Take the sure out
Going for the big play is fun. Everybody safe is not. Know when to take the easy one.
The rule: If the fancy play is a coin flip, take the out you KNOW you can get.
Read the ball
The runners tell you where the best play is.
The ball tells you if you can actually make it. A slow chopper, a ball that handcuffs you, a dive — these eat up the time you needed for the long throw.
The cost
Miss the big play and you get nothing.
Throw late to second and the runner is safe — and so is the batter. An easy out just turned into nobody out with more runners on base.
The fix
One sure out beats a maybe.
Same slow roller. Charge it, throw to first, one out. The runner moves up — fine. You traded a base for an out, and outs are what end innings.
You make the call.
Runner on first. Slow chopper down the line — you have to charge it. Where is the play?