# Situational Hitting · Baseball Level 5: Upper-Intermediate

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

A runner on third with fewer than two out, moving a runner over, hitting with two outs, the bases loaded, a drawn-in infield, leading off an inning, facing a hard-throwing closer, pinch-hitting, quality at-bats and coming from behind late.

## Test 1: Runner on third, fewer than two out

- A ball in play can score the runner; a strikeout cannot. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With the infielders deep, they usually take the sure out at first while the run scores. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A drawn-in infield leaves holes, but also cuts the runner down on routine grounders. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A deep enough fly lets the runner tag and score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Low pitches produce grounders the drawn-in infield can turn into outs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A groundout or fly that brings the run in still helps the team. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Contact puts the ball in play, which can score the run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The infield takes the out at first and the run scores. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The fly scores him easily, the grounder usually does, the strikeout never. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A high chop over a drawn-in infield goes through for a hit. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: Moving a runner over

- A ground ball to the right side lets the runner reach third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The throw goes to first, behind the runner, so he can move up. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Letting the outside pitch travel sends it the other way. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The hitter usually gives himself up for the extra base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From third, a fly, grounder or wild pitch can bring him in. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A hitter who can bring the runner home should swing for it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Good bat control makes it easier to put the ball on the right side. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Move him over, then bring him in. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Right-side grounders move him; balls on the left side or pop-ups do not. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The out is made at first while he takes third. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: Hitting with two outs

- With two outs, an out ends the inning, so only hits score runs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs there is nothing to lose by running on contact. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Two-out hits keep innings alive and are often called valuable. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A walk brings the next hitter up with another chance. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With nobody on and two out, a long hit is the main way to score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Running on contact gives him a big head start. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Reaching base gives the next hitter a chance to drive in runs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Running on contact lets him score on a single. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Extra bases first, then reaching base; an out ends the inning. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With two outs he runs as soon as the ball is hit. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: Hitting with the bases loaded

- With every base full, ball four forces a run home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A ground ball can give the defence two easy outs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Caught deep, the fly still brings the man from third home. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A grand slam scores four runs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pitcher who cannot afford a walk often starts with a fastball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A ball in play could score a run; a strikeout gives nothing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Every runner is forced, so a throw home cuts off the run. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Home to first wipes out the run and the batter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Four runs, two runs, then one. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With fewer than two out, the catch is his signal to go. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: Hitting against a drawn-in infield

- Fielders on the grass have less time and less range. (Source: General baseball reference)
- On a routine grounder they can throw home in time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Up close, a hard one-hopper gives him almost no time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Through the infield he runs; right at a fielder he may hold. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hard grounders and liners get past fielders who are close. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Teams bring the infield in when stopping one run decides the game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pop-up is an easy out that cannot score the runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A hard ball beats the drawn-in infield. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hard balls through the hole score him; pop-ups never do. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A drawn-in infielder can cut down the run on a ball hit at him. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: Leading off an inning

- With nobody on, the first job is to reach base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A free runner with nobody out has three outs to be driven in. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Seeing a pitch helps judge a pitcher he has not faced. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A runner on second with nobody out has a strong chance to score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners on base early give the middle of the order chances. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A long at-bat raises the pitcher's count and shows his pitches. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Reaching base, by hit or walk, is what starts an inning. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Patience earns a walk to start the inning. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Second base beats first; an out gives nothing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A runner with nobody out late in a tie game often scores. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: Facing a hard-throwing closer

- A shorter swing gets the bat to the ball sooner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The ball reaches the plate in about four-tenths of a second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Many closers rely on a big fastball, so hitters gear up for it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Geared up for speed, hitters are fooled by the slider or splitter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Closers usually throw one inning, so high pitch counts hurt them. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A quick barrel meets the fastball out in front of the plate. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Seeing high velocity beforehand helps timing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Look fastball, stay alive, lay off the breaking ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The faster the pitch, the less time to decide. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A shorter, quicker swing helps against high velocity. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Coming off the bench

- A pinch hitter has one at-bat without warming into the game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Many teams have batting cages near the dugout for warm-ups. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pinch hitter gets few looks, so he jumps on a hittable pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Video and notes replace the at-bats a starter would have had. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A pinch hitter who homers in his only at-bat changes the game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A strong bat is kept for the key at-bat of the game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A substituted player may not come back into the game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Study, warm up, then the at-bat. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pinch hitters often come first, then runners, then defensive subs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pinch hitters warm up in the cage before being called. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: Quality at-bats

- Coaches count at-bats that help even without a hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Reaching base, hard contact and long at-bats count. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Many pitches raise the pitch count and show his stuff. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Over a season, hard-hit balls fall for hits more often. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A well-hit ball can be caught; a quality at-bat measures the process. (Source: General baseball reference)
- An easy out on the first pitch gives the team nothing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Doing the situational job counts even without a hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Driving in runs, then a long walk; an easy out is not quality. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Even ending in an out, a long, hard at-bat is quality. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Coaches mark the process, not just the result. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: Coming from behind late

- The team needs base runners to bring the tying run up. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With enough runners on, the batter's home run would tie the score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Each out lost on the bases shortens the comeback. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Giving away outs makes a multi-run comeback harder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Patience matters: the pitcher has to throw strikes and runners are needed. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A rally strings together base runners and runs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Late in the game each at-bat may be among the last chances. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Base runners first, then the big hit. (Source: General baseball reference)
- More runs and fewer outs left make it harder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Four runs would turn a three-run deficit into a win. (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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