⚾ Cliff’s Notes: Baseball IQ for Kids & Teens (Baserunning Edition)

⚾ Cliff’s Notes: Baseball IQ for Kids & Teens (Baserunning Edition)

📑 Table of Contents – Baserunning

• Pages 24–25 — Baserunning Overview

• Pages 44–45 — Don’t Make the Third Out at Third Base

• Pages 45–46 — Don’t Make the First Out at Third Base

• Page 50 — The Problem with Line Drives

• Pages 55–56 — The Rundown

• Pages 66–67 — When Not to Steal

📚 July 2025 — Baserunning

Pages 24–25 — Baserunning Overview

• Key Idea: Baserunning is all about decision-making.

• Golden Rule: Have the “pathology of a pickpocket” → always hunting for that one moment to take the next base.

• Takeaway: Great baserunners anticipate, react, and create opportunities.

1. What does it mean to think like a pickpocket on the bases?

2. Why is decision-making more important than just being fast?

Pages 44–45 — Don’t Make the Third Out at Third Base

• Key Idea: Being safe at second is already scoring position.

• Golden Rule: Don’t make the third out trying for third — you’re taking the bat out of your teammate’s hands.

• Takeaway: Outs are precious. With two outs, protect that scoring chance.

1. Why is second base already a “scoring position”?

2. Why is it costly to make the third out at third?

Pages 45–46 — Don’t Make the First Out at Third Base

• Key Idea: With no outs, your job is to create scoring chances, not erase them.

• Golden Rule: Don’t make the first out at third. If you get to second with no outs, you’ll likely be standing at third with one out.

• Takeaway: Both the first and the third out at third base are low-value risks.

1. Why is the first out at third base a mistake?

2. What makes outs at third more costly than outs at second?

Page 50 — The Problem with Line Drives

• Key Idea: Most double plays on the bases happen because of line drives that get snagged by infielders.

• Golden Rule: On a line drive → slam the brakes. If there’s a reasonable chance it’ll be caught, start moving back to your base.

• Takeaway: Don’t get doubled off. Read the ball, react quickly, and protect your base.

1. Why do line drives cause so many double plays?

2. What should you do immediately when you see a line drive?

3. How do you decide whether to go back or advance?

Pages 55–56 — The Rundown

• Key Idea: Rundowns are about buying time and forcing mistakes.

• Golden Rule (No Other Runners On): Your mission is survival. Make the defense throw the ball as many times as possible. Each throw = more chance for error.

• Golden Rule (With Runners On): Your job is to give teammates the best chance to advance safely. Keep the defense focused on you as long as possible.

• Takeaway: Rundowns aren’t automatic outs — they’re opportunities to pressure the defense.

1. Why should you try to make the defense throw the ball as many times as possible in a rundown?

2. How does your job change if there are other runners on base?

3. If you’re caught between 1st and 2nd with a runner on 3rd, who do you want chasing you, and why?

4. What’s the trick move you can use when the fielder goes to tag you?

Pages 66–67 — When Not to Steal

• Key Idea: Stealing bases is about timing and situation, not just speed.

• Red Flags (Don’t Steal If…):
• Catcher has a cannon for an arm.
• Pitcher delivers quickly to the plate.
• It’s late in the game, your team is trailing, and your run doesn’t matter.
• There are 2 outs and your team’s best hitters are at the plate or on deck — don’t take the bat out of their hands.

• Takeaway: Smart baserunners know that stealing is a calculated risk. Sometimes, the smartest play is to stay put.

1. What makes a catcher tough to run against?

2. Why does a pitcher’s quick delivery matter when deciding to steal?

3. Why shouldn’t you steal late in the game if your run doesn’t matter?

4. With two outs, how do you decide whether to steal or stay for your hitters?