Pickoffs at third base

We’ve all seen a left handed pitcher with a great pickoff move to first base.  They can single handedly stop a team’s running game in its tracks.  Here’s my question.  Why don’t right handers do the same at third base?

 

Lefties can “cheat” quite a bit on their way to first by stepping at a 45 degree angle between home and first base and still throw to first on the pickoff.  This is largely what makes a left-handed pickoff move so deceiving.  But right handers can do the exact same thing to third base.  I think this kind of right handed pickoff to third base is very underultilized, especially at the lower levels.  To be honest, like most coaches, I didn’t emphasize it much at all either.  I should have.

Let’s say a runner is on third base with no outs or one out.  If the batter just puts the ball in play, the run probably scores.  Why not put on a pickoff at third base before the first pitch to the batter?  You have nothing to lose.  If he’s out, you’ve gotten the out without throwing a pitch.  If he’s safe, you send a message to their entire team to stay closer to third base when they are there.  This makes it more likely they will be out at home on a play at the plate.  It’s a win-win for the defense.

Get those right handers out there and practice their “cheat” move to third base.  You might just get someone!