Defensive Signals

For the early part of this season, the Warriors have put a basic defensive signalling system into place for dealing with a situation where the opposing team has runners on first and third base.

The system is as easy as 1-2-3.

If the opposing team has runners on first and third base, our team will be given a two digit signal. The key is to ignore the second number in the sequence. So, if "10" is the signal, we are calling for play #1 (ignore the zero). Likewise, if "18" is the signal, we are also calling for play #1 (ignore the eight). If "28" is the signal, we are calling for play #2 (ignore the eight). Finally, if "35" is the signal, we are calling for play #3 (ignore the five).

For now, there are only three plays to defend this situation:

Play #1 - Catcher throws to 2B in an attempt to retire the runner (if stealing)

Play #2 - Catcher fakes the throw to second (and watches to see if the runner from 3B takes the bait)

Play #3 - Catcher fakes the throw to second by throwing reasonably hard back to the pitcher--so that the runner on 3B can't tell if the catcher is throwing to second or not. This freezes the runner on third.

We might also decide to pitch out--but that's a story for another day.

Please be sure to ask any questions at an upcoming practice if you don't understand how these signals work.

Glenn Nagel