Situational Hitting: Part 4

Matt Schilling: From the Batting Cage

We have been discussing situational hitting and ways to make yourself a productive hitter by executing when in "situational hitting" situations. This week we are going to discuss the following situations:

1. Hit and Runs

2. Leading off an Inning

Hit and Runs:

Every coach seems to have a slightly different opinion on what they want their hitters to do on a hit and run. In general a perfect hit and run will have the batter hit a ground ball to the opposite field. When a runner is on first, the middle infielder who is on the hitter's opposite field side usually has coverage of second in the event of a steal. So if the hitter can hit a ground ball through the vacated hole caused by the middle infielder covering second, you have a perfect hit and run. The problem is that the pitcher doesn't always throw a good pitch that you can hit on the ground to the opposite field side, so what do you do?

I have a few rules of thumb that will help you with a hit and run. First, if your coach puts this sign on, you HAVE to swing at the pitch, even if it is a ball. The only pitch I would not want you to swing at is a ball in the dirt. A pitch in the dirt is very difficult for the catcher to try to throw a runner out on, so there is no point in swinging just to protect the runner. Next, focus on hitting the ball on the ground but don't worry so much about hitting it to the opposite field, focus more on hitting it where it is pitched. I have seen too many players get an inside fastball and try to hit a grounder the other way and they wind up getting jammed and popping up, sometimes resulting in a double play.

So...focus mostly on getting the ball on the ground and hitting it where it is pitched. If you can take it "oppo," do, but do it without altering your swing too much. Lastly, most young players that I see get the hit and run sign from their coach, will chop down at the pitch. You need to have enough bat control to be able to hit a good, solid ground ball without having to significantly change your swing. Talk to your coach and ask him what he wants from a hit and run and make sure that you are clear on what expectations he has.

Leading off an Inning:

The leadoff hitter on a team is usually the best at getting on base and usually has some speed. The problem is that he very often only leads off the first inning. As hitters we are all going to be leadoff men. We are all going to have the responsibility of getting a rally started. So what types of things should you do to be effective?

First, raise your intensity. When your team is down a run in the 9th inning it always amazes me how much the offensive team raises its itensity. All of a sudden players are doing whatever they possibly can to get on base. They move up in the box, up on the plate, try to get hit by pitches, they will dive head first into first base trying to beat out a ground ball. All kinds of extra effort in just to try to get on base. Why don't players and teams do this in say the 3rd inning? Because the game is not on the line...or is it?

As hitters, if you are leading off an inning, get your butt on base! Do whatever it takes. I would suggest moving up on the plate a little bit. Often pitchers don't like the look of a batter on top of the plate and it will intimidate them enough to pitch away from you and out of the zone. This can get you into a hitters count giving you a better chance to get a better, more predictable pitch to hit. As we have discussed in previous blogs, this gives you a much better chance to get a hit and get on base. Lastly, check the defense. Often the corner infielders may be asleep the first few pitches of a new half inning. They may be playing a little too deep which may give you a chance to drop a bunt for a hit.

All of the situations that we have covered are immensily important to the success of your team and to your production as a hitter. Always make sure you are clear in your mind at what your job is and what you have to do to be successful in that situation. If your mind is clear you will function much better without a hesitation in the box. Good luck and EXECUTE, your coach will love you for it.


Schilling graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where he was an All-Conference and All-State player while being voted the fourth best second baseman in the country by the Smith Award Group. Schilling went on to coach at Coastal for five years, helping them reach the top 25. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.

Situational Hitting: Part 2

Matt Schilling: From the Batting Cage

Last week I began talking about the importance of "executing" when faced with different hitting "situations." I noted seven different hitting "situations" that tend to stick out more than any others. This week, I am going to discuss the first two on the list. In case you forgot, here are the first two:

1. Sacrifice bunts

2. Suicide squeeze and safety squeeze

Most young players think that being a productive hitter means getting a lot of hits. The reality is that it is great to get a lot of hits but it does not guarantee that you will be productive. You can also be a productive hitter without hitting for a high average IF you "execute" well in hitting situations.

1. Sacrifice Bunts

Most young players do not know how to bunt. This is one of the most under taught skills in baseball today. Young players also hate to bunt because we wait all that time for our turn to hit and now we don't get to swing, we have to bunt, yuck. But a good ballplayer will gladly give himself up or "sacrifice" for the team. My first tip to being a good bunter: Commit to it. A lot of players will give a half-hearted attempt at it and miss or foul off the first attempt in hopes that the coach will take the bunt sign off. This is the worst thing you can do. Usually this will make the coach angry because he can clearly see you are not making a good effort, so as a matter of principle he will make you try to bunt even with two strikes. So COMMIT to the bunt and it will help you have greater success.

A few other tips to help you. When Sac bunting you must get UP, UP and UP. Move UP in the box, move UP on the plate and move UP on the bat. If you do this correctly this will guarantee that when you square to bunt, your bat will be in fair territory (this is critical to bunting the ball fair). Once you have done this, you should pre-set the angle of your bat. What I mean is, if you are going to bunt to 3rd you should square up and get your bat angle set so that if the ball hit your bat it would ricochet towards 3rd. You must also make sure to always keep the tip of the bat slightly above your hands. If the tip of the bat drops you have a greater chance to pop the bunt up. Lastly you must know what direction to bunt. With a man on first you should bunt to first. If you can make the first baseman field the bunt it becomes a very difficult throw for him to try and throw out the runner going to second. He likely will opt to throw to first and you will have done your job. With a runner on second you want to bunt to third and make the third baseman field the ball for the same reasons mentioned above. While these are not all of the tips for bunting, these are a few that are not always taught and can give you an edge up.

2. Suicide squeeze and safety squeeze

Suicide squeeze means that when the pitcher winds up to throw to the plate the runner from third is breaking like he is stealing home. As the hitter you have to bunt the ball in fair territory. At worst you must make some sort of contact with the ball otherwise the base runner will be a dead duck. In this "situation" it is most important to just get the bunt in fair play and not be so worried about what direction you bunt the ball. If you can keep it away from the pitcher a little bit that is a huge help.

Should your coach call this play and you achieve the element of surprise it is usually fairly successful. If the defensive team is on its toes and looking for a possible squeeze it becomes a little more difficult. The best defense against a squeeze is to throw a pitch-out or a pitch that the hitter cannot bunt but that the catcher can catch. So as the bunter you must be prepared to get the bat on the ball. Do whatever it takes to make some form of contact. Throw the bat at the ball, take one hand off the bat to extend your reach if you must, but make contact. Again if you don't the runner is going to be out. If you are given the squeeze, be prepared for the worst, and if you get a decent pitch it will be a lot easier for you.

The safety squeeze simply means that the base runner at third is not running on the pitch, but waiting to read where you have bunted the ball. This "situation" is much more like a sacrifice only instead of advancing the runner to second or third, you are sacrificing him home. Therefore in this spot you must "execute" a quality bunt directed away from the defensive pressure. Usually the third baseman is a little more aggressive charging and more athletic, so in general you will want to get the bunt down towards first. This spot does not require that you go after the pitch, you have the option of waiting for a good pitch to bunt, so make sure you "bunt strikes."

Next week we will take a look at the next few "situations."

Man on second with no one out and man on third with less than two outs.

Trivia Question answers:

1. Hank Aaron is third all-time in career hits behind Rose and Cobb
2. Ernie Banks has 4 of the top ten single season home run totals by a shortstop, A-rod has the other 6


Schilling graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where he was an All-Conference and All-State player while being voted the fourth best second baseman in the country by the Smith Award Group. Schilling went on to coach at Coastal for five years, helping them reach the top 25. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.