Pitching Mechanics: Pitching Out Of The Stretch With Runners On Base

In yesterday's post, I talked about the timing differences between the full wind-up and the stretch. You may want to read that first before reading today's pitching article. Today I want to address one of my favorite topics as a former closing pitcher: pitching with runners on base.

When using the stretch, you usually have men on base. You're holding a runner. And a runner usually brings a few more obstacles into the situation.

Remember, the whole point of "the stretch," entering the delivery at "3-and-a-half," is to limit the amount of time that base runner we assume is on base has to decide if he committed to moving. In the stretch, you are acknowledging that you have a runner there. You probably even look at the runner, make eye contact. You let him know you see him. You hold the ball longer. And, by throwing from the stretch, you try to interrupt his notion of stealing second base.

Pitching With Runners On Second Base

Now, when the runner is on second, there's a little bit of a different game going on there. Good players love to try to pick up pitch signals between the pitcher and catcher. That runner at second base will try to relay what kind of pitch might becoming to the hitter.

The runner on second might also try to look into the pitcher's glove, to see how the pitcher's throwing hand is holding the seams on the baseball (because the seams are an important factor in how a pitch is thrown). Knowing the guy on second is looking in, I'll sometimes used to split my fingers like I'm throwing a forkball, but then I'll change them over to across the seams for a fastball right before kicking my leg up with an abbreviated leg kick and delivering the ball to the plate -- busting the batter inside with a four-seam fastball.

Doing that once or twice usually calls off the jam. The batter goes into the dugout and says, "All bets are off." That's what you have to do, especially with good hitters.

And the runner on second doesn't just relay pitches, he can also pass along advance warning about pitch location. The runner can catch where the catcher sets up. But that's where your smart catcher comes in, playing with the head of that base runner.