Power Pros Forum

How many times have you started your baserunner moving, swung away, and as your batter is safely reaching 1st base, you hear Jack say "the hit and run was successful!"

Have you noticed that he only says that both runners are safe? If you do a hit and run and your baserunner successfully moved up, but the batter is thrown out at first, he will never say that the hit and run was successful. However, that is exactly when hit-and-run is a success. If the batter gets a hit, the hit-and-run was probably unnecessary. The point of a hit-and-run is to move the runner up a base - it's an alternative to bunting - so he should really call the hit-and-run successful when the baserunner moves up a base, but the batter is thrown out at first.

I've heard Jack make that comment 1 million times, but just now thought about this.

That's not what the hit and run is for.If you're using the hit and run as a sacrifice, then you're doing it wrong.

I guess I had been doing it wrong!!! Thank you, Jack! Amd you, too, Skittlemonster!!!

I thought it was just so the baserunner would be able to move an extra base on a base hit.

It amazes me that anyone plays this game with the announced volume on. I have logged hundreds of hours on this game. I think it took me about one inning to turn the announcer off permanently.

LOL - that seems to be the common sentiment, but playing in silence just seems weird. He can be helpful sometimes, like by letting me know when an opponent is stealing a base about a second before I would realize it myself. I also like his recounting the number of hits each 1/2-inning

So I was watching how the infielders move when I steal second, in order to get a better handle on how "hit and runs" are used. If a lefties at bat, the shortstop covers second for the catchers throw, while the second baseman covers second against a right-handed hitter. I guess to make full use of a hit-and-run, you need a batter who is going to go the other way with the pitch – a righty who is going to hit it where the second baseman usually stands, but the second baseman will have moved to take the catcher's throw at second. A lefty who is going to hit the ball to where the shortstop usually plays, after the shortstop moved to second to cover this catcher's throw. If you hit the ball up the middle, a hit-and-run will reduce your odds of getting a B is it because of the shortstop or second baseman is getting a head start in their movement towards second.

Truly "aiming" to a side of the field is not something I can do regularly in this game, but I do seem to have a couple of hitters that tend to go the other way, and maybe I am more likely to go the other way when the pitcher only throws fastballs and sliders.

Ideally the hit-and-run is used with two strikes.

I don't think so. I mean, I'm certainly no expert, but in a hit and run, the batter has to swing, right? I don't think you'd do that with an 0-2 or 1-2 count. I think you do it when the counters and the batteries favor, knowing that the picture has to try to catch some of the plate, like 1-0 or 2-1.

Again, I'm definitely not a guru...

Hit and run is usually the first pitch of the at bat, because the pitcher will in most cases throw a strike to get ahead in the count. This makes it easier to put the ball in play and protect the runner.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... leid=15713

According to these "rules" of the hit-and-run, it's best used if the count is 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1. Although, I personally think using it on a 3-1 count wouldn't be too bad either.