The Inside Move - Your #2 Pickoff to Second Base

[@DanBlewett]

Check out my new book, Clean Your Cleats. It was written so you don't make the career mistakes I made 👉 geni.us/clean-your-cleats

[@jerryneely7483]

Perfect and excellent instruction regarding the inside move to second.

[@jeffk9735]

I used to pick off at least one runner with an inside move per game. sometimes two. true it's not ideal throwing position, but if you've got the guy you don't have to throw it hard. Just practice throwing from the move. Also, you can fake throw and freeze him, then jog toward him. Most times the runner just freezes because they are shocked. Of course, this was at the high school level.

[@donniepenalber6588]

I can honestly say I've pitched pretty much all of my youth career and I've picked off more guys at 2nd base doing the "inside move" than I have with the spin move. It's a little more tricky to see its gonna be a pickoff if it's done right. This actually used to be my favorite to do cause soon as my left leg goes up the runner would start to take a few more steps on his lead and that's when I would light em up lol it's a good feeling picking runner's off on base

[@jeffk9735]

agreed. I'd get at least one runner per game. they would freeze from shock! LOL

[@GerardoMojarro]

If the runner does steal, and you faked the throw on a spin or inside move, can you throw it to 3rd?

[@AndyTraub]

This was ridiculously helpful. thanks.

[@DanBlewett]

Glad it helped! My other few pickoff videos are in the description as well.

[@slikballa]

Great explanation

[@jeffside]

This is a awesome baseball fundamental video and well explained. Thank you coach😊

[@DanBlewett]

Glad it helped!

[@garyschauer8611]

Great video. A lot of good tips. I've found this also useful to "freeze" runners or even have them take a step or two back to 2B if the pitcher looks back to 2B with their head on occasion while lifting the leg, but then goes to the plate with the pitch. One question: I thought once you broke the plane of the rubber with your lifted leg, you had to throw to home or 2B. You give an example in the video of breaking the plane, and stepping towards 2nd but not throwing it (if the runner breaks toward 3B). Wouldn't that be a balk because you broke the plane and didn't throw to 2B?

[@DanBlewett]

you dont have to throw to 2nd

[@TtvRealRob]

During a tournament in rec league (not travel) (12U) the ump called a balk because my pitcher (as taught) did an inside move to get the runner that was headed to first. (He didn't balk). The umps argument was it (2nd) was an "unoccupied" base. I countered that he was trying to steal (we tagged him about 3 ft in front of second base). But ultimately the ump had the last call. What advice can you give a coach that constantly has to deal with umpires (and especially other coaches) that aren't familiar with "advanced baseball" rules? (Another example is pick off to first- umpire said the pitcher HAS to step across the rubber in order to throw to first). It gets really frustrating as a coach.

[@DanBlewett]

Well, two separate issues: 1. Even though doing an inside move to second when a runner on first is stealing is technically legal, it's the wrong thing to do. The pitcher should step off and find the runner in that scenario. Yes, its not an unoccupied base if theyre actively stealing, but no pro pitcher would ever do the inside move in that scenario. Legal doesnt mean optimal. This video explains more on stepping off: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXqQholrnNOShac 2. You just have to teach them the right way. Umpires who dont know the rules don't change what you teach. Give the umpire a calm earful that the rules theyre enforcing arent correct, then move on. It gets better but dont teach "down" because the umpires stink.

[@cwj9202]

What is meant by "step across the rubber". RH or LH pitcher?

[@TtvRealRob]

@@cwj9202 RH

[@cwj9202]

@@TtvRealRob -- What is meant by "step across the rubber"?

[@TtvRealRob]

@@cwj9202 @2:23 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXqQholrnNOShac

[@z.kimball1007]

We have a couple pitchers whose motion, with runners on 2nd, and lead leg turn and break the plane of the back edge of the rubber and then continually deliver home. From what I have read this is legal and once the plane is broken they either have to go home or 2nd? I get it, it may look like initially an inside move but it’s a continuous pitching motion. We’ve been called balk a few times on this and Im convinced it’s not a balk?

[@DrewVerdin]

I'd love to hear your view on an issue I've come across in the past with our recreational baseball establishment. #1) I don't care for completely flat pitcher's mounds. Throughout the years we have been forced to practice and play games on fields that have them. I feel it doesn't correctly prepare the children for the true environment they will play in later in life. Also I feel like it negatively affects their pitching mechanics. I have seen the direct result of both learning to pitch from a flat surface and on a raised mound. It makes it harder for me as a coach to explain to a child how when their body is moving down hill it creates momentum for their pitches, but they end up pitching from a spot with no decline/incline so it doesn't make sense to them. #2) On another note we have also played on raised rubber "mobile" pitcher's mounds that do have an incline/decline and they leave us with no room to step backwards off the rubber safely. There's literally a 8-10 in steep drop off. They tend to use these on fields with dirt-only infields. This is another aspect that negatively affects coaching pitching. I have reached out multiple times to our organization and explained my concerns. These concerns seem to be ignored due to lack of funds. I personally think it's lack of knowledge on the game and the correct equipment. Any thoughts or suggestions as to how to teach correct mechanics while using these crappy tools?

