Runner on first, double down the left-field line

How the play works

A ball down the left-field line is too deep to throw through. The throw goes home: the shortstop goes out as the relay man with the second baseman trailing him. The catcher runs the relay and the third baseman repeats his calls, while the first baseman trails the batter-runner to second for the backdoor.

Key questions

Where does the throw go on a double down the left-field line with a runner on first?

Home, to the catcher, by way of the shortstop as the relay man. A double is too far to throw through, so the left fielder hits the shortstop in the chest and the catcher decides what happens next.

Who is the relay man on a double down the left-field line with a runner on first?

The shortstop. He sprints to the straight line between the left fielder and the plate, hands up, and catches every throw.

Who is the trailer on a double down the left-field line with a runner on first?

The second baseman, 25 to 30 feet behind the shortstop in line with the throw. He catches an overthrow at chest level, long-hops an underthrow, and yells "Cut 2!" if the batter-runner rounds second too far.

Who makes the call on a double down the left-field line with a runner on first?

The catcher, because the throw is headed home. The third baseman is his voice out there and repeats every call to the relay man. See cut calls.

Who covers second base on a double down the left-field line with a runner on first?

The first baseman. He trails the batter-runner to second, a step inside the base line, and is on the bag as he rounds it, ready for the backdoor throw from the shortstop.

Who backs up home plate on a double down the left-field line with a runner on first?

The pitcher. He goes around the first-base side of the catcher to the backstop, out of the runner's lane, and sets up in line with the throw. See backing up.

Every position's job

Every fielder has a job on this play, even when the ball never comes near him.

1. LF

   Left fielder

   Fields it, hits the relay man · Every left fielder play

   Charge the ball under control and field it cleanly off your glove-side foot so you can throw in rhythm. Hit the shortstop in the chest with a firm, accurate throw. Don’t short-hop him. Then jog in behind your throw and watch the runners. If the ball gets back out, you’re the first one on it.

2. SS

   Shortstop

   Relay man · Every shortstop play

   Sprint to the relay spot on the straight line between the left fielder and the plate, hands up, calling for the ball. Catch it on your glove side, already turning to the infield. The catcher makes the call and the third baseman repeats it: on “Cut 4,” relay it home; on “Cut hold,” cut it and look in; on “Cut 3,” throw to third; on “Cut 2,” throw behind the batter-runner at second. With the ball in hand or just released, check the batter-runner rounding second. If anyone yells “Backdoor,” look there now: a quick throw to second gets the runner who drifts too far.

3. 2B

   Second baseman

   Trailer, calls the backdoor · Every second baseman play

   Follow the shortstop out and set up 25 to 30 feet behind him, in line with the throw. Anything that gets past him is yours. The catcher makes the call; yours is the backdoor. If the batter-runner rounds second too far, yell “Cut 2!” Once the ball is in, cover the nearest open base and watch the batter-runner at second. Nobody takes an extra base on an overthrow.

4. C

   Catcher

   Takes the throw, makes the call · Every catcher play

   Stay at the plate. Line the shortstop up with your voice and arm so the throw comes in straight, and give him a target. Make the call early and once: “Cut 4!” if the runner is coming home, “Cut hold!” if he isn’t, “Cut 3!” if the batter-runner tries for third, “Cut 2!” for the backdoor. Set up in fair territory in front of the plate to take the throw. Block the plate only once you have the ball, then make the tag. If the ball is cut, call the next throw and keep the lead runner honest.

5. 3B

   Third baseman

   Repeats the catcher's calls · Every third baseman play

   Get to third and set up on the bag. You’re the catcher’s voice out here: repeat his calls to the relay man, loud, and keep repeating them while you hold the bag. On “Cut 3,” the throw comes to you: give a target and make the tag. Stay on the bag after that. Once the ball is cut, the runner who rounds third too far is yours.

