HOT BOX

TIPS FROM THE COACH

Three times this spring, I have seen top ranked D1 college baseball teams fail to properly execute a ”run down play”. There is only one reason for these failures to execute what should be an almost automatic out. No one in the 14 or 15 years these young men had been playing had ever taught them to execute this play correctly! No matter what you call it rundown, hot box, or pickle, you must teach your players to properly execute this play. If you don’t, you can’t assume that a later coach will.

The first and most common mistake is that you should “run him back to the bag”. You are running him back to the OUT, not the bag. That is why I prefer to call it a “hot BOX” and we are squeezing the box. We want to tag him out somewhere in the middle of the baseball path not at the bag! Preferably there is no throw and the fielder can run him down and apply the tag but properly executed there should be no need for more than one throw. The fielder runs at the runner holding the ball aloft so the other fielder can see it. He should not be pumping fake throws to fool the runner because the other fielder can also be fooled as he is to break toward the throw when he sees the arm come forward. He catches the throw with his momentum going forward. The runner must stop, reverse direction and is easily run down and tagged.

If the fielder waits at the bag, the thrower often throws too late and all he has done is run the runner back to the bag and wasted an opportunity to get an out and a runner of the bases. Worse as the ball and runner arrive simultaneously the fielder is put in a very difficult position and often will not make the catch allowing the ball to get past him and the runner to advance. Have your fielder stand outside the basepath. If the throw is late it is much easier to catch the throw and tag the runner as he goes by than to stand directly in the basepath and get run over while trying to catch the throw and make the tag.

Conversely, there are three ways to get out of a “Hot Box”.

1. Run around like a chicken with his head cut off and hope the fielders screw up. ( this becomes less effective the longer you play)

2. When the runner anticipates the throw take a slight jag to one side and try to take the throw in the back of the helmet.

3. Often, the fielder after throwing does not immediately get out of the basepath. The runner should not try to avoid the fielder who no longer has the ball but should attempt to make contact and immediately begin yelling “OBSTRUCTION”. You, the coach, get to go out and plead his case and actually should get to win one.

Hot Box practice is always fun and your team will enjoy this drill. It is an excellent break when practice becomes too intense and begins to be like work. For other baserunning tips check out the FUNDAMENTALS OF BASERUNNING available at www.tipsfromthecoach.com.

Yours in baseball

Bruce

THE COACH