# Defensive Plays · Baseball Level 4: Intermediate

Baseball · Level 4: Intermediate · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/level-4/defensive-plays/)

The wheel play, first-and-third defences, pickoff plays, rundowns, the intentional walk, stopping the squeeze, the hidden-ball trick, extreme alignments, infield flies and dropped balls, and late-game decisions.

## Test 1: The wheel play

- With both corners crashing, the defence hopes to get the lead runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The shortstop rotates to third as the third baseman charges. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With the first baseman charging, the second baseman covers first. (Source: General baseball reference)
- It aims to throw out the lead runner at third on a sacrifice. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With everyone moving, a swing instead of a bunt can find empty spaces. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Second is left open; the defence bets on getting the lead runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A crashing third baseman can throw to the shortstop covering third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The shortstop's early break starts the wheel. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The wheel play commits the most fielders. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Corners crashing and the shortstop rotating to third is the wheel. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: Defending the first-and-third steal

- The defence accepts the risk to get the out at second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fielder steps in front of second, catches the throw and checks the runner at third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The fake can catch the runner on third leaning towards home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Late in a close game, keeping the runner on third from scoring is the priority. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The play is called before the pitch so everyone knows it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the runner on first breaks early, the pitcher can step off and throw to second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs, getting the third out at second ends the inning before the run counts. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The cut catches the runner on third breaking for home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Throwing through gives the runner on third the clearest chance. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Taking the ball short of the bag lets him throw home if the runner breaks. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: Pickoff plays

- When the pitcher sees daylight between the shortstop and the runner, he can throw to second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The pitcher turns and throws on a set count as the fielder breaks to the bag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A quick snap throw after the pitch can catch a runner with a big secondary lead. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If only one knows, the base is empty or the throw goes wild. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A third disengagement that does not get the runner out is a balk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Knowing the pitcher is limited, runners extend their leads. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The first baseman slips behind the runner and the catcher throws there. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The pitcher reacts to the gap between runner and fielder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The pitcher is closest to first; the catcher's throw to second is longest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fielder sneaking behind the runner sets up a pickoff at second. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: Rundown technique

- If the play goes wrong, he is at least back where he started. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fewer throws mean fewer chances of a wild one. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Running hard makes the runner commit; showing the ball helps the partner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Stepping to one side gives a clear throwing lane. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Moving up shortens the runner's space; calling tells his partner when to throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fielder who throws runs behind his partner, and others fill in. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A good rundown ends with one throw and a tag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Drive him back, one throw, tag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A wild throw gives up a base; an extra throw just adds risk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Showing the ball helps the receiving fielder time the throw. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: The intentional walk as a tactic

- A runner on first creates a force at more bases. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A signal to the umpire sends the batter to first without pitches. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With the bases loaded the pitcher has no room for error. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The pitcher throws nothing hittable but does not signal the walk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Avoiding the most dangerous bat can be worth the extra runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Adding a runner can make the extra man the winning run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitchers feared Bonds so much that he set the record that year. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Loading the bases creates a force play everywhere. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Open base, dangerous hitter and a weak one behind make the walk sensible. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Four fingers to the umpire signal the intentional walk. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: Defending the squeeze

- A pitch high and tight or a pitchout makes the bunt very hard. (Source: General baseball reference)
- An early break gives the pitcher a chance to throw a pitch that cannot be bunted. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The catcher catches it standing and tags the runner coming home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the bunt is close, he can tag the runner himself. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Closer fielders have a better chance on a bunt. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the runner does not break, the sure out at first is the play. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitching out on a guess gives away a ball; guessing wrong gives up the run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pitch out of reach turns the squeeze into an out at home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pitchout gives a ball away to guarantee no bunt. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A planned pitch wide of the plate for the catcher is a pitchout. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: The hidden-ball trick

- The fielder pretends to give the ball back and waits for the runner to step off. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Being on the rubber without the ball is a balk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners step off to dust themselves off and get tagged. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Knowing where the ball is keeps him safe. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Coaches remind runners to stay on the base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The coach can see where the ball is. (Source: General baseball reference)
- It is legal as long as the pitcher does not take a pitching position without the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Keeping the ball and waiting for the runner to step off. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The hidden-ball trick is the rarest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hiding the ball and tagging the runner when he steps off is the hidden-ball trick. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Extreme alignments

- Against some pull hitters teams used four outfielders. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fly-ball pull hitters rarely punish an empty infield spot. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Infielders must also be on the dirt when the pitch is thrown. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Moving an infielder to the outfield is not banned, though the infield limits still apply. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With only three infielders, grounders find holes. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Shallow outfielders can catch soft liners and throw home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- An outfielder comes in to the infield. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Five, four and three infielders. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Data-driven shifts grew in the 2010s, four-man outfields followed, and MLB limited the shift in 2023. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Four fielders in the outfield make a four-man outfield. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: The infield fly and dropped balls

- That is exactly what the infield fly rule prevents. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Letting it drop and forcing the slow runner can leave a slower runner on first; teams weigh this rarely. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With runners on and fewer than two outs, an intentional drop is ruled an out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The batter may run, so the catcher must finish the out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A dropped third strike with first open gives the batter a chance to reach. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catch first, then look for runners straying. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The batter is out, but the ball is live and runners can be doubled off. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Recover, then throw to first for the out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The infield fly is out by rule; a dropped third strike still needs a tag or throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- On a dropped third strike the batter is not out until tagged or thrown out. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: Defensive decisions late in games

- Better gloves protect a small lead. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Keeping balls down the line in front prevents the tying run reaching second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Deep outfielders turn doubles into singles. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Drawn in, they can throw home on a grounder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Any ball in play could score him; a strikeout cannot. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A grounder can produce two outs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- It puts the new pitcher's spot further from coming up. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitcher, glove, then alignment. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With a runner on third and less than two outs, contact can score him. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Sending in a better fielder late is a defensive replacement. (Source: General baseball reference)

Sources: General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

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