I used to take leads with the left foot first, then shuffle off to the correct distance, and believed it was correct. I still believe it is acceptable, but I did learn this leading technique from a minor league coach who is now a professional scout, and found advantages for myself. I try to keep an open mind and hope others will keep trying things to find what's best for them.
@mikescottbaseball I understand your reasoning, but I suggest you find video of "good" baserunners in MLB. They will not cross their feet after their first step- if the catcher picks up on that, he'll tell his pitcher to pick off after the runner's first step, and he will be dead to rights. It's: LEFT foot step with the RIGHT foot on bag, RIGHT foot step, then shuffle to your comfortable lead. The moment you get lazy and don't pay attention to the pitcher is the same moment that you get picked.
This is not good base stealing advice. Notice when he retreats back to the bag: he stays open towards home plate, instead of turning his back toward the pitcher. Why is that important, you ask? Because if we are looking at the pitcher, we can't see if the first baseman missed the ball or not. It will take you longer to advance to second on an overthrow. Check out my channel for good quality videos of drills and techniques CURRENT pro players are using. Not JV techniques.
If you watch the great base stealers of the game of baseball: Rickey Henderson, Carl Crawford, Jose Reyes, Jacoby Ellsbury, etc, you will see that their first move is a sort of backwards step with their right foot. The reason they don't crossover as their first step, is because the most important thing about stealing second is reaching top speed. The quicker that happens, the more successful you are. It takes longer with a crossover.
As a current professional player, let me first say that his lead off the base is incorrect. No professional coach will teach you to make your first step with your right foot. It's left, right, and then shuffle until you get to your spot. If your first step is right, then once you step with your left, your feet are crossed, and you are unable to quickly retreat to the bag for a pickoff attempt.
off of a right handed pitcher, look at his front knee, if it bends hes goin home, if it doesent hes picking you off, as a base stealer for my team thats what i do, on a lefty you watch there hand, if the glove hand comes tword you go back if it doesent get ur secondary and steal, or if ur want to straight steal on a lefty and have some balls go as soon as he lifts his leg
@Lis4lolz Actually- a good righty pitcher will make their front knee bend, and then pick off. Off a lefty, you should actually watch the shoulders, as they need to "turn" towards first base in order to make that throw. If you wait to see the glove, then by that time, it's too late.
As a travel little league coach 10u I don't recomend the 4 step lead off. I go with about 2.5 maybe 3 steps with a better runner. The bases are shorter and the pitchers mound is closer to 1st base. I have seen too many kids picked off taking 4 step lead offs.
@8USMNT17 actually, as a current pro player myself, the only players that cross their legs on their first few steps are those that don't run the bases well.
@8USMNT17 In this video- it's the same as the T. Plush video- Reyes took his lead BEFORE the pitcher was on the rubber. This again is a "walking lead", as if he was on second base. Jose Reyes is a SEASONED MLB VET. He knows how to take advantage of lazy pitchers, and is successful at it. The video we are commenting on is a BASIC LEAD instructional video. After you gain experience, you'll learn how to "cheat" like Reyes. Teach this to a little leaguer and they'll get picked off all the time.
@8USMNT17 can't tell from this video, but if you watch the first baseman, it looks as if Jimmy starts his lead before the pitcher is paying attention to the runner. After Jimmy is in his lead, you'll see the first baseman lift his glove and be available to the pitcher....What level baseball do you play? I've learned my leads from former MLB coaches and players....If there's a couple guys who do it differently, that's the exception to the rule..the basic lead is the way 97% do it....
@8USMNT17 in that video you showed me, T. Plush takes his lead BEFORE the pitcher is on the rubber. This is a "walking lead", and not a normal lead as if the pitcher were toeing the rubber. I do that all the time when the pitcher is lazy on the mound. It's an easy way to get a bigger lead. ALSO- notice that he didn't take any shuffle steps. He was already in his lead before the pitcher looked for the signs...If the pitcher were paying attention, he'd get picked off. Plush was taking advantage...
Guys, crossing your legs doesn't matter when you're 2 feet off the base. It's a rule you use so you don't cross after you take your step off the bag. No pitcher will pick you off 2 feet off the bag. Even Cal Ripkin teaches you can cross off the bag. Worst case you get crossed up and he turns to pick you? Oh wait, you fell on the base because you were right next to it. Cmon now...use a little common sense.
I couldn't have said it better..Great job! What are you guys talking about with his hands on his knees? Watch the Demo he takes hand off. There was no cross over? He walked to his spot? Not sure what you guys are talking about. Email me and tell me the time on the video where he does it. getting back to base he did fine.
Thanks for the awesome tutorial! I'm gonna remember that "right-foot pivot".
5eanerz 4 months ago
I used to take leads with the left foot first, then shuffle off to the correct distance, and believed it was correct. I still believe it is acceptable, but I did learn this leading technique from a minor league coach who is now a professional scout, and found advantages for myself. I try to keep an open mind and hope others will keep trying things to find what's best for them.
mikescottbaseball 6 months ago
@mikescottbaseball I understand your reasoning, but I suggest you find video of "good" baserunners in MLB. They will not cross their feet after their first step- if the catcher picks up on that, he'll tell his pitcher to pick off after the runner's first step, and he will be dead to rights. It's: LEFT foot step with the RIGHT foot on bag, RIGHT foot step, then shuffle to your comfortable lead. The moment you get lazy and don't pay attention to the pitcher is the same moment that you get picked.
