# Base-Running Decisions · Baseball Level 5: Upper-Intermediate

Baseball · Level 5: Upper-Intermediate · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/level-5/base-running-decisions/)

First to third, scoring from second, tagging up from third, going on contact, the outs and third base, breaking up a double play, running with two outs and a full count, line drives, the extra base on a throw, and speed and risk.

## Test 1: First to third on a single

- The right fielder has the longest throw to third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The left fielder is close to third base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He reads how fast the fielder gets to the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A ball in front of him lets him judge the play without the coach. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A quick, charging fielder can throw him out at third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From third, a fly ball or groundout can bring him home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- On a ball behind him, the runner relies on the coach's signal. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Read, round, check the coach, slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The longer the throw to third, the easier the extra base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From right field the throw to third is the longest. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: Scoring from second on a single

- A two-out runner is already moving when the ball is hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A short throw home gives the runner less time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A strong arm or nobody out argues for holding him. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With nobody out, there are many other ways to score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs, the inning ends on any out, so taking a chance is worth it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The infielder can cut the throw to stop the batter taking second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Moving on the pitch puts him in motion as the ball is hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Contact, round third, wave, slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Deep balls far from home give the runner time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A windmilling arm sends the runner home. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: Tagging up from third

- A runner must tag up and leave only after the catch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fielder close to the infield can get the ball home in time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fake can force a hurried, wild throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A caught foul fly is a live catch, so runners may tag up. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Set up to run, he loses no time once the ball is caught. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Deep flies score anyway; medium ones depend on the arm. (Source: General baseball reference)
- If a batted ball hits him in foul ground it is only a foul ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Tag, catch, go, sprint. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The deeper the fly, the longer the throw home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fielder that close can throw him out at home. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: Going on contact

- On contact he breaks for home as soon as the ball is on the ground. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Late in close games, teams risk the runner to get the run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A hard ball to a fielder can get the runner thrown out at home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He breaks only on a slow or wide grounder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fielded on the mound, the ball is a short toss from the plate. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Breaking on a liner that is caught leaves him stranded off the bag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A drawn-in infielder can throw home in time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Ball down, break, the out at first, the run scores. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Slow balls far from home are best; a ball to the pitcher is worst. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He does not wait to see where the grounder goes. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: The outs and third base

- Being thrown out at third with nobody out or two out costs too much. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From second with nobody out he could score on later hits anyway. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs he runs on contact and scores from second on a single. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With one out, a fly ball or grounder can score him from third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Each runner thrown out is an out the hitters did not use. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fans coined it for runners thrown out doing something risky. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A very fast runner may be safe often enough to justify it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Nobody out is worst; with one out the gain at third is biggest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With one out, third base turns a fly into a run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With nobody out, second base already put him in scoring position. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: Breaking up a double play

- A good slide makes the throw to first harder and can save the batter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A 'bona fide' slide aims at the base, not the man. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Interference lets the umpire call the batter-runner out too. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Utley's 2015 playoff slide broke Rubén Tejada's leg and led to the rule. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Footwork around the bag keeps the fielder clear of the slide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Running hard can beat the relay throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fielders who expect hard slides may rush their throws. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A good slide and a hard run can save one out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Slides at the base are legal; slides at the man are not. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Going straight for the bag is what the rule asks for. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: Running with two outs and a full count

- The runner starts as the pitcher delivers, not when the ball is hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Every runner is forced, so they go with the pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A head start lets a runner from first score on a double. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A walk would push runners along; he has to challenge the hitter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs and few strikes left, a head start rarely hurts. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Strike three is the third out, whatever the runners did. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With fewer than two outs, a line-out can catch them off the base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Already moving at the pitch, he never has to stop. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Full counts send runners almost always; early counts less often. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Strike three ends the inning whatever they do, so they go. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Line drives and freezing

- Halfway he can get back if it is caught or advance if it drops. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A quick catch gives the fielder time to throw back to the base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A runner who leaves before a catch can be put out by a throw back. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A liner caught by the shortstop can be thrown to second quickly. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Only when the liner is past the infield does the runner go. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs a catch ends the inning, so he runs right away. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A fielder catches a liner, steps on a base and tags a runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catch and step on the base before the runner gets back. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Liners are caught fast; ground balls cannot be caught on the fly. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Holding still keeps him close enough to get back. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: Taking the extra base on a throw

- A throw to the plate lets the trailing runner move up. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Cutting the throw keeps the batter from taking an extra base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He follows the lead runner and can gain a base on throws. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A low throw to the cut-off man lets the defence choose where to go. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A misplaced throw gives runners free bases. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A throw sailing high or wide can let him take another base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Throws over the cut-off man let trailing runners move up. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A throw home opens second for the trailing runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- High throws allow extra bases; holding the ball stops them. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Nobody is left to throw to second, so he moves up. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: Speed and risk

- A team has only 27 outs, and each wasted one costs scoring chances. (Source: General baseball reference)
- When one run matters, the extra base is worth more. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Speed forces quick plays, which lead to mistakes. (Source: General baseball reference)
- MLB measures a runner's fastest one-second window, in feet per second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Around 30 ft/s or more is elite; about 27 is average. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Good reads and judgement gain bases without speed. (Source: General baseball reference)
- It counts extra bases taken and outs made on the bases. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Higher sprint speeds are faster. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The closer and later the game, the more one base matters. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Few big-leaguers reach that speed. (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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