How to Watch Baseball

Cut-offs and Relays

Traps Designed for the Gullible

George Kell, from the photograph printed with his chapter.

By George Kell,Third Baseman, Boston Red Sox

Pages 28–29 · Phillips Petroleum Company, 1953

Many a baseball game is decided by the success or failure of a cut-off play. Frequently, the winning run is scored by a player who should have been prevented from getting into scoring position by the proper execution of a cut-off.

Take a situation in which the team at bat trails by one run but has the tying run on second base. The batter hits a single to right field. The right fielder charges the ball and throws to the plate to prevent the runner from second from tying the score.

Meanwhile, the first baseman stations himself halfway between first base and home plate and in a direct line with the throw. If he figures the throw is inaccurate or isn’t going to arrive at the plate in time, he intercepts it.

The batter rounds first base and continues toward second when he sees the right fielder fire toward the plate. He is put out at second by the first baseman’s accurate throw there. The tying run scores. It would have scored anyhow, even if the first baseman had allowed the throw to go through. But the winning run has been taken off the bases by the cut-off.

To make this play possible, the outfielder must make his throw to the plate low enough to be intercepted. Such throws follow a low enough trajectory to be intercepted by a player assigned to a certain spot in the event a cut-off play is indicated.

To use another example, there is always a chance for a cut-off play when a runner attempts to go from first to third on a single to right. The right fielder fires the ball on a low trajectory toward third base. The shortstop stations himself in direct line with the throw. If he sees the throw has a good chance to reach third ahead of the runner, he lets it go through. But if he sees the throw is off line and (or) unlikely to reach third ahead of the runner, he cuts it off. By cutting it off, he prevents the batter from advancing from first to second, where he would be in scoring position.

Kinfolk to the cut-off are relays on extra base hits to the outfield. Good relays also can prevent vital runs. A messed-up relay can cost a ball game.

For example, with a runner on first, the batter, a left-hander, pulls a hit down the right field foul line. The right fielder retrieves the ball as quickly as possible, but he is in no position to make a long throw.

The second baseman, however, has rushed into the outfield and set up a target. He takes the throw from the right fielder, pivots and whips the ball to the plate. Two fast throws with something on them will reach the plate quicker than one extra long one that has been thrown off balance. And because each covers less distance, two short throws should be more accurate.

So the next time you see an outfielder throw to the plate or to a base to catch a base runner —

The Cut-Off
  1. 1The batter hits a single to right field. The tying run is on second and takes off.
  2. 2The runner from second rounds third for home. It will score regardless of what the cut-off man does.
  3. 3The right fielder charges the ball and throws to the plate, low enough to be intercepted.
  4. 4Watching the throw go toward the plate, the batter rounds first without breaking stride and heads for second. He never sees the cut.
  5. 5The first baseman, halfway between first and home and in a direct line with the throw, judges it will not retire the runner. He cuts it off.
  6. 6He fires to second. The tying run scores anyway — but the winning run has been taken off the bases.
  7. 7The throw beats him to the bag with him more than halfway down the line — too far to get back. He is retired seeking a base he never should have run for.
Adapted from the diagram on page 29: “First baseman cuts off outfield throw he judges would not retire a runner at home and throws to second to trap hitter seeking extra base.”