While fans love to see baseball players hit home runs, the squeeze play could be the most exciting play in baseball. It requires a coordinated effort and perfect execution by the batter and base runner. A well-run squeeze play is nearly impossible to defend against and can determine the outcome of a game.
Safety Squeeze
The safety squeeze play is executed with a runner on third base. As the pitcher begins his delivery, the runner takes a secondary lead. As the pitchers arm moves forward, the batter squares to bunt. The runner waits to see how the batter bunts the ball. If it is bunted well, he runs home. If the batter bunts poorly, misses the bunt, or pulls his bat back, the runner retreats back to third base.
Suicide Squeeze
The suicide squeeze play puts more pressure on the batter to bunt the ball successfully than the safety squeeze. The suicide squeeze also takes place with a runner on third base. After the runner takes a secondary lead, the runner begins to sprint toward home plate as the pitchers arm moves forward. For this play, the batter must bunt the baseball, even if the pitch is out of the strike zone. If he is unable to get the bunt down, the defense will easily be able to tag out the runner. This is why the play is called a "suicide" squeeze.
Double Squeeze
For the double squeeze play, runners must be on second base and third base. For the batter and runner on third base, this play is identical to the suicide squeeze. However, the play is designed to score the runner on second base, as well. As soon as the pitcher moves, the runner on second base begins to steal third base. He rounds third base without slowing down and continues toward home plate. If executed properly, the runner who started on second base will be only a few yards behind the runner on third base as they both sprint home to score. The batter must bunt the baseball so both runners have enough time to cross home plate safely.
Strategy
Squeeze plays are often used late in games when one run is needed to tie, break a tie or increase a lead. They are most successful when the batter is a skilled bunter and the base runner(s) are fast. Also, it is advantageous to squeeze against pitchers who have good control and often throw strikes.
Defending the Squeeze Play
The defensive team can try two different strategies to defend against the squeeze play. First, if the pitcher realizes the squeeze play might be on, he can purposely throw the ball well out of the strike zone. This will make the batter's task of bunting the ball very difficult. Second, once the runner on third base begins to steal, the third baseman can also run toward home plate so that he might be able to field the bunt quickly and throw to the catcher to tag out the runner.
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