Defining Basecoaches
In baseball there are several different types of coaches who are involved with the strategic aspect of the game. At the top of the coaching hierarchy is the manager, or head coach. He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day strategical operations of a team. Any other coach on the team must get their instructions from him. The other coaches that make up the coaching staff of a baseball team are base coaches, hitting coaches, pitching coaches and strength coaches.
Perhaps the most crucial day-to-day hands-on role belongs to the base coaches, as they are responsible for moving players around the base paths. The general responsibility of a base coach is to be the eyes for the base runner because when a runner is in motion they can not see the action in the field; moreover, when running the base paths a player is not supposed watch the action of the ball because doing so will effectively slow his progress around the bases. Thus, a base coach will serve as his eyes and let him know what to do
During a baseball game there are two different types of base coaches. First, there is a first base coach located just as the name suggests, behind first base. The first base coach is responsible for telling a hitter whether or not he should advance to second base after he has put the ball in play. Also, the first base coach is responsible for helping a base runner at first base watch the pitcher. In the event that a pitcher attempts to pick off a runner at first base, the first base coach is responsible for telling the player to get back. Another purpose the first base coach usually serves is as a receptacle for a player to deposit his batting gloves and/or body armor that he may have on after getting to first base. Aside from this, the job of a first base coach is relatively simple.
The second type of base coach is a third base coach. Just as with a first base coach his position on the field is self-explanatory as he is positioned directly behind third base. However, unlike a first base coach, a third base coach tends to have more responsibilities allocated to him. First, the third base coach must receive hand signals that tell a player what to do in a certain situation. He gets these from the manager and then will relay the signals to the players in the field. These hand signals take place in the form of a charade and consist of such signals as rubbing the ear, swiping the belt, or tipping the cap. Each team has a different form of communication through these hand signals, which allow them to strategically communicate without letting the opposition know what they plan to do.
Depending on the strategical situation a third base coach may give a player varying signals. For example when there is only a hitter at the plate and nobody on base, a third base coach must give him signals before every pitch in order to let him know what to do. When doing this a third base coach may signal a player to bunt or to take a pitch at a certain point in the pitch count. In the event that a player reaches base the third base coach must give both he and the batter signals simultaneously. The signals a third base coach may use in such a situation includes queuing the players to hit and run, telling the base runner to steal, or telling the players to execute a sacrifice bunt.
Given this large responsibility it is easy to see why many third base coaches usually possess a high baseball I.Q. Many third base coaches are former players who understand the game and can serve as a manger on the field. Often times, a third base coach will be selected by a team to ultimately become the manager. Many current managers of Major League teams were at one time a third base coach before they were given the head position. An example of this would be Willie Randolph, a former third base coach for the New York Yankees, who now is the manager of the New York Mets. Another example is Ozzie Guillen who served as a third base coach for the Florida Marlins before getting becoming the manager for the Chicago White Sox.
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