Relays and throws
Through
"Through" is the call that tells the cutoff man to let the throw go to the base. It is always said out loud: silence is never a signal.
The player at the base the throw is headed to watches the runner and decides. If there's a play at his base, he yells "Through!" and the ball goes straight to him.
The cutoff man doesn't just step aside. He fakes the catch and arm-fakes a throw at the lead runner who isn't scoring, usually the runner who rounded third, to send him diving back. The fake also buys the catcher a moment on a short hop or an off-line throw.
Every team needs the rule that "through" is spoken. A cutoff man who hears nothing doesn't know whether the call was "through" or whether nobody made one.
Free to start
Watch every play, then quiz yourself on it
No card, no password. Game Situations and a daily Learn session are free.