Right-Handed Pitcher’s Pickoff to First Base

by Mike Maack

excerpt from Gold Glove Baseball - American Baseball Coaches Association

Why do most right-handed pitchers have a difficult time holding runners at first base? The problem is twofold. First, they don't work on their deliveries to the plate with runners on first base, and second, they don't work properly on setting up runners before trying to pick them off. Not every pitcher is going to be great at picking off runners, but every pitcher can be effective in holding runners close.

All base runners fall into one of three categories. The base-stealing threat will usually attempt to steal within the first two pitches. The average to above-average runner is a situational base stealer. He'll usually attempt to steal on breaking-ball counts only. Finally, nonrunners don't attempt steals very often. Obviously, pitchers will pay most attention to runners in one of the first two categories.

Pitchers must learn to categorize runners. Not every runner is going to be a threat to steal. In fact, any given team probably has only a couple of runners that pitchers need to be concerned about. But runners who are a threat to steal instantly attract attention and put pressure on the pitcher.

Perfecting the art of holding runners takes the pressure off the pitcher and replaces it with confidence because the pitcher knows that he's in control of the situation and the runner isn't dictating his thoughts. When the pitcher knows who these runners are, he's less likely to lose focus on the hitter.

To effectively hold runners close, a right-handed pitcher must first vary the timing of his delivery to the plate with runners on first or second base. Second, he needs to practice the proper technique for setting up runners before attempting to pick them off at first base. When attempting to pick a runner off at second base, the pitcher should use only his best move.

Varying the Delivery Time

Timing a pitcher's delivery to the plate is a key fundamental for runners attempting to steal. Many pitchers tend to do the same thing when a runner is on base. His delivery seldom changes, and it becomes easy for the runner to time his break to the next base. The pitcher needs to vary his delivery to disrupt the runner's timing and make it more difficult for him to get a good jump. A pitcher has eight primary options when executing this tactic.

1. Hold the ball until the batter calls for time out. An aggressive base runner is waiting for the pitcher to do something so that he can get a jump and attempt to steal a base. The pitcher, by coming set and holding the ball, forces the runner to make a choice. In most cases, this makes the runner nervous. He'll get anxious and begin to move his feet rapidly in an attempt to go, take off early, or retreat to first base. In any case, the pitcher is not to break from the set position until the umpire calls time out or the runner breaks early.

2. Set and hold 5 seconds, then attempt a pickoff with his best move. This is a great follow-up to the set and hold with no throw. Many times, this catches the runner off guard and off balance, resulting in a pickoff.

3. Set and hold 5 seconds, then step off the back of the rubber quickly while separating the hands and checking the runner, but making no throw. Many times, a runner will tip off his attempt to steal by flinching toward second base. The hitter might also tip off a bunt attempt on the pitcher's first movement.

4. Set and hold the ball 5 seconds, then pitch. This catches the runner off guard and makes it hard for the runner to time the delivery and get a good jump.

5. Attempt a pickoff before getting to the set position. This might catch the runner off balance while he's taking his primary lead.

6. Come to the set position with no look to first, and pitch. Because looking over to first or second base is a natural thing for the pitcher to do, the no-look and pitch makes it difficult for the runner to time the delivery, thus making it hard to get a good jump.

7. Come to the set position, look one, two, or three times, and then pitch. The pitcher must vary this maneuver. He needs to avoid developing a pattern of looking the same number of times when going to the plate.

8. Come to the set position, look one, two, or three times, and then attempt a pickoff. Setup moves to first base can be executed here, as well as the pitcher's best move. Remember that any attempt to pick at second base should be done with the intention of picking off the runner. Keep in mind that the pitcher must throw to first base when attempting a pickoff but doesn't have to throw the ball to second or third base if he doesn't want to.

Note that options 6 and 7 should be practiced and executed the same way with runners on first or second base.

Setting Up and Picking Off the Runner

As is true for left-handed pitchers, balance is the key for every right-handed pitcher in developing a good pickoff move. Because it's much more difficult for a right-handed pitcher to pick off a runner at first base, he must develop a quick delivery from the set position to the plate and to first base. It's imperative for the right-handed pitcher to have quick feet and develop a quick snap throw to be successful in his pickoff attempt.

The right-handed pitcher must also do a good job of not tipping his move by keeping his body language in the set position consistent. Pitchers often give away their move by doing something different when they're getting ready to pick to first base.

Unlike a left-handed pitcher, who's trying to force a runner to shorten his lead before the pitcher uses his best move, the right-handed pitcher must try to make the runner feel comfortable enough to extend his lead before the pitcher uses his best move. This is best done through a series of moves that allow the runner ample time to get back safely to first base as the pitcher sets him up for his best move.

Note that in every setup move the action of the throwing arm is long, simulating a normal throwing motion, to allow more time to release the ball, thus allowing the runner to get back safely. This is all part of the plan to set up the runner. In addition, each setup move should be gradually quicker, and one of them should be the move that the runner mistakenly thinks is the pitcher's best. Once the runner thinks he has figured out the pitcher, he'll gain enough confidence to extend his lead another step or two.

For a right-handed pitcher, the main objective for setting up a runner at first base is to get the runner to feel secure that he can get back to the base on an attempted pickoff. The goal is to allow time for the runner to comfortably and confidently extend his lead. To do this, the pitcher must practice patience when throwing over to first. Too many times, the pitcher shows his best move too soon and alarms the runner, making it almost impossible to set him up or pick him off. The pitcher can't be in a rush to show his best move because the runner needs a few throws before he gets into his comfort zone.

It takes less than 1 second for a runner taking a normal lead to dive directly back to first base. With this in mind, the pitcher must develop a series of setup moves to entice the runner to extend his lead. In addition, the pitcher's best move must be executed in less than 1 second from first movement to tag. This can be mastered by following these two rules:

1. 1. On all setup moves, the throwing arm must go down to make the throw. No matter what the feet do, this makes the delivery longer and permits the runner to get back safely.
   2. On his best move to first or second base, the pitcher must execute his turn with quick feet, and the throwing arm must come up to the ear to make the throw. The momentum of the body turning allows plenty of energy to make an effective throw.

Remember that the key is not the speed of the ball thrown to the base but how quickly the ball is released.

The three setup moves that follow gradually get better and give the runner a chance to gain confidence in his lead:

1. 1. Step off the back of the mound and throw to first with a long throwing motion. This should be executed slowly, but not too obviously slow.
   2. Do the same as in move 1, but speed up the feet and the throw.
   3. With quick feet, hop-turn and throw to first with a long throwing motion. The pitcher must execute this move a few times to allow the runner to get comfortable and mistakenly think that this move is the pitcher's best.

Once the pitcher has set up the runner, it's time for him to use his best move, which must be executed quickly. The feet turn swiftly on the hop turn, and the ball is released as quickly as possible. Obviously, the sooner the ball is on its way, the better chance of picking off the runner.

Right-handed pitchers need to practice pickoff moves to first base to make sure they can effectively hold the runner and entice the runner to make a move. Drills for right-handed pitchers are included later, under Drills for Pickoffs to First and Second Base (page 106).