Chapter 9. Third Baseman Play

The boy who plays 3rd base need not be as fast a runner as the second baseman or shortstop, but he cannot have lead in his feet or slow hands and do a good job at that spot. Furthermore, he needs a strong and accurate arm and he wants to be as good on ground balls and pop-ups as anyone else in the infield.

With no one on, the third baseman's normal fielding position is about six feet back of 3rd and about 10 feet inside the line. With a runner on 1st, he probably should move in a few steps to have a better chance at the double play. If he suspects a bunt, his standing position should be parallel to the base.

With a runner on 3rd, the third baseman should be almost parallel to the base and eight to ten feet inside the line. This is the best spot from which to handle throws-not in front and not behind. Runner or no runner, however, the third baseman's big job is to "guard the line". Any ball that gets by him along the foul line is usually good for two bases.

Third base is often called the "hot corner" because a great many batted balls travel toward 3rd at terrific speed. Because of this, infield play at 3rd is somewhat different from other positions. On hard smashes the third baseman can use a "trap" position. He sits on his heels, puts his glove on the ground with elbows between the knees and leans forward slightly. If directly in front of the ball in this position, the third baseman can block it, or field it cleanly then hop up and throw.

	Third baseman often uses "trap" position to field hot smashes.
Fig. 37

Handling the bunt is another tough play for the third baseman. He must, first of all, always be alert to the possibility of a bunt. If he suspects one is coming, he should "cheat" a little-move closer to the plate. As the bunt becomes obvious, he is to move quickly to the area he is responsible for in the bunt defense. On the squeeze bunt, a bunt for a base hit with none on, or a sacrifice attempt with a runner on 1st base, the third baseman ought to charge the plate with all speed. With a runner on 1st and 2nd, or just on 2nd, the third baseman cannot drive all the way in until the ball goes by the pitcher.

In this spot, by the way, the third baseman wants to form the habit of hustling to the base every time the ball gets by the batter to protect against a fake bunt and steal.

Getting to the ball on a bunt is one thing. Picking up the ball and throwing the runner out is quite another. Very often, in fielding the bunt, the third baseman has to throw tile ball while on the run. This requires a good deal of skill and constant practice.

If the ball is moving very fast, the third baseman must use his glove to field it, making the pick-up in front of the body, but slightly to the right side. If he has time, he should stop, straighten up and throw. Mostly, however, he will have to continue running and throw while doubled over. He must never, never attempt this throw unless he's sure he has a chance to get the runner. A wild throw down the right field line may mean one, two or even three runs or two bases for the batter.

On bunted balls that are moving slowly or have stopped, the third baseman should run to the left of the ball and make the pick-up with his bare hand. He should time his steps so that the left foot comes down next to the ball when it's picked up. To practice this play, place about a dozen baseballs from right to left in a straight line and about six inches apart. Put a fielder 25 feet away from each end of the line of balls. With the other infielders, form a line, one behind the other, at right angles to the line of balls and some 25 to 30 feet away. If each player runs to the left end of the line of balls, he can pretend he's the third baseman picking up a bunt to throw to 1st. The line should then form on the opposite side of the string of replaced balls. Repeat the drill by throwing to the second fielder. (It is advisable for all infielders to participate in the drill, by the way.)

The third sacker plays everything he can reach to his left, just as the first baseman drives for every ball he thinks he can reach to his right. This means, of course, that he will often cut the ball off in front of the shortstop. With runners on 1st and 2nd and less than two out and the ball driven sharply to his right, the third baseman continues to the bag after catching the ball, steps on it then throws to 1st. He does the same thing with two outs (steps on 3rd) in this situation, or with one out and the bases loaded (steps on 3rd, throws to 1st). With the bases loaded and the ball hit so that the third baseman can field it while going toward the plate, the play should be third-to-home-to-first (assuming score is close. If defensive team is ahead or far behind, play can go third-to-second-to-first). With two outs and bases loaded, play should almost always go to first as the batter has the longest distance to run and the third out nullifies any run crossing the plate.

Like the other infielders, the third baseman has a specific area to cover on fly balls to the left side of the diamond. Balls that drop in fair or foul ground halfway between 3rd and home are the responsibility of the third baseman. He is also responsible for any ball that falls in the general area of his position and any ball he can reach that drops beyond 3rd to his right. Fly balls that come down directly behind him should be left for the shortstop to handle.

In professional ball, the third baseman is often used as a cut-off man on hits to left. It is better, however, for the first baseman to act as cut-off man on all throws from the outfield on teams of up to high school age. This means the third baseman has only one place to go on base hits-3rd base!

"LOOK" THE RUNNER BACK

The younger third baseman often forgets to "hold" runners at 2nd or 3rd after fielding the ