The type of offense used depends entirely on the type of club the manager or coach has, whether it is a power or a speed club. The type of pitching that he has is another determining factor. If I have a real fine pitching staff, for example, four or five outstanding pitchers the likes of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, then I know the opponent is not going to score too many runs. If I have a club that lacks good power, I am included to sacrifice or play for one run earlier in the game than I would if I had a weaker pitching staff. Therefore, the offense is more or less determined not only by the type of hitters but also by whom the coach has pitching for him.

The manager or coach often tries to estimate how many runs his opponent is going to get. If someone like Koufax is pitching, I will say: “OK, let’s bunt in the first inning or steal the base, try to get one run, and hope that we can hold it.” Now, if there is somebody else pitching, and we are playing a team that score a lot of runs, I might say: “Well, they are going to score three or four runs, so we have to go for a bigger inning.” Therefore, I would play my offense differently.

A team that lacks the home run hitters should have players who are able to bunt, drag and push, and all sorts of ways to bring the infield in. With the infield in, the offense has a better chance to hit the ball past the infielders for a base hit.

The home run is a great weapon. I wish we had a few more. But, if the manager does not have this type of hitter, he has to go the other way. In fact, good pitching generally can handle most good home run hitters because they are free swingers. They either hit the ball out of the park, or they hit into a double play or strikeout. With the infield back, they are not as much of a threat as the hitter like Maury (Illus. 2), who slaps the ball around and can bunt, drag and run.

Hitting away is not the only way to score runs. Bunting, the steal, hit and run, run and hit, and the squeeze play can all advance runners to scoring position or score them. In a close game, when one run can mean victory, the advancement of a base runner can be a significant factor in the outcome. The Dodgers like to hit the ball to the opposite field as much as we possibly can. However, this is a technique that must be practiced over and over until it becomes a habit.

An Aggressive Offense Basically, the more aggressive a team can be, the more successful it will be. This starts with the hitter himself. The hitter has to be aggressive and believe that every pitch is going to be a strike. He should start after every pitch and be able to hold back if the pitch is a ball. Then, he must run hard from the moment he hits the ball until he rounds first base or second and is stopped by the play. His own judgment may force him to stop, or the coach may hold him up (Series A – Billy Grabarkewitz).

The offense must exert continual pressure on the defense, and in doing so, they force mistakes. When a top base stealing threat such as Maury Wills (Illus. 3) or Lou Brock gets on first base, he can exert considerable pressure on the pitcher. The pitcher will say: “I’ve got to throw over there three or four times. I’ve got to rush my delivery.” He becomes so concerned about the man on first stealing second that he gets behind the hitter. In addition, this concern takes a little concentration away from the pitcher, which is very helpful.

When the base runner gets on first base, the outfielders are thinking: “With this man on first, the chances are that he will be going to third. If the ball is hit to me, I have got to charge this ground ball and hurry up my throw.” And so, this type of aggressiveness and pressure rushes the defense into misplays and errors.

Pressure on the Defense An effective running game, sparked by well-executed bunts, the steal, hit and run, and high-lighted occasionally by the exciting squeeze play, can place considerable pressure on the defense. The drag bunt, clever and daring base running, and skillful sliding are methods and techniques that develop fast-moving situations which cause mechanical and mental errors by the defense (Illustrations 4 - Bobby Valentine; 5 - Maury Wills; and 6 – Bill Russell).

Indeed, an aggressive offense has many advantages over the team which plays conservative, safe baseball. The threat of a steal will often cause pitchers to lose their concentration on the hitter, while the threat of a bunt will bring in the infield, decreasing their fielding coverage. Thus, the element of threats can be effective in keeping the defense off-balance and unsettled.

There is nothing nicer to see than a player getting a base hit and rounding the base at full speed. When he decides to stop, he almost slides his wheels and goes back. If he rounds the base properly and the outfielder just juggles the ball, he may keep going right into second base. These are the things that can get that one or two extra runs a team needs to win (Series C – Billy Grabarkewitz).

True, there will be times when runners will be thrown out. It looks bad in these instances but, percentagewise, over the season, this aggressive style of play will pay off. Certainly, the coach will find it easier to slow his runners down and make them a little more cautious than he will in making them more aggressive. The timid base runner is more difficult to make more daring.

An Early Lead One of the pleasant aspects of baseball is that, if a team can get out in front early in the game, the coach can do so many things. He can hit and run, steal or sacrifice if he is a run or two in front. But as soon as he gets behind three or four runs, he cannot do so many things. He cannot take wild chances, nor can he keep the pressure on the defense. So, he has to sit around and wait until his team collects three or four hits in a row.

