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Matthew Cerrone

Interview: John Maine and the Pick-Off Move
By Matthew Cerrone - Mar 9, 2009 4:32 pm

In St. Lucie, I spent time with John Maine asking him questions about how to make a pick off throw to second, and keep a runner honest at first, his awareness of his infielders while focused on the game, and where and when you make the throw over.

Here’s one Q&A in text from the discussion:

  • Matthew Cerrone: The other one you always see, and one fans always boo when you’re on the road, is the fake-to-third, throw-to-first move – does that ever work?
  • John Maine: (Laughing) You hear the boos when you do at a visitor’s park.  Actually, it works sometimes.
  • Matthew Cerrone: Have you ever picked any one off that way?
  • John Maine: I picked one guy off that way, yeah.  I’ve only done it a hand-full of times.  But, again, what people need to realize is that it’s about not letting that runner on first get a big jump stealing second.  Or, maybe it’s because we want to see what the hitters going to do, if he’s gonna bunt or swing…
  • Matthew Cerrone: I always thought, if I ever get the chance to throw out the first pitch for a game, I would do that.  You know, do the fake, see how people react.  I’d probably get made fun of for it, but…
  • John Maine: Well, you know in New York if you bounce a pitch you’re gonna get booed, so…

To watch my entire interview with Maine, click play below:

For more Mets spring training videos, click here

12 Responses to “Interview: John Maine and the Pick-Off Move”

  1. bennyagbayani says:

    Metsblog drinking game… drink every time Matt pumps his fist into his mitt… you’ll get hammered

  2. MeesesGlokmah says:

    I was wondering when this video would be posted.

  3. reillys5 says:

    i almost had a heart attack when i saw a new post with a picture of maine, thought he got hurt or something…

    • Brock Landers aka The Original Kingman 26 says:

      Haha! Yeah, nice to see a post about an important player without “MRI” in the title, or a red cross adorning the post!

  4. Robx311x says:

    I think I remember this move working TWICE in ONE inning for Turk Wendell.

    • jleit83 says:

      Wow. Thanks so much for confirming my sanity. I’ve mentioned this game to people a couple of times, and nobody ever believes me, let alone remembers it.

      I actually signed up for an account here (after reading the blog for several years) just to thank you.

  5. The Slider says:

    Matt, you should have asked him why he can’t throw strikes on a consistent basis.

  6. BigDaddyKirk says:

    Completely unrelated, but someone just called the Michael Kay show and asked about the Yanks going after Brandon Inge to replace A-Rod. Poor guy called the wrong show… We all know how they feel about Inge on WFAN.

  7. bucknersankles says:

    Ron Darlings pick off move was absolutely freakin wicked, I don’t know who even comes close to his move in the organization then or now.