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
This is not good base stealing advice. Notice when he retreats back to the bag: he stays open towards home plate, instead of turning his back toward the pitcher. Why is that important, you ask? Because if we are looking at the pitcher, we can't see if the first baseman missed the ball or not. It will take you longer to advance to second on an overthrow. Check out my channel for good quality videos of drills and techniques CURRENT pro players are using. Not JV techniques.
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
If you watch the great base stealers of the game of baseball: Rickey Henderson, Carl Crawford, Jose Reyes, Jacoby Ellsbury, etc, you will see that their first move is a sort of backwards step with their right foot. The reason they don't crossover as their first step, is because the most important thing about stealing second is reaching top speed. The quicker that happens, the more successful you are. It takes longer with a crossover.
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
As a current professional player, let me first say that his lead off the base is incorrect. No professional coach will teach you to make your first step with your right foot. It's left, right, and then shuffle until you get to your spot. If your first step is right, then once you step with your left, your feet are crossed, and you are unable to quickly retreat to the bag for a pickoff attempt.
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
off of a right handed pitcher, look at his front knee, if it bends hes goin home, if it doesent hes picking you off, as a base stealer for my team thats what i do, on a lefty you watch there hand, if the glove hand comes tword you go back if it doesent get ur secondary and steal, or if ur want to straight steal on a lefty and have some balls go as soon as he lifts his leg
Lis4lolz 6 months ago
@Lis4lolz Actually- a good righty pitcher will make their front knee bend, and then pick off. Off a lefty, you should actually watch the shoulders, as they need to "turn" towards first base in order to make that throw. If you wait to see the glove, then by that time, it's too late.
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
As a travel little league coach 10u I don't recomend the 4 step lead off. I go with about 2.5 maybe 3 steps with a better runner. The bases are shorter and the pitchers mound is closer to 1st base. I have seen too many kids picked off taking 4 step lead offs.
MrCrusher26 7 months ago
@ The idiots saying not to cross your legs:
Watch a Major League game. I bet every player crosses their legs when they get their first few steps.
8USMNT17 9 months ago
@8USMNT17 actually, as a current pro player myself, the only players that cross their legs on their first few steps are those that don't run the bases well.
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
@gdaBASEBALL
watch?v=CIqT8wstyvg
U mad bro?
8USMNT17 6 months ago
@8USMNT17 In this video- it's the same as the T. Plush video- Reyes took his lead BEFORE the pitcher was on the rubber. This again is a "walking lead", as if he was on second base. Jose Reyes is a SEASONED MLB VET. He knows how to take advantage of lazy pitchers, and is successful at it. The video we are commenting on is a BASIC LEAD instructional video. After you gain experience, you'll learn how to "cheat" like Reyes. Teach this to a little leaguer and they'll get picked off all the time.
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
@gdaBASEBALL
Yeah u mad.
/watch?v=WTdMOKsMMQ8
8USMNT17 6 months ago
@8USMNT17 can't tell from this video, but if you watch the first baseman, it looks as if Jimmy starts his lead before the pitcher is paying attention to the runner. After Jimmy is in his lead, you'll see the first baseman lift his glove and be available to the pitcher....What level baseball do you play? I've learned my leads from former MLB coaches and players....If there's a couple guys who do it differently, that's the exception to the rule..the basic lead is the way 97% do it....
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
@gdaBASEBALL
Got another one for you
/watch?v=WhY6OzPxZDY
8USMNT17 6 months ago
@8USMNT17 in that video you showed me, T. Plush takes his lead BEFORE the pitcher is on the rubber. This is a "walking lead", and not a normal lead as if the pitcher were toeing the rubber. I do that all the time when the pitcher is lazy on the mound. It's an easy way to get a bigger lead. ALSO- notice that he didn't take any shuffle steps. He was already in his lead before the pitcher looked for the signs...If the pitcher were paying attention, he'd get picked off. Plush was taking advantage...
gdaBASEBALL 6 months ago
Guys, crossing your legs doesn't matter when you're 2 feet off the base. It's a rule you use so you don't cross after you take your step off the bag. No pitcher will pick you off 2 feet off the bag. Even Cal Ripkin teaches you can cross off the bag. Worst case you get crossed up and he turns to pick you? Oh wait, you fell on the base because you were right next to it. Cmon now...use a little common sense.
ajlepisto 9 months ago
I couldn't have said it better..Great job! What are you guys talking about with his hands on his knees? Watch the Demo he takes hand off. There was no cross over? He walked to his spot? Not sure what you guys are talking about. Email me and tell me the time on the video where he does it. getting back to base he did fine.
Nettel1 11 months ago
they're right you dont cross your legs thanks for taking the time to make a video tho
Th3RMaLxBUZZ 1 year ago
Comment removed
Atilla1470 1 year ago
thats wrong, you dont cross your legs, you made the same mistake several times, you forgot to take your hands off your knees
jsc0tt1 1 year ago
dont cross you legs while leading off, good though
Batters34 2 years ago