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RUNNING
1. Get to first base
As the saying goes, "you can’t steal first base," but you can run to it like you were meaning to! Go as hard as you can never looking at the ball. Don’t worry, those other guys will find it soon enough. You just keep your eye on the first base bag.
2. Run on your toes, keeping them pointed inward.
Learn to run like you are pigeon toed. The longer you can run on your toes, pointing your feet inward, the faster you will run. If you can maintain your feet always in this position when running, you can increase your speed by as much as 25%.
3. When you round a base, hit it with your left foot; hit home plate any way you can.
Hitting each bag with your left foot allows you to drive off that leg to add more power, plus it makes the angle sharper on the crossover step using your right leg. This cross over step quickens the way to the next base. About running to home plate, you are on your own there, but a word to the wise. To spill the catcher hit his leg with the most weight on it (usually back leg). This technique will knock him down every time.
4. Know where the ball is.
This is where your first and third base coaches come into play, especially when you are running with your back to the ball. They are baseball's traffic cops, so obey them always. When in doubt, just stay on the bag.
5. Know how many outs there are.
If you can’t keep track of 3 numbers you are too stupid to play baseball. Rule of thumb. No outs: base to base. Your mission is to get to the next base without being thrown out, so don’t take unnecessary chances. 1 out: dare time. Be more aggressive. 2 outs: no tricks. You never want to give the defense their third out because of a running error.
6. Know the count on the hitter.
Especially 3-2 with 2 outs. Generally action counts are when the hitter is either even or ahead of the count. Look for signs after every pitch though.
7. Know where the fielders are positioned.
After each pitch, know which of the two gaps in the outfield is the largest and how deep or shallow the outfielders are playing so you can respond accordingly when the ball is hit to the outfield.
8. Avoid running into an out to start or end an inning.
Only boneheads do this. Like the guy with 2 outs who wants to stretch a double into a triple, or with no outs make a single into a double. You get the picture. Again just bone-heads do this.
9. Obey all signs and be quick to all bases
Before you can obey the signs you've got to know them. Don’t be afraid to call timeout if you are not sure so you've got it right. And from base to base, be as quick as you possibly can. Hustle, hustle, hustle.
10. When in doubt, SLIDE- and don’t get picked off!
Practice sliding on grass so much that it becomes second nature to you. That way, when you are in a game, there won’t be a problem, because you will want to slide anyway. Just remember, it's the sleepy heads who get picked off.
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