Double plays: Throw to the back of the bag

As players get older, runners do more to try and break up double plays.  At the high school

level, runners are generally required to slide directly into the bag.  In pro ball, runners can be much more aggressive and come after the middle infielders.  As long as they are within an arms length of the bag, they can slide as hard as they want.  

Second baseman have it the hardest because they are facing the shortstop and third baseman when they get the feeds and cannot really see the runner heading at them.  A high school second baseman can either come across the bag or step back off the bag after receiving the throw and not worry too much about the runner.  As long as he’s sliding into the bag the fielder will be safe from harm.  Not so at the professional level.

Because of this, most second baseman at the pro level position themselves on the outfield side of second base when receiving the throws.  When they do this they are using the bag as protection against the runner.  If the runner sees the fielder behind the bag, the runner has no choice but to slide directly into the bag.  However, when he does, the bag will stop or at least slow the runner’s slide down making it much safer for the second baseman.  If the second baseman crosses the bag or steps back off the bag, the runner can get a clean shot at him because there is no bag in between the fielder and him.

Even if you are not a pro second baseman, it is to your advantage to work on receiving double play feeds from behind second base.  It adds slightly more distance to your throw but you may want to give your safety more priority.