| PA SPORTS TRAINING |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
First Base
Essential Skills
The skill set for First requires unflinching eyes, a willingness to track the ball into the glove, an instinct to know when to stretch and when to take it on the hop, and the quick reflexes to sell those bang-bang plays to the umpire. And there's more to the position than that!
Timing Your Moves
Before the pitch...
Get off the line, check lead runner, think position.
LH batter - remind pitcher to cover.
To hold runner - back heel on bag (LH or RH), or straddle bag (RH).
On the windup...
Lean in, balls of your feet, square to the plate.
Glove down, butt down, head up.
On contact...
Go straight at it (don't let the ball play you)
Or cover the bag.
Fielding and Coverage
To field it...
Short hop - scoop it on glove side, backhand stab on throwing side.
Long hop or chopper - get behind it, plant foot, toss with no spin.
To cover bag ...
Start with both heels, get the target up. Step off on catch, don't freeze.
High throw - springboard off bag, step back on landing.
One-hoppers - learn your circle and don't get locked. (The circle is the stretching range - farther out you pull in and take it on the hop.
Check lead runners - look them back (stride towards).
Special Skills
Double Plays
Work on communication - who's got the bag?
Bunt defense
Work on communicating with pitcher (especially RH) and 2nd base
Hard bunt - charge it.
Soft bunt - get back for throw.
Ball at the fence...
Feel for fence with throwing arm, get there early.
Test the warning track before the game - count the running strides.
Tag plays...
Glove down, runner comes to you.
Swipe tag - don't freeze.
First base is the cornerstone of an effective infield.
You're expected to catch everything that comes your way, including those throws into the dirt. The challenge is of knowing when to stretch out for the catch and when to take it on the hop.
What is 'Bounce Range'?
The ability to stretch out and take a throw before it reaches the bag can turn close plays into sure outs. But you need to know when to stretch and when not to stretch. We call the distance you can stretch and reach the ball before it bounces, your bounce range.
However, everyone's bounce range is different - and it's not likely a perfect circle - you could be better on forehand or backhand range.
The only way to know is to stretch yourself out in various angles from the bag and see how far out you are able to take a throw that's only one foot off the ground.
Read the Throw First
Anytime you can stretch out to take the throw... you will shave a few hundredths of a second off the time it takes for the ball to hit the glove. Because the umpire should be watching the bag for the runner's foot while listening for your ball-glove contact, those hundredths could be crucial.
However, if the throw is off line (usually because it is not thrown with an overhand 4-seam grip), it could tail away or hook, or drop and bounce.
If you commit to the stretch too early, not much you can do to recover.
Pounce on the bounce
Outside your bounce range... you must deal with the hop - no choice. Because any bounce can turn into a bad hop off the dirt, or the lip of the grass, if you fully commit to a stretch, but can't adjust to the deflection, you could be in trouble. If you know your bounce range, you won't over commit, you'll stay back, and be ready to pounce on the bounce.
Get Below the Ball
If you allow a bounce - especiialy after committing to a stretch - you must remember the principles of all grounders - no different than if you're playing anywhere else on the field... try to keep your glove below the ball, because the arm flexes quicker than it extends.
Holding Runners
Keeping Them Close
It's not all about the Pitcher...
Most discussion on holding runners centers on the pitcher's move to first.
It's the 1st baseman who is the first line of defense in keeping runners from advancing.
If you're not set up at first correctly, and you don't know how to make the tag, it doesn't matter how good the pitcher's jump turn - you won't be picking off anyone.
Of course, the truth is that few pick-off throws succeed in getting an out. That doesn't matter. If you can execute the move effectively, then you keep the runner one step closer, or delay his jump, or discourage their coaches from even thinking about a steal.
Ready for the Throw
Your first priority is proper positioning so that you can take the throw from the pitcher (ideally belt high) and get the glove down to the bag (and runner's leg) quickly. For lefties (preferred at first) start with the heel of your right foot up against - or close to the inside corner of - the bag. And make sure you track the ball into your trapper and squeeze it there, before you bring the glove into the tag zone.
Handling High Throws
Pitchers aren't perfect. The pick-off throw or throw out could sail high, and you must be ready to react. First priority is to reach up, or out, and snag the ball. If you're still positioned at your starting corner, it could be worth the effort to bring the ball down into the tag zone.
But if the throw requires you to step away from the bag, then just make certain of the catch, don't try to do too much.
Blocking Low Throws
If the pitcher's throw is low and to the runner's side - all you can hope for is that the runner's sliding/diving body keeps the ball right there.
If the low throw (or bounce) is to your side of the bag (as shown), then it's no longer about a catch and sweep tag, first priority is to block the ball from scooting past you or through your legs. In practice ask for some of those to see which technique you prefer - the catcher's drop to the knees, or the side turn with one knee down like an outfielder's safety catch.
|
2nd and Short
The shortstop is the infield leader. He calls the pop-ups, makes sure coverage is set for double plays or for bunts, and if he's off his game everyone could be in trouble.
Second baseman may not have quite the arm, but in ever other aspect needs to be as sharp.
Be Ready for Everything
Concentration, quick reactions, and confidence.
To play successfully up the middle, you have to want the ball to come to you, you have to know you can handle it - whether it's a high hopper, a slow roller, a deflection off the lip of the grass or a quick scooter through the dirt at your feet.
That confidence doesn't come from wishing, it comes from practice - whenever and wherever you can. And remember: concentration doesn't just mean tracking the baseball, it means all the thinking you do before the pitch... watch the catcher for signs, size up the baserunners, and check coverage responsibility with your middle infield teamate.
