Why You Should Become a Better Base Runner

Joey Casa
Joey Casa
Jul 27, 2017 · 4 min read

“Excellent teams play ball at an excellent level.

Good teams play ball at a good level. Excellent teams play ball at an excellent level. There are no breaks and there are no days where you’d rather be doing something else. There is no greater reward than giving something you love your absolute best. It happens naturally and as an indirect result, the fun of the game comes to life. So I ask you, why the hell would you ignore a fundamental and critical element of the game? Games are won and lost on the base paths just as they are in any other aspect. So when you walk away from a loss and think, “Well, I did everything I could in that game,” think again. Think about your base running. Could you have advanced to third on a carom? Maybe if you did, then the next meaningless ground ball for an out would have turned into a meaningful RBI. Errors are made on the base paths nonstop, even when they’re not visible, but excellent teams keep this to a minimum. They make each pitch count on the bases. How? Through focus and knowing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing in every situation.

Here’s 3 of the most common mistakes that players make on the bases:

1. They don’t check the positioning of the outfielders before every pitch.
2. They don’t EXPECT ball in the dirt the moment the pitcher toes the rubber.
3. They don’t take their secondary leads seriously and aggressively.

Fortunately, these three mistakes have something in common; they happen between your ears and can be easily corrected. Don’t worry about being fast enough to run bases. Nobody is asking you to steal as many bases as Ricky Henderson. I think the game has lowered expectations by letting free bases slip away. When the opposing team is giving you bases, take advantage of them! Take the right steps to maximize focus and make the other team pay for throwing the ball in the dirt or leaving the right center gap wide-open. This responsibility lies with the players and the coaches.

Here’s a few pointers to improve your game RIGHT NOW. When you reach base, look in the outfield. If they’re hugging the line, be ready to run on a ball that was hit in the gap. Most of the time there should be no hesitation as to whether or not a ball will drop or be caught. This is the difference between scoring and being stranded on base. Understanding when you can advance more than one base by knowing your own speed and the position of the outfielders is critical. If you have the discipline to do this every time, you won’t miss a beat.

Second, the reason players don’t advance on balls in the dirt is because they are NOT expecting the ball to be in the dirt. With every pitch, especially with two strikes or a good hitter up, you should be telling yourself, “ball in the dirt.” In doing so, you will begin to differentiate between pitches and already be on the move as the ball hits the ground. Even a cleanly blocked ball does not guarantee you will be thrown out. Major league catchers have trouble throwing runners out when they leave on ball in the dirt with no hesitation. Now I’m not saying it happens in the MLB all the time, but this is more for college level players and lower. To cleanly block a ball and throw someone out would not only require incredible speed, but also a throw in the perfect spot. The odds are in your favor. Here’s an important disclaimer about ball in the dirt: Have some self-awareness. Understanding your limits and speed is important, but finding a balance between actually being physically limited and just lacking the confidence to be aggressive is weighted much more heavily. The same strategy applies when advancing to third, expect a ball in the dirt, see the ball kick farther away, and then go. Keep in mind that taking third base requires more focus to be patient and let the ball kick before you really do get hosed.

Third, secondary leads are connected to your mindset on the base paths. Why have an aggressive secondary if you’re not expecting ball in the dirt? Or because you’re not anticipating a gap shot since you never looked at the positioning in the outfield? If you believe you will take advantage of the errors the defense makes, your actions will take the necessary steps to reach success. Remember, a healthy secondary lead means sprinting back to the bag in case the catcher throws behind you and freezing on a line drive. But you should have already been doing this since you were five, right? I thought so. All it takes is a little hustle and a “can do” attitude.

I hope this motivated you to take your game to the next level! And, for a visual demonstration of some of the topics discussed here, checkout the video below…

Joey Casa
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