Baseball · Level 4: Intermediate · Sub-level 4.1
Small Ball and Offensive Plays
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown
The sacrifice as a tactic, the squeeze, the hit-and-run, the run-and-hit and slash, stolen bases, first-and-third plays, trick plays, bunting for a hit, when small ball pays and manufacturing runs.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1The sacrifice bunt as a tacticTake a test
One run matters most late in a tight game, so trading an out for a base can be worth it.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Studies show an out given away usually lowers the number of runs a team can expect.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Giving up an out costs less when the hitter would probably make one anyway.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
From third with one out, a fly ball or grounder can bring him home.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Bunts, squeezes and steals aim for a single run rather than a big inning.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With the runner on third and one out, many ways can score him.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A popped-up or poor bunt can give the defence an out at the lead base.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Bunt, single, fly ball: one run without a big hit.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The later, closer and weaker the hitter, the more sense a bunt makes.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Squaring early with a weak hitter late in a tie usually means a sacrifice.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 2The squeeze playTake a test
The batter bunts so the runner on third can score.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He goes early, so the batter must bunt the pitch whatever it is.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He waits to read the bunt, which is safer but slower.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With the runner already charging, a missed bunt leaves him hung out at home.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Protecting the runner matters more than the count.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With one out the run counts on the bunt; with two outs a squeeze is rare because the batter-runner may be the third out first.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A bunt to the side forces a fielder to charge and throw late.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Sign, break, bunt, score.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The suicide squeeze risks the runner; swinging with the infield back risks least.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Breaking before the bunt is down marks the suicide squeeze.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 3The hit-and-runTake a test
The batter protects the runner by putting the ball in play.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With the runner going, a ground ball rarely becomes two outs.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
When the second baseman or shortstop runs to cover, a hole opens.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Without contact the runner is simply stealing, often with a poor jump.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Counts like 2-1 or 1-0 bring strikes the batter can hit.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Contact is the key to the play.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The early break lets him go first to third on a single to right.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The moving runner opens a hole for the batter.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Hitter's counts bring strikes; 0-2 brings balls off the plate.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The runner goes, a fielder moves, the batter hits it through the hole.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 4The run-and-hit and the slashTake a test
In a run-and-hit the runner steals and the batter may take a bad pitch.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A fast runner can steal on his own, so the batter need not swing at a ball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The batter fakes a bunt to draw the infield in, then swings past them.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Charging fielders cannot react to a hard swing at close range.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
If they always crash, the slash beats them.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Showing bunt shows how the defence will react.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
If the runner is likely to steal anyway, the batter gets a freer swing.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Show bunt, draw them in, swing.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The bunt dictates what he does; the run-and-hit lets him choose.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Showing bunt then swinging past the charging infielder is the slash.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 5The stolen base as a tacticTake a test
Below that break-even rate, the outs lost cost more than the bases gained.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A caught stealing wipes out a base runner and uses up an out.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Bases grew to 18 inches and pitchers got limited disengagements.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
From second, he scores on most singles.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Risking an out to gain a base matters less when an extra-base hit is likely.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A runner ninety feet from home can score on a fly ball, a grounder or a wild pitch.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The pitch arrives at the plate long before the runner.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Steals turn a walk into a run without a hit.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Stealing home is by far the hardest.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Bases grew from 15 to 18 inches square, shortening the distance a little.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 6First-and-third offenceTake a test
If the catcher does not throw, the offence has runners on second and third.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A throw to second gives the runner on third a chance to break home.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
If the catcher throws through, the runner on third breaks home.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He breaks early to draw a throw and a rundown while the other runner scores.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Keeping the rundown going distracts the defence from home.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With two outs, a hit scores the man on third whether or not the steal works.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He breaks for home as soon as the throw heads to second.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The throw to second is the signal for home.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A run with no out is best; losing the runner at home is worst.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The moment the ball leaves the catcher's hand for second, home is open.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 7Trick plays on offenceTake a test
Since 2013 in MLB a right-hander may not fake to third and throw to first.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Runners break when the catcher lobs the ball back to the pitcher.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Runners on first and third try to make the pitcher flinch into a balk.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Surprise is the whole point.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Fake breaks draw throws and distract the pitcher.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Like a hit-and-run but with a bunt, often moving a runner two bases.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The lazy return throw is the trigger.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Trick plays are the rarest of all.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Breaking on the catcher's soft return throw is the delayed double steal.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 8Bunting for a hitTake a test
Speed and a head start towards first make it work.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A deep third baseman has a long way to charge.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Bunting to where nobody stands can be an easy single.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A push bunt is directed hard past the pitcher towards second.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Showing bunt late gives the fielders less time.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A good bunt hugging the line makes the third baseman's throw long.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Too hard and a fielder reaches it quickly.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Bunting on the move gives him a head start.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The sacrifice gives the out away; the drag bunt is the classic try for a hit.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
From deep, the third baseman cannot reach a soft bunt in time.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 9When to play small ballTake a test
Tables of run expectancy show how many runs usually score from each base-out state.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Giving up an out generally lowers expected runs, though it can raise the chance of exactly one run.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Late in close games, raising the chance of one run can matter more.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
When runs are scarce, a sure run is worth more.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Against an ace, a manufactured run may be the best chance.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Keeping outs lets the line-up string hits and homers together.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Where home runs come easily, outs are too valuable to give away.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The later and closer the game, the more one run matters.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
More runners and fewer outs mean more expected runs.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
In hitter-friendly conditions an out is too valuable to give up for one base.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 10Manufacturing runsTake a test
Walks, steals, bunts and productive outs can add up to a run.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Each step moves the runner one base without a hit.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Steals and extra bases put runners in scoring position.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Grounders to the right side and fly balls can move runners.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Runners moving all the time put pressure on pitchers and fielders.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Aggressive running makes fielders hurry and make mistakes.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Small ball teams build runs a base at a time.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Walk, steal, move him to third, fly ball scores him.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A manufactured run needs no hits at all.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Scoring a runner without a hit is manufacturing a run.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Sources
General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.
- General baseball reference100