Pick-off Moves: Left-handers to First

Left-handers obviously have a real advantage when holding runners on first base. We teach two basic moves for LH pitchers. First, during the knee lift, the pitcher picks up the catcher's target and steps just left of a 45 degree angle and throws to first. Simple enough. But there are two problems young pitchers tend to have when doing this. First, pitchers need to vary where they look when they pitch and pick off. Some pitchers always look home when they lift their knee and then throw to first and, conversely, they always look at first during their knee lift when they throw home. This should be varied or the base runners will know what they're doing by what they are looking at. Second, many young pitchers don't decide where they are going to throw the ball until their knee is lifted. This becomes apparent when they are striding toward home and still looking at the runner on first.

A second pick-off move involves stepping off the back of the rubber with the left foot and throwing sidearm to first without stepping in that direction. If a pitcher steps off the rubber (and thus becomes an infielder) he doesn't have to step toward a base he is throwing to. The only potential problem with this move is that a pitcher can hurt his arm if his sidearm throw wasn't practiced beforehand. Thus, a pitcher needs to include sidearm throws in his warm up before taking the mound if he plans on using this move. This move shouldn't be used by young pitchers.