Importance of Speed While it is sometimes underrated, speed is extremely valuable offensively. The player with speed has a greater advantage in beating out the infield hit. He will go from first to third on 90 percent of the base hits, more so than the slow-footed fellow who has to stop at second. The runner at second base with good speed is difficult to throw out at home plate.

Some of baseball’s best teams have achieved success largely on exceptional speed. The Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals have taken advantage of players like Maury Wills and Lou Brock, pictured here (Illus. 7). The Dodgers have played, and still often play, for one run, using the hit and run, the steal and the bunting game. The runner at second may steal third and score on an infield ground ball. Actually, a team may go this route the entire game and be able to pick up three or four runs from these tactics. However, it has to be a team that has speed, can bunt and is able to move the ball around, such as with the hit and run play and hitting to the opposite field.

Fast, intelligent base runners such as Brock and Wills can place tremendous pressure on a pitcher. A veteran pitcher might not be affected but an inexperienced young pitcher often becomes rattled to such an extent that he will throw the ball too soon. He will lose his concentration on the hitter and might lose the little extra on his fast ball. He tries to throw it too hard and too quickly, resulting in a wild pitch.

Aggressive Attitude Building an aggressive attitude, offensively and defensively, should be the prime concern of the coach or manager. An aggressive offense is particularly demoralizing to a high school team. Quite frequently, the team that scores first will break the opponent’s spirit.

A high school team cannot rely consistently on the hitting prowess of their top hitters in a scoring situation. Instead, the coach must develop techniques and plays, such as the steal, to compensate for his team’s uncertain hitting and to support scoring potential. The aggressive, positive type of coach who takes the initiative and employs the elements of surprise and deception in his offense can achieve considerable advantage.

Offensive Tactics

Hit and Run One of the greatest plays in baseball, it requires a hitter with good bat control to hit the ball through the hole. He should be told to hit the ball on the ground. If he cannot get a piece of the ball, the runner will likely be thrown out by the catcher. This is because, on the hit and run, the base runner does not get the daring lead that he would if he were stealing.

When a hit and run is on, the manager will say: “I need a run, so I am going to sacrifice a little of my hitter’s power in order to get the runner to second base or third base. If the coach does not have this type of hitter at the plate, he should tell him to just be sure to get a piece of the ball and hit it on the ground. If he hits it in the air, everything is lost.

The purpose of the hit-and-run play is to advance the runner an extra base and to protect him from the double play. It is often used in the middle or late stages of the game. It is a good play when the pitcher is behind the batter, especially on the three-and-one pitch. With a runner on first base, the right-handed hitter will often try to hit the ball behind the runner, thinking the second baseman will cover (Series D – Manny Mota). The batter must swing at the ball wherever it is pitched, even if he has to throw the bat at it.

Run and Hit Instead of hitting behind the runner, the hitter simply tries to hit the ball, which for young, inexperienced players, is an easier skill to execute. The run and hit can cause many problems for the defense, such as breaking up a double play with a slow runner at first.

A good time to call for a run and hit is when the pitcher is behind in the count (2 and 2, 2 and 0, 3 and 1 or 3 and 2), because he must come in with the pitch. The runner should be on the move (Series E – Maury Wills), and the hitter is instructed to go for the ball if it is in the strike zone. The run and hit is used more with a fast runner on base. If the pitch is out of the strike zone, the runner has a chance to steal a base.

The hitter should know that the runner is going, and if it is in the strike zone, “I am going to be cutting.” The worst thing that can happen on a run and hit is for the runner to go and then have the hitter take the pitch right down the middle.

Hitting behind the Runner When the situation is right, some managers prefer hitting behind the runner rather than employing the bunt or a hit-and-run play. This offensive tactic is usually attempted only when first base is occupied and there are less than two out. Junior Gilliam could hit the ball on either side of the field, or he could go to the opposite field.

In an effort to advance the runner on first to second base, the hitter tries to hit the ball on the ground between the first and second basemen. The runner will break for second. Many times, there is a lot of space in there to hit the ball behind the runner. The batter should attempt just to meet the ball. Right-handed hitters find it effective to go after an outside pitch.

With a man on second base, the manager will usually try to advance him to third base. With the bunt play proving not as successful as it used to be, many teams will have the batter go to the opposite field, particularly with a hitter like Manny Mota. The batter should try to hit the ball on the ground.

