# Small Ball and Offensive Plays · Baseball Level 4: Intermediate

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

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.

## Test 1: The sacrifice bunt as a tactic

- One run matters most late in a tight game, so trading an out for a base can be worth it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Studies show an out given away usually lowers the number of runs a team can expect. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Giving up an out costs less when the hitter would probably make one anyway. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From third with one out, a fly ball or grounder can bring him home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bunts, squeezes and steals aim for a single run rather than a big inning. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With the runner on third and one out, many ways can score him. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A popped-up or poor bunt can give the defence an out at the lead base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bunt, single, fly ball: one run without a big hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The later, closer and weaker the hitter, the more sense a bunt makes. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Squaring early with a weak hitter late in a tie usually means a sacrifice. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: The squeeze play

- The batter bunts so the runner on third can score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He goes early, so the batter must bunt the pitch whatever it is. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He waits to read the bunt, which is safer but slower. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With the runner already charging, a missed bunt leaves him hung out at home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Protecting the runner matters more than the count. (Source: General baseball reference)
- 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)
- A bunt to the side forces a fielder to charge and throw late. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Sign, break, bunt, score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The suicide squeeze risks the runner; swinging with the infield back risks least. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Breaking before the bunt is down marks the suicide squeeze. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: The hit-and-run

- The batter protects the runner by putting the ball in play. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With the runner going, a ground ball rarely becomes two outs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- When the second baseman or shortstop runs to cover, a hole opens. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Without contact the runner is simply stealing, often with a poor jump. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Counts like 2-1 or 1-0 bring strikes the batter can hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Contact is the key to the play. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The early break lets him go first to third on a single to right. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The moving runner opens a hole for the batter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hitter's counts bring strikes; 0-2 brings balls off the plate. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The runner goes, a fielder moves, the batter hits it through the hole. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: The run-and-hit and the slash

- In a run-and-hit the runner steals and the batter may take a bad pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fast runner can steal on his own, so the batter need not swing at a ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The batter fakes a bunt to draw the infield in, then swings past them. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Charging fielders cannot react to a hard swing at close range. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If they always crash, the slash beats them. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Showing bunt shows how the defence will react. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the runner is likely to steal anyway, the batter gets a freer swing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Show bunt, draw them in, swing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The bunt dictates what he does; the run-and-hit lets him choose. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Showing bunt then swinging past the charging infielder is the slash. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: The stolen base as a tactic

- Below that break-even rate, the outs lost cost more than the bases gained. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A caught stealing wipes out a base runner and uses up an out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bases grew to 18 inches and pitchers got limited disengagements. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From second, he scores on most singles. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Risking an out to gain a base matters less when an extra-base hit is likely. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A runner ninety feet from home can score on a fly ball, a grounder or a wild pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The pitch arrives at the plate long before the runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Steals turn a walk into a run without a hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Stealing home is by far the hardest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bases grew from 15 to 18 inches square, shortening the distance a little. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: First-and-third offence

- If the catcher does not throw, the offence has runners on second and third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A throw to second gives the runner on third a chance to break home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If the catcher throws through, the runner on third breaks home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He breaks early to draw a throw and a rundown while the other runner scores. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Keeping the rundown going distracts the defence from home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs, a hit scores the man on third whether or not the steal works. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He breaks for home as soon as the throw heads to second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The throw to second is the signal for home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A run with no out is best; losing the runner at home is worst. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The moment the ball leaves the catcher's hand for second, home is open. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: Trick plays on offence

- Since 2013 in MLB a right-hander may not fake to third and throw to first. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners break when the catcher lobs the ball back to the pitcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners on first and third try to make the pitcher flinch into a balk. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Surprise is the whole point. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners guard against it by not stepping off until the pitcher has the ball on the rubber. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fake breaks draw throws and distract the pitcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Like a hit-and-run but with a bunt, often moving a runner two bases. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The lazy return throw is the trigger. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Trick plays are the rarest of all. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Breaking on the catcher's soft return throw is the delayed double steal. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Bunting for a hit

- Speed and a head start towards first make it work. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A deep third baseman has a long way to charge. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bunting to where nobody stands can be an easy single. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A push bunt is directed hard past the pitcher towards second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Showing bunt late gives the fielders less time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A good bunt hugging the line makes the third baseman's throw long. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Too hard and a fielder reaches it quickly. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Bunting on the move gives him a head start. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The sacrifice gives the out away; the drag bunt is the classic try for a hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From deep, the third baseman cannot reach a soft bunt in time. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: When to play small ball

- Tables of run expectancy show how many runs usually score from each base-out state. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Giving up an out generally lowers expected runs, though it can raise the chance of exactly one run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Late in close games, raising the chance of one run can matter more. (Source: General baseball reference)
- When runs are scarce, a sure run is worth more. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Against an ace, a manufactured run may be the best chance. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Keeping outs lets the line-up string hits and homers together. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Where home runs come easily, outs are too valuable to give away. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The later and closer the game, the more one run matters. (Source: General baseball reference)
- More runners and fewer outs mean more expected runs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- In hitter-friendly conditions an out is too valuable to give up for one base. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: Manufacturing runs

- Walks, steals, bunts and productive outs can add up to a run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Each step moves the runner one base without a hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Steals and extra bases put runners in scoring position. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Grounders to the right side and fly balls can move runners. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners moving all the time put pressure on pitchers and fielders. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Aggressive running makes fielders hurry and make mistakes. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Small ball teams build runs a base at a time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Walk, steal, move him to third, fly ball scores him. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A manufactured run needs no hits at all. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Scoring a runner without a hit is manufacturing a run. (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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