How to read pickoff moves

Chief,

There are a number of good books and vidios out there. Check with syskos.com
they have a great list of baseball books and vidios.

In regards to some basic guidelines here are the ones I teach.

1. pickoff moves are different for righties than lefties. A lefty has the advantage obviously since he is facing the runner at first.For a lefty I have my players watch the throwing shoulder, if it moves back towards 3rd as he reaches the balance point (when his knee is at its highest point) then he is throwing to first usually if his shoulder stays straight to 2nd he will throw home.Some lefties will start the leg moving towards first as they lift it, the better ones lift there leg stright up all the time.

2. For the righties I like to watch the right heel, if the heel lifts he is picking, if the front foot moves first he is going home.

3. Some pitchers tip off there intentions by the number of looks to 1st.Some will always look once and then throw home, others will always look at home and throw to first. You have to watch for tendencies some pitchers are very predictable.

4. There are numerous other signs like how high they lift there leg, or whether they point there toe up or down when they lift there leg, but when trying to teach the read for runners I like to to keep it simple at first.

Hope this helps.

Seadog