Hit the Ball to the Opposite Field The batter who has the short, quick stroke and quick wrists is the fellow who will likely have the bat control necessary to hit the ball consistently to the opposite field. Whether this is hand-and-eye coordination or what, some hitters have it and some do not (Series F – Manny Mota).

The double play is a great morale booster for the defensive team. That is why I want my players to find a way to hit the ball to the opposite field. By doing so, the batter is hitting away from the double play, and more important, we have runners on first and third with only one out.

Getting a Run with an Out One of baseball’s unsung heroes is the hitter who is capable of getting a run with an out. With a man on first or second base, he can hit the ball consistently to right field, moving the runner around.

When that one run is so important, the hitter should actually sacrifice himself in order to score the run. All he has to do is hit the ball on the ground. Therefore, a hitter should know how make himself be put out. He must be able to ground the ball to the second baseman, especially when the infield is not in. He has to concentrate all the time to “Get the run! Get the run!”

If the first man doubles, the next man should ground the ball to second base, moving the runner to third.

Run-and-Bunt Play This play is a variation of the sacrifice bunt, in which the base runner attempts a steal of the next base (Illus. 8 – Maury Wills). To protect the runner, the hitter must bunt the ball regardless of where it is pitched.

On occasion, the run-and-bunt play is used more or less as a surprise tactic. With the bunt in order, the first baseman charges in, and as he moves in quickly, it is difficult for him to know whether or not the runner has left. Under ordinary circumstances, he will make the force play at second, but the man at first is already running and will often beat the throw. This play can be dangerous, however. If the hitter pops the ball up, misses it completely, or it is a bad pitch, the runner might get thrown out.

A good time to execute this play is when the pitcher is behind in the count, and therefore more likely to make the next pitch a strike. The best game situation is with none out and a runner on first base.

Bunting The bunting game is still an important part of a team’s offensive strategy. Normally, the bunt is not used in the early innings of a game. In these innings, most teams play for a big inning and do not sacrifice an out. Of course, a bunt has more chance of working when the play is unexpected.

In addition to being an effective weapon to move runners around, the bunt can be a surprise tactic to cross up the defense. Players will fake the bunt and then swinging the bat. This tends to keep the third baseman and the first baseman back just a little, and it helps.

If the winning or tying run is on first base, the coach might want to get his runner down to second base and, in addition score the man from third. So, he tries to bunt him over. The offense is just trying to get the man to second and not hit into a double play. As the third baseman comes in to field the ball, the runner at third should follow him in just a step or two behind him. If he throws to first base, a fast runner might have a good chance to score.

Sacrifice Bunt The key rule in executing the sacrifice bunt is for the hitter to give himself up. On the straight sacrifice bunt, the batter attempts to bunt the ball only if the pitch is a strike. Late in a ball game, with the score tied or the team one run behind, the manager will probably want to move over his runner on first base. He will tell his hitter to bunt the ball down the first base line, because the first baseman has to hold the man on (Series F – Manny Mota).

Bunt for a Hit Since the sacrifice style of bunting would alert the infielders, a hitter should not square around toward the pitcher until the very last instant. The drag bunt and push bunt are both attempts at a base hit.

In bunting for a base hit, the hitter must know where the first baseman and third baseman are playing – if they are playing deep or shallow, and whether they are expecting the play. Many pitchers today fall off the mound, so if a right-hander falls off toward first, the bunt should be directed toward third base (Series G – Maury Wills).

If a left-hander keeps falling off to the left, the drag bunt could be aimed at the first baseman, in hopes that the bunter can beat the pitcher to first base.

Base Running Base running is controlled by the game situation. The number of outs, the score, the ability of the base runner and the fielder’s arm are factors which determine whether or not the runner attempts to advance. The batter and base runner must be alert to react quickly to passed balls, over throws and errors.

Some pitchers will have a good move to first base but a slow delivery. In this case, the runner cannot take as big a lead but he can still steal because he steals on the delivery. Other pitchers will have a quicker delivery but a poor move to first base. Here, he should try to take a bigger lead because, when he throws to the plate, there won’t be as much time.

Home to First Base running begins at home plate. The ability to start quickly and get into running stride often spells the difference between a “safe” and an “out” call. No matter what side of the plate he swings from, the hitter should try to take his first step with the rear foot. He must go hard fir first, looking only at the bag, unless the coach signals or calls that the ball is through and for him to take his turn (Series H – Billy Grabarkewitz).

