The sport of baseball is a complex game with numerous rules and regulations. One of the most important concepts for players and coaches to understand is cuts and relays. A cut and relay is when an infielder receives a ball from an outfielder and throws it to another infielder. This can be used to get a runner out or to move the runners along. This is a very important concept for all players to know and master.
As part of a larger effort to improve pace of play and increase the popularity of baseball, MLB has introduced an electronic device that will allow catchers to relay signs to pitchers. The device, known as PitchCom, will be worn by both the catcher and the pitcher during games and can prevent sign stealing. It works by transmitting audio signals from the catcher’s mouth to the pitcher’s hat via mini receivers. It can also be programmed to transmit messages in other languages, which is a big help for foreign players in MLB.
A player who catches the ball is credited with an assist on any play that results from their throw to a base. However, a special kind of assist is possible on a relay throw and that’s called a “cut.” A cut is when an outfielder throws the ball to an infielder but holds it to prevent a runner from scoring. This is a defensive strategy that’s often used when the outfielder doesn’t have enough arm strength to make a full-ton throw to the infield.
The most famous case of a cut occurred during a game between the Yankees and Cleveland Guardians on April 15. Second baseman Andres Gimenez’s relay throw hit plate umpire Larry Vanover in the head, knocking him out. The 67-year-old was taken to a hospital for a head concussion and other injuries.
While the use of this new technology will not completely eliminate sign stealing from baseball, it’s certainly going to make it much more difficult for teams to steal each other’s signals. While there are some players, such as Braves catcher Travis D’Arnaud, who is not a fan of the device specifically because it “rushes the game,” it seems to be getting closer and closer to eliminating this long-standing problem for the sport.
The key to success on a cut or relay is communication and knowing what the other players on your team are doing. The trailer should stay about 20-30 feet behind the lead and be communicating with him constantly, telling him when to line up left or right, whether he’s going to hold or throw and to what base. This can be hard to do with the fast pace of the game but it’s something that every player should try to perfect. The front man, on the other hand, should be trying to keep his eyes on the runner and looking at the ball and making adjustments based on what’s happening on the bases. MLB중계