Help with a softball/baseball question! Please help!

[TripleAAA]

I can't for the life of me remember the term that is used in baseball or softball where after making an out, the defending infield team throws the ball around the to various infielders. It is only done when there is nobody on base. I want to say the term is Around the Horn, but I don't think that's it. Can someone elaborate on this for me? I just started coaching a softball team a couple weeks ago and I want to work on this concept for our game this Friday.

Also, when the pitcher strikes a batter out and there is nobody on base, how does the catcher determine where to throw the ball afterward, like to first or third base since I've seen them throw it to both ways. Does it depend on whether the batter is left or right handed?

Please help quick! Thanks

 

[pyonir]

around the horn

EDIT: and i've never seen a professional catcher throw the ball to first. It goes from catcher to third to short to second to first and then to the pitcher.

 

[CaptnKirk]

It is 'Around the Horn' Usually with a snap throw from the catcher to third when the 3rd strike is called.
Relay around to SS - 2B - 1B - to P. Shows the other team you have focus & concentration.

 

[Toasthead]

Actually the firstbaseman usually doesnt touch the ball. It goes third to second to short to P

 

[rh71]

Sometimes, but rarely, the catcher does throw it to 1st. But it's usually 3B --> SS --> 2B --> 3B --> P (3rd baseman always throws it back to the P). I thought it was done more to keep people "active" in touching the ball... since the 1B-man always touches it, he is left out. Baseball is a very slooooow game and you're left standing there most of the time. Just ask the outfielders.

<-- ex 3rd baseman.

 

[Yossarian]

catchers will throw to first sometimes if a right-handed batter was up.

 

[TripleAAA]

Thanks all. Just to clarify though, the Around the Horn is for strikeouts when nobody is on base..... technically right?

So if a groundball is hit to 2nd base, the 2nd baseman throws to First for the out. Whoever makes the "assist" or throws the runner out gets the ball thrown back to them (in this case the 2nd baseman would be the ball thrown to them) from the first baseman right? Then second throws to short, then short to third?

BUT if shortshop gets ground ball, throws to first. First throws back to short, then short throws to 2nd , 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to pitcher?

Just making sure before I get out there and try to teach this! LOL. Thanks again

 

[MrDingleDangle]

Originally posted by: TripleAAA
Thanks all. Just to clarify though, the Around the Horn is for strikeouts when nobody is on base..... technically right?

So if a groundball is hit to 2nd base, the 2nd baseman throws to First for the out. Whoever makes the "assist" or throws the runner out gets the ball thrown back to them (in this case the 2nd baseman would be the ball thrown to them) from the first baseman right? Then second throws to short, then short to third?

BUT if shortshop gets ground ball, throws to first. First throws back to short, then short throws to 2nd , 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to pitcher?

Just making sure before I get out there and try to teach this! LOL. Thanks again

are your players that good that you would rather them work on this then other skills?

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: rh71
Sometimes, but rarely, the catcher does throw it to 1st. But it's usually 3B --> SS --> 2B --> 3B --> P (3rd baseman always throws it back to the P). I thought it was done more to keep people "active" in touching the ball... since the 1B-man always touches it, he is left out. Baseball is a very slooooow game and you're left standing there most of the time. Just ask the outfielders.

<-- ex 3rd baseman.

Yeah I think thats how it works. The 3rd baseman is the one to throw the ball to the pitcher. In softball I notice that the 3rd baseman will move towards the pitcher as the ball is coming around the horn so that she isn't really throwing, but rather handing the ball off to the pitcher.

 

[TripleAAA]

Mr. Dingledangle

I'm coaching a JV girls softball team (9th and 10th grade). We've been practicing for a few weeks now. I think this concept is good because as it has been mentioned before, it keeps everyone more alert and warm on the field. In answering your actual question of whether or not I should be coaching this versus other skills....no I don't think it is as important. However, in practice I like to give them scenarios while I hit ground balls to them. So basically after they make an out and if nobody is on base, I want them to go around the horn.

Does that answer your question?

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: TripleAAA
Thanks all. Just to clarify though, the Around the Horn is for strikeouts when nobody is on base..... technically right?