There is nothing more disgusting than to see the batter hit the ball to the outfield or infield, and then watch the ball and not put out full effort in going to first base. The infielder fumbles the ball, picks it up and throws the hitter out by half a step. Whereas, if he had run the moment he hit the ball to first base, he would have been safe by a full step.

The Steal If a team can use the steal successfully, they can eliminate the sacrifice. By stealing the base, the coach is much better off because, now, he does not have to sacrifice to get him there.

The steal itself is not only a great asset to the offensive club, bit it rattles the pitcher and the fielders. The pitcher is so worried about the runner that he gets behind the hitter or makes a bad pitch. The second baseman or shortstop often has to “cheat’ a little toward second base, so as to be there for the throw. Consequently, there is a wider gap to hit through.

The manager or coach, of course, has to decide whether to steal or not to steal. My “steal” sign simply tells the runner: “We want you to steal if you can get your lead.” (Illus. 9 – Walter Alston). However, it does not necessarily mean he has to go on that pitch. If the manager gives the “steal” sign, and insists his runner must go on that particular pitch, the pitcher may quick-pitch him. Therefore, we do not want a base runner to steal unless he can get a good jump.

An aggressive stolen-base philosophy has proven successful for many teams, particularly at the high school and college levels. Young pitchers may not have a good move to first or a quick delivery to the plate. And, too, young catchers may not have a quick and accurate throwing arm.

The Single Steal The single steal is usually tried when a team is ahead, tied or no more than one run behind. When the “steal” is put on with a 3-and-1 or 3-and2 count on the batter, the runner should be instructed to go on that pitch, although the hitter does not have to swing at the pitch. However, on any other count, the runner should steal only if he gets a good jump on the pitcher.

Basically, a team should not run when more than two runs behind, but when an outstanding runner is on base, early in the game, the coach might say: “Well, I am going to go ahead and gamble. If I get this man on second base, maybe I can pick up the one run.” The “steal” sign might be given the runner when he is on second or even third, but the runner goes only if he gets a good jump.

Double Steal There are various types of double steals with runners on first and third. Some coaches start with the straight single steal from first base, while others use the break before the pitch, delayed or long-lead types. Here again, it depends on the pitcher.

If successful, this play can result in one run scored and a runner on second base. For example, the runner on first will break for second on the pitch, and if the throw goes through to the base, he will pull up short and become involved in a run-down situation. The man on third, meanwhile, will wait until the thrown ball is over the pitcher’s head before making his break for the plate.

In executing the double steal, the runner at first should start toward second with a straight steal (Illus. 10 – Double steal drill from Alston text). Now, as soon as the catcher releases his throw to second base, the runner at third base has to have as good a lead as he can and then take off quickly.

Sometimes, the defense will try to trick the runners by throwing directly back to the pitcher, and the offense will likely be in trouble. However, it is a gamble play. So the runner at third base will say to himself: “I will get as good a lead as I can. I will stand still, and wait until I see that the catcher has actually thrown the ball to second base.”

There are times when the catcher will fake a throw to second, and the runner at third will be in a trap between third and home. Again, I believe the double steal can be defended against quite well.

Delayed Steal The player with good speed who selects an opportunity to run should have a good chance of pulling off a delayed steal. The base runner should exploit any carelessness by the keystone combination, the pitcher or the catcher. The delayed steal is often tried with two outs, when the catcher has been lobbing the ball back to the pitcher and the second baseman and shortstop are playing deep. Or, it is sometimes tried when the second baseman has a habit of looking down after the pitch is past the hitter.

The runner should break for second base the moment the catcher starts his throw to the pitcher. The pitcher has to catch the ball, pivot and throw, while the infielder who covers must come in from his deep position to make the play (Series I – Maury Wills).

One type of delayed double steal might be used against a rookie pitcher, especially a left-hander. As he comes down and gets set, the man on first base should start to run. I want him to break as though he were actually going to steal.

The delayed steal should work particularly well at the college and high school levels. I do not think it should be used against a veteran pitcher, though, because he will step off the rubber and start his motion to second or throw to get the runner in a run-down. Before the defense knows it, it is too late to stop the runner going home. If he doesn’t step off the rubber, many pitchers will balk.

We have, in fact, worked the delayed double steal a half dozen times in the major leagues, and it has proven to be a daring, tricky play that works. We have been caught only two or three times. However, a manager has to know how to pick his spots and situations.