[@DanBlewett]

I definitely understand your concern, and of course feel the same way, that I'd want consistency for my players which would streamline coaching. However, many of today's starts grew up playing on very bad dirt fields with very terrible mound holes, flat mound, etc, like I did. I think there's a certain amount of resiliency and anti-fragility and skill that is born out of being forced to adapt. Many of the world's best tennis players (including Anna Kournikova) came out of this one tiny, crappy training facility in Eastern Europe (it was explained I think in the book the Talent Code?, and really becoming great at your sport boils down to practice hours, focus and ownership of your craft. If bad mounds break kids, they weren't going to make it anyway. Kids can figure it out. I wouldn't worry about it; being adaptable is a good thing. Id tell my kids its their job to throw strikes on any mound, because you have to and complaining wont make it better.

[@DrewVerdin]

@@DanBlewett I think the trouble comes from muscle memory of practicing Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday on a raised mound and then playing a game on Friday on a flat one. It changes the feeling your body is use too. I see them trying to keep the same release point and they throw crazy lol. I definitely see your point about adapting to situations. I grew up where we had crappy fields also but we never had a flat mound so I can't relate to it. Thanks for your views on this issue. I will try and explain to them that sometimes you just have to make the best out of what you're given. Have a blessed one coach

[@DanBlewett]

thats true, but throwing strikes isnt just being a dialed-in pitching machine; it's about being a machine that can adapt. No two mounds are the same even when well manicured. And, this is a problem that has been around forever - its not a new one. Like I said, I get your concern, but I think the variability in mound quality isn't an issue; it just will filter out the weakest, and the best athletes will adapt and do fine. Also remember that pitching is really just throwing, and amateurs pitch then go back out and play LF, SS and 1B on the same day or weekend. That's flat throwing, with different mechanics. Sure, its not the same as pitching, but my point is that throwing is highly, highly variable.

[@jeffk9735]

the thing about flat mounds is that you can barely throw breaking pitches, curves especially, @@DrewVerdin

[@DrewVerdin]

@@jeffk9735 thankfully they have solved most of the mound issues here as far as us actually having a mound on the fields. The part I still don't care for is on these mobile mounds they have a steep 90° drop off right behind the rubber. This is extremely dangerous and difficult for my pitchers to step off and throw to pick people off.

[@joea8493]

Can you do inside move to 2nd when runner from 1st goes to 2nd?

[@DanBlewett]

no. youd step off.

[@aura809]

Weird question but are allowed to "inside move" to first base as a righty pitcher.

[@DanBlewett]

that doesnt make sense

[@aura809]

@@DanBlewett if you turned like you would to second but instead went all the way around to first. Not that it would be practical but would it be allowed?

[@Jcosta7286]

Question, What are you thoughts on using the inside move when you have a team that is very aggressive on the bases and is stealing second on first move vs right handed pitching.

[@DanBlewett]

the inside move is not a solution to runners stealing second. it'd be a balk.

[@Jcosta7286]

@@DanBlewett I thought you were allowed to pickoff to an unoccupied base if a runner was attempting to advance to that base. Appreciate the response!

[@jasonwittmusic]

I'm confused. Can you use an inside move to second if the runner on first is stealing 2nd as soon as P lifts his leg. He hasn't committed to home.

[@harrisoncrawford6322]

You cannot pick off too a base that is not occupied. Even though the runner is moving to second base he has not occupied that base yet and is still only occupying first base.

[@laurarosesheppard]

How is it not a balk when you're lifting your leg? That looks like starting your windup. It's clearly deceptive.

[@DanBlewett]

"deceptive" is not the determining factor for being a balk. Balks have set, specific rules. This move is legal. You can learn about balks here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKW5kJSrmsqaaMU

[@Unnamed_Toast]

Is this legal in 14u?

[@DanBlewett]

yes

[@Unnamed_Toast]

@@DanBlewett thank you my coach was showing me this but I didn't know if it was legal

[@Dossimeer]

Do you have to throw on a inside move to second?

[@DanBlewett]

no

[@Dossimeer]

@@DanBlewett what if you fake the throw?

[@jeffk9735]

@@DanBlewett at pitching camp, I was told you did have to fake through in some circumstances or it would be a balk. So now i'm not sure.