So if a groundball is hit to 2nd base, the 2nd baseman throws to First for the out. Whoever makes the "assist" or throws the runner out gets the ball thrown back to them (in this case the 2nd baseman would be the ball thrown to them) from the first baseman right? Then second throws to short, then short to third?

BUT if shortshop gets ground ball, throws to first. First throws back to short, then short throws to 2nd , 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to pitcher?

Just making sure before I get out there and try to teach this! LOL. Thanks again

You don't really teach Around The Horn. Well maybe once or twice, but it's not a skill or an art. I really believe it's only done to keep everyone "physically" in the game.

And NEVER do this when a runner is on base (not including the runner that was just thrown out). If you throw the ball away, it's still "live" unless someone calls time-out. Frequently a base-runner will call time-out after sliding into a base to wipe himself off or take off equipment... but still, never throw the ball around when there are baserunners.

 

[Jombo]

are your players that good that you would rather them work on this then other skills?

at least they'll look good during the field warm ups, when they finish w/ the round the horn. =D

maybe he coaches little league, and the kids will go wow, who knows.

as for the going to the first base first comment, i thought the same, it would depend on where the batter hits from when he strikes out, but then most hitters are righties, so you'd figure they'd goto first more often by that logic.. i played center field, so i really didnt' care what the infielders did, i just remember throwing the cut off man curves and breaking balls during practice to piss em off

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: TripleAAA
Thanks all. Just to clarify though, the Around the Horn is for strikeouts when nobody is on base..... technically right?

So if a groundball is hit to 2nd base, the 2nd baseman throws to First for the out. Whoever makes the "assist" or throws the runner out gets the ball thrown back to them (in this case the 2nd baseman would be the ball thrown to them) from the first baseman right? Then second throws to short, then short to third?

BUT if shortshop gets ground ball, throws to first. First throws back to short, then short throws to 2nd , 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to pitcher?

Just making sure before I get out there and try to teach this! LOL. Thanks again

You don't really teach Around The Horn. Well maybe once or twice, but it's not a skill or an art. I really believe it's only done to keep everyone "physically" in the game.

And NEVER do this when a runner is on base (not including the runner that was just thrown out). If you throw the ball away, it's still "live" unless someone calls time-out. Frequently a base-runner will call time-out after sliding into a base to wipe himself off or take off equipment... but still, never throw the ball around when there are baserunners.

Right, I definitly know that they shouldn't be doing this when runners are on base. BUT, you do have to techinally teach Around the Horn because some of the players on my team I know will not know how to do it. We'll see how it works...thats part of what practice is for.

 

[Novgrod]

i was under the impression that, if there is a ground out with nobody on base, the ball travels 3-6-4-5-1 (1b ss 2b 3b pitch).

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Novgrod
i was under the impression that, if there is a ground out with nobody on base, the ball travels 3-6-4-5-1 (1b ss 2b 3b pitch).

you can mix it up if you want but for kids just starting, I would do it this way every time. You don't want someone out there holding the ball for 10 seconds wondering who to throw to.

 

[rh71]

BTW, the batter is usually standing far up enough that the catcher still has enough of a good angle to throw the ball to the 3rd baseman after a right-handed batter strikes out. It's supposed to be done right away, so the batter is still standing "that far" up in the box.

 

[jaydee]

I've never seen it go from 3B -> SS -> 2B -> 1B

In HS, right before an inning started, we threw around 2B -> SS -> 3B -> 1B, all gather at the mound, firstbasemen, gives me the ball and tells me "don't f--- up". That might have just been our school though...

After a strikeout, it always went C -> 3B -> 2B -> SS -> 1B -> P

You don't usually do it (actually, I've never seen it done) with runners on base incase someone overthrows it then the runner(s) would advance, and it would be highly embarassing for the team on defense.

So the actual order varies, you don't have to follow anyone's particular order here, just be sure to teach them one thing and be consistent with it.

BTW, we weren't really 'coached' to do this, we just kinda picked it up from watch the big leagues.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Tinker to Evers to Chance
Have fun with the team, always practice and make them play above their ability,
but don't let them know that they are playing over their heads.
If they play at their level - they don't improve, if they play over their level
they rise to that level, and get progressively better.