Lead off

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In baseball, a lead off, or a lead for short, is the position a baserunner takes just prior to a pitch, a short distance away from the base he occupies. "Lead off" can also refer to that distance. A typical lead off is six to ten feet (two to three meters) from the base. If the lead is too much ("too large"), then the runner risks being picked off. If the lead is too small, the runner has a disadvantage in reaching the next base, whether in a stolen base attempt or on a batted ball.