Up Your IQ: One Out Rule (Contact Play) - Part 1

One Out Rule (Contact Play)

As with all baserunning "rules", there are a lot of factors in play. Your speed and your ability to read the angle of the ball off the bat play huge roles. In general, most teams are going to run what is called the "contact play" with one out and a runner on 3rd base. Hence the name the "one out rule".

The Scenario

There is one out and a runner on 3rd. Assume for now there isn't a runner on any other base. The infield is positioned IN across all positions (1B, 2B, 3B, SS).

What is the Contact Play?

If you're standing on 3rd base and your base coach tells you "one out rule" or "contact play is on" it means that you are trying to score on ANY groundball, even though the infield is in. It doesn't matter if the groundball is back to the pitcher or to the third baseman. If you can react fast enough to where the ball isn't already in the glove of an infielder, you are running home. In general, this is the play teams put on with one out. With my teams when I'm the 3rd base coach, if I don't tell you anything, this is what play we're running. I don't have to put the "contact play" on with one out, I have to take it off.

Why is it called the "one out rule"?

0 Outs

With 0 outs, your coach is normally going to make you see a groundball through the infield. This is because even if you don't go and your hitter ends up out at first base, there is still only one out and the odds of you scoring are still high.

1 Out (This is the scenario we're talking about)

A groundball with one out totally changes that. Now if you don't run and they throw your hitter out at 1st, there are two outs and your team needs to get a hit to score the run. This is why we're basically taking a chance on a groundball even with the infield in. The higher pressure play is at home plate. It isn't easy for an infielder to field a ball cleanly, get rid of it quickly, and put it in the tag zone at home plate. Remember, this isn't a force play, so the catcher is going to need to receive a good throw to get you.

2 Outs

You're obviously running with 2 outs on any ball in play and it would be a bad defensive play to throw the ball to home plate. The easier play is at first base anyways.

Basically, it's called the "one out rule" because you rarely run the "contact play" with 0 outs and you always are running with 2 outs.

What a Successful Contact Play Looks Like

This video is the epitome of why you run the contact play -

You see Austin Riley actually make a great play on this groundball. But he has to jump to field it, which takes a little time. Even making a perfect throw, they can't get the runner out at home. Understand that MOST groundballs make an infielder move when he is positioned in. They are limiting their range so much by being in and any contacted ball is a hard play. Alan Roden reads the angle of the ball off the bat and gets a great jump to barely beat the throw home. You hear the announcer butt in right at the end to say "contact play was on."

Here's another one with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the hitter -

This is a routine groundball to shortstop. Myles Straw sees the down angle, takes off right away and puts the pressure on CJ Abrams to make the play. Abrams isn't the best shortstop in the league, but he's definitely not a slouch over there. You see even a big leaguer throws the ball away in this scenario and even with a perfect throw the play is going to be close.

What about to the pitcher? Surely we can't run on that...

YES WE CAN. I won't be the last person to tell you this, but us position players do not consider pitchers athletes. We can back that talk up when we score on plays like this.

Does it Always Work?

Of course not. We're taking a calculated risk, but we never want to have to rely on a hit to score a run. If the play is going to be close at home plate, you want to keep going. Sometimes you're going to be out. That's the way it goes.

This play is pretty close at home plate. The 2nd baseman has to field it cleanly and make a throw in the tag zone. If he throws it to the other side of home plate, there is a chance Lawrence Butler is safe.

What if You're Out by a Mile?

If you get a good jump on a groundball, but you're still going to be out by a lot, you need to break down and get in a rundown for as long as you can. Staying in the rundown for a long time allows the hitter to get to 2nd base, which at high level baseball is considered "scoring position". At high level baseball, there isn't much difference between a runner on 2nd with 2 outs and a runner on 3rd with 2 outs. You need a hit to score the run (with the exception of a wild pitch) anyways.

Here is Fernando Tatis Jr. doing a great job of staying in the rundown long enough to allow Manny Machado to get to 2nd base -

You can hear the announcer say at the end "Machado moves up to 2nd", which is also a good job by him. A lot of hitters will be upset they didn't get the job done and just run through 1st base. He sees Tatis is staying in the rundown for him and he gets to 2nd base.

The Padres didn't end up scoring the run, but Tatis and Machado did give them a chance by getting Manny up to 2nd.

Summary

This post was more to explain the play. In part 2 we will explain the mechanics of the play, what to do if there is more than just a runner on 1st, and some other exceptions to our general rule. For now, know what the play looks like and know that if you're on 3rd with one out, you're very likely to be running on ANY groundball.