When there’s a runner on first, pitchers throw from the stretch instead of the windup. The stretch is a quicker delivery that gives the runner less time to steal. Mixing in pickoff moves keeps the runner honest.
What you need: A pitching mound, 10 baseballs, a catcher, a partner to play first base, a base.
Setup: Pitcher on the mound in the stretch. Catcher behind home. Runner at first.
How to run it:
- Cue: Set, Lift, Stride, Throw. From the stretch, the Lift is shorter.
- Pitcher comes set with both feet on the rubber, hands together at the chest. They have to come to a complete stop before pitching or it’s a balk.
- They throw to home. Catcher catches and tosses back.
- Every third pitch, instead of throwing home, they throw to first base for a pickoff move.
- Do 9 pitches: 6 to home, 3 pickoffs.
What to watch: The set position. The pitcher must come to a complete stop with hands together before going to home. If they don’t stop, the umpire calls a balk.
If they’re struggling: Skip the pickoff. Just work on throwing strikes from the stretch.
If they’ve got it: Vary the timing. Sometimes hold the set for 1 second, sometimes 4 seconds. The runner has to react to whatever the pitcher does.