Anticipate and React
Before the pitch...
Communicate! Who's got the bag? (Signal behind gloves to hide from runners)
On the windup...
Lean in, balls of your feet, square to the plate, glove down, butt down, head up.
On contact...
Read the ball, pivot and run, keep the body low.
On catch...
Keep your glove below the ball. It's easier to pull arm up and in than push it down or out.
Glove side short hop - scoop it.
Throwing side short hop - backhand stab.
Long hop - get behind it, plant back foot for throw.
Chopper - hustle, take short strides (to anticipate bad hop).
To throw...
Middle distance - Goal post stance, flip turn and gun it.
Or drop knee to ground to keep throwing elbow/shoulder level.
Or straight-arm shovel toss.
Skills to Work On
Ball transfers -
Catch with heel of glove, deflecting to throwing hand
Short toss feed -
2B to short: use backhand toss, else underhand.
Short to 2nd: Shovel Toss
Keep the ball dead, no spin.
(For no spin keep arm stiff, no wrist break.)
Dirt Ball...
Bad hops, off dirt, off grass lip.
Pivot Throws...
Throwing from all angles to all bags and home.
Pick Offs...
Work with all pitchers.
Practice signals and cues, not just the mechanics.
Special Situations
Double Play...
DP Depth: Cheat two steps in, two steps closer.
Catch the grounder off glove heal, deflect to throwing hand.
Stay behind the bag. (Get one sure out!)
2B: Hit bag with left foot, plant right to throw.
SS: Hit bag early with left, or drag right across.
Pivot, throw, hop (to avoid slide).
High throws
Springboard off bag, land and back off (never forward).
Tag Plays...
Glove down, runner comes to you.
Swipe tag - don't freeze.
The Rundown...
Work on coverage, technique, communication
Turning Two
Turning Two takes prep and practice.
Individual fielding skill sets combine into one of the most effective defensive plays in baseball, and one of the great traditions of the game, going back to the classic sequence of Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance. No doubt you can think of your favorite current Short-2nd combo.
To execute it perfectly, you need a clean catch, and a quick feed that's easy to see. Then, once you're sure of the first out, whatever it takes to generate a snap relay throw to first - while getting safely out of the way of an incoming runner.
Fielding and Feeding
Shovel Toss - the quickest way to make the feed from double play depth. Both second and short can use this technique or the similar straight-arm toss.
Second baseman does the shovel toss while fading back from the target.
Shortstop does the shovel toss best while completing a turn from the back-hand stab.
Second base can also feed by dropping to the throwing-side knee for a quick, short-arm flick into the target chest. For a hit away from the bag, a 180 glove-side turn might work better.
Shortstop might find it as easy to throw the backhand stap overhand -depending on distance from the bag. And for moving towards the bag, both shovel and straight arm tosses can work - even a feed right from the glove.
Timing and Turning
Catch over the Bag - whenever possible. Always set up the footwork so you get some protection from the bag itself or else throw off to the side after contact for the force out.
Second Base should try to come into the bag with left foot, take the feed over the bag, and plant the right foot behind the bag away from the runner.
In the hotdog version - you take the feed bare-handed and starting the throw like a fade-away jump shot.
For Shortstop, most common is to step across the bag with left foot and sweep the back edge with your right foot as you pivot towards first. If you move far enough to the side, you may not always need to jump the runner but practice the move and be prepared
|
Third Base
The Hot Corner
It's called the hot corner for a reason.
There are few if any easy hits to third. Either a strong RH pull hitter really gets around on a pitch, or a lefty slices a shot that's on you before you know it. Then there's the bunts to charge, the relays to home, and more.
Plus, on half the plays with runners on you need to pinch in at the corner - and face a screaming line drive off a power hitter. Clean catches are often out of the question. Knock 'em down, pick 'em up, throw 'em out.
Ready for Anything
Before the pitch...
Get off the line, check runners, think about bunt.
On the windup...
Balls of your feet, glove down, butt down, head up.
On contact...
Be aggressive, go straight at it. (Don't let the ball play you.)
On catch...
Short hop - scoop it on the glove side or use a backhand stab on throwing side.
Long hop - get behind it, plant back foot for throw.
Chopper - hustle, short strides (to anticipate bad hop).
Line Drive - get in front of it. Stop it at any cost!
To throw...
It's a long way to 1st!
Find your balance
Get the arm extended.
Put your body behind it.
Skills to Work On
Hard Smash...
Practice with whiffles then baseballs.
Do the 'bobble drill' in which you learn to stop the ball, let it drop, then quickly recover - picking it up to make the throw.
Slow Rollers...
Charge, field ball off front foot, and throw low, elbow bent.
Hard Throws...
Throw across the diamond, work with catchers.
Pick Offs...
Work work with all pitchers.
Practice signals and cues, not just the mechanics
Tag Technique...
Glove down, ret the runner come to you.
Swipe tag - don't freeze.
The Rundown...
Work on coverage and technique.
Special Situations
Double Plays
Work on communication - who's got 2nd?
Bunt defense
Communicate with pitcher (especially if he's LH).
Hard bunt - two hand scoop or off the front foot.
Soft bunt - put the brakes on. Catcher might send you back (he can see the play developing).
Ball at the fence...
Feel for fence with throwing arm, get there early.
Test the warning track before the game - count the running strides.
Runner on third...
You don't need to camp on the bag, just be close and move in on pitcher signal or aggreesive lead.
Feet behind the bag, low target, break with pitcher's arm in window.
Get back for throw from catcher, or pitcher - right after throw back to mound.
|
|
|
