there sooner , some guys can cover more ground , understanding your team mates strengths and limitations is key.

You must communicate on the field and you must get an out.

trojan-skipper and Coach May, I have to ask this question of the both of you or anyone else that may want to respond. I would love to pick your minds here for a little bit in regards to why you prefer to have your pitcher cover third with a man on first.
I prefer to have my catcher cover third in this situation because I feel that he has more control of what is unfolding on the field. A quality catcher can better judge the speed of the play and would be a far more reliable fielder if the play gets to the stage of a runner trying to advance the extra bag on a throw to first. I think that it is a higher percentage play with the catcher in this position.
I don't like the idea of a pitcher sustaining an injury or possibly making a poor fielding effort or a bad throw to another bag.
I am offering up reasons why I prefer an alternative approach and I would love to here yours so that I can compare notes.

CoachO,

I teach it like Coach May (surprise!). The reason being is pretty simple...I like fewer moving parts and simplified responsibilities. The catcher's job is to direct the defense and control the plate area.With a runner on 1B, the 3B and P are charging. Whoever DOESN'T field the ball has 3B coverage responsibility.

Coach 0:
I have noticed a lot of colleges sending the catcher down; and I'm okay with that but for my level it is a very simple teach: 'if you don't get ball you get bag'

also, that kid pitching for me is probably going to play ss or 2b in another game so he is competent at covering bags and making tag plays (small school roster)...

also, do you really feel your catcher will make a better play on a bounced throw (catch and tag) than an infielder would? in my situation it isn't; those are the reasons I've considered sending my catcher down but I'm sticking with the simpler method.

I was trying to get some responses because I felt that some of the post were just going through the motions and doing what someone had just told them and not really knowing why.

I have no problem with any of your philosophy and fully appreciate what works for someone else. Glad to hear the reasons why they are done that way.

Thanks everybody for posting your coverages and especially the "why" you do it that way.Good discussions so far.The reason I joined HSBBW was to absorb/learn/discuss this type of reasoning.On the level that my son is at(youth baseball),I think keeping it simple is the key.The thought process and arm strength of a 8 year old is going to be far different than say a high school or college player.

How about some discussion on how you defend the bunt with a man on third,1 down or less.Let's say for example on a delayed play at the plate,squeeze bunt and a suicide squeeze.

quote:

Originally posted by Sugi:
How about some discussion on how you defend the bunt with a man on third,1 down or less.Let's say for example on a delayed play at the plate,squeeze bunt and a suicide squeeze.

What's the score/inning?