6. CF

   Center fielder

   Backs up, yells the base · Every center fielder play

   Break at contact and sprint to back up the left fielder. Set up behind him on the ball’s line, deep enough to keep a miss off the wall. Watch the play unfold and be his eyes: yell where the throw goes, “Four! Four! Four!”, before he turns. If the ball gets past him, it’s yours: field it and hit the shortstop. Otherwise jog back toward your position, keeping an eye on the runners in case the ball comes back out.

7. 1B

   First baseman

   Trails the batter-runner to second · Every first baseman play

   Watch the batter-runner touch first, staying inside the line and out of his way. Then trail him to second, a step inside the base line, and be on the bag as he rounds it. Set up on second for the backdoor throw from the shortstop and tag the runner if he has drifted too far off the bag.

8. P

   Pitcher

   Backs up home plate · Every pitcher play

   Get off the mound at contact and head for the backstop, going around the first-base side of the catcher. Stay out of the lane of the runner coming home from third. Set up near the backstop, in line with the throw, and stop any overthrow. If the ball is cut, move to back up the next likely throw. Then get the ball back and get on the rubber.

9. RF

   Right fielder

   Backs up second · Every right fielder play

   Break at contact and drift in toward the backup spot behind second, on the relay man’s throwing line, arriving as the play develops. Line up behind second, 30 to 40 feet deep. A backdoor throw that gets through is yours. Stay there until the ball is back to the pitcher.

Coaching points

1. The trailer is the insurance on the double cut: an overthrow is caught at chest level, an underthrow long-hopped. Nothing gets past the relay team to the infield.
2. The calls come from the man at the base the throw is headed to: “Cut 3” (or “Cut 4”) means relay it there; “Cut hold” means cut it, look in, and decide; “Cut 2” is the backdoor. Anyone on the field can yell “Backdoor” to get the relay man looking for it.
3. A double is too far to throw through. The relay man catches every time, and the trailer behind him is the insurance.

Test yourself

Questions from the app's Learn sessions. Pick your answer, then check it.

1. Double with the throw going home. Who repeats the catcher’s calls?

   1. A.The shortstop
   2. B.The pitcher
   3. C.The first baseman
   4. D.The third baseman
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   D. The third baseman. The third baseman — he’s the catcher’s voice out to the relay man.

2. Double down the line: who yells the base to the outfielder?

   1. A.The right fielder
   2. B.The second baseman
   3. C.The center fielder
   4. D.The pitcher
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   C. The center fielder. The center fielder, from his backup spot.

3. Doubles: who relays and who trails?

   1. A.The shortstop always relays; the second baseman always trails
   2. B.The middle infielder relays; the first baseman trails
   3. C.The third baseman relays; the shortstop trails
   4. D.The middle infielder on the ball’s side relays; the other trails
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   D. The middle infielder on the ball’s side relays; the other trails. The middle infielder on the ball’s side relays and the other trails — down the right-field line too. Never the first baseman.

4. On a double, what does the first baseman do?

   1. A.Stays on first in case the runner has to come back
   2. B.Trails the batter-runner to second, on the bag as he rounds it
   3. C.Goes out as the trailer behind the relay man
   4. D.Backs up the throw to third from foul territory
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   B. Trails the batter-runner to second, on the bag as he rounds it. Trails the batter-runner to second and is on the bag as he rounds it, for the backdoor.

5. Double, runners on. Where does the throw go, and who runs it?

   1. A.To third; the third baseman runs it
   2. B.To second; the first baseman runs it
   3. C.Home; the catcher calls it, 3B repeats
   4. D.Home; the third baseman runs it from his bag
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   C. Home; the catcher calls it, 3B repeats. Home. The catcher runs it and the third baseman repeats his calls.

6. Double to the left side. What does the right fielder do?

   1. A.Runs to back up the center fielder
   2. B.Waits for the throw, then backs up third
   3. C.Drifts in behind second at contact
   4. D.Comes in to cover first base
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   B. Waits for the throw, then backs up third. Drifts in behind second at contact.

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Defending a double: every situation · The full situation library

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