"Coach Dunn's Quick Pitches" — By Coach Jack Dunn

Basic Playing Pointers

1. Always run into a base; never walk. Watch the base coach for signals to hold up or keep going. If not held up, make the turn.
2. Always run out all hit balls, including pop flies. Even big leaguers occasionally drop them.
3. Never turn your back on the ball. Know where it is at all times. After reaching a base safely, don’t lead off until the pitcher mounts the rubber with the ball.
4. When in the field, think what you’ll do with the ball if it comes to you.
5. When an opponent makes a hit longer than a single, the first baseman should watch to see that he touches every base. If he misses a bag, call for the ball and touch the missed bag.
6. Since most bases are stolen on the pitcher, not the catcher, study his motion every chance you get. Take a safe lead and “go” the moment he moves into a position from which he can’t possibly throw to a base—assuming you’ve discovered some hitch in his delivery.
7. With an opponent on base, never turn your back to a play, leave a base unguarded, stoop to tie a shoelace, etc., without first calling time out. This particularly applies to pitchers. Too many games are lost by players falling asleep.
8. With the winning run crossing the plate in the bottom half of the ninth, the batter-runner must reach first safely for the run to count. The batter, in the excitement, will occasionally run only part way to first. Where the opponents are guilty of this, call for the ball and touch the base—even if the hit looks like a homer.
9. On a squeeze play, the ball must be bunted. Offer at any pitch, other than a wild one. On a sacrifice bunt, offer only a strike—since the runner won’t be going until the ball is bunted. Be content just to meet the ball—don’t try any fancy bunts.
10. Go up to the plate with the idea of hitting the ball, whether it’s the first pitch or the sixth. With two strikes on you, swing at anything that looks like a strike. If the pitch is close enough to argue about, it’s close enough to hit. We’ll tell you when to “take.” If we don’t, take your cut.
11. Both infielders and outfielders should know exactly where to move on all hit balls hit to the outfield. If a fielder yells for the ball, let him have it. Nearby players should get out of the way and back up the play on infield pop-ups and bunts.
12. When a front runner is involved in a run-down between third and home, the back runner should go right in to third and stand there—except with two out. In that contingency, the back runner should assume a position between second and third.
13. Pitchers should work constantly on control and speed. Breaking stuff can come later. There’s no defense against walks and hit batters. A knee-high inside or outside pitch is still one of the best in the business.
14. When making a put-out at a base, place the glove and ball in front of the bag and let the runner come to you. Don’t go after him.
15. When playing the field, study the hitters. Discover the fast runners so that you can get the ball away faster for them. Watch to see if the batter is a late swinger, if he pulls the ball, where he places his front, etc.
16. After an error is made, it’s made. Don’t mope over it, but try to make up for it with a good play on the next ball. Come back fighting, not alibiing.
17. When running bases, watch the runner ahead of you; don’t run up on him.
18. Don’t throw to a far base unnecessarily, permitting a back runner to take an extra base. As a rule, however, throw to the base ahead of the runner, not behind him.
19. Runner on third: Always tag up on fly balls hit to the outfield. You can always score, whether the ball is caught or dropped. When you lead off the base, you may not get back in time to score if the ball is caught. On short fly balls, move up the line to a point that will enable you to return to the base (if the ball is caught) or to reach home (if it isn’t).

For more from Coach Dunn click on Coaches Corner on the JUGS® website.