Interview: John Maine and the Pick-Off Move

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:

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