Leads off 3B

[RSR_man]

Walking lead? Regular lead?

What are some points about getting a lead off of 3B? What about wind up vs. stretch.

And....with other runners on base...if that matters.

[bkwrdkurout]

Leads off of third base usually reflect any systems/schemes which their HC has played or coached in. I've seen so many methods it can become self defeating. Some coaches force certain round things into a square. Careful of your young assistants who have gone off and played some college ball and who return to help. They want to teach some bizarre stuff/tricks even though basic leads and breaks should involve the athleticsm and baseball IQ of whose at third base from your team.

The situations: Score, inning, outs and whose on deck should contribute to some things. I watched this opposing coach almost every time a kid from his team tripled to lead off an inning - he would be overly super aggressive with his teachings/coaching his runner at third. 9/10 times we would jam the next hitter (no outs) and his hitter would hit the ball to our thirdbaseman and his runner was in no mans land.

Obviously Wind Up and from the Set (stretch) comes into play. We allow our runner to be as far off of the bag as their 3bman is off of third. Our runners peak at him constantly... Ones primary lead or walking lead should allow him to get back easily when necessary and ones secondary lead should be done rhythmically so that ones weight ends up over his front foot.

Again there are MANY teaching methods. A good catcher will make a runner at third pay the price for attempting to be agressive when something basic will suffice the moment. Our catcher will go after a runner too far off if it's prudent by throwing the ball right at the runner, sometimes making R3 hit the ground. If our F5 can anticipate and can defend that type of throw then we're in business.