Cutoff man

On a single, the outfielder throws firm and chest-high through the cutoff man, on a line, so a ball he doesn't catch still carries to the base on its own. The player at the base the throw is headed to watches the runners and tells him what to do with one word: Through, Cut hold, or Cut and a base.

The cutoff man stands on the straight line from where the outfielder actually is to the player covering the base. He doesn't pick a spot and wait; he moves as the outfielder moves.

Who the cutoff man is

• Nobody on, single: the middle infielder on the ball's side. The shortstop on balls to left and center, the second baseman on balls to right.
• Runner on first, single: the shortstop, lined up on the throw to third.
• Runner on second, single: the throw goes home. The third baseman is the cutoff on a ball to left; the first baseman is the cutoff on balls to center and right.

On a double the ball is too deep to throw through, so the infielder who goes out is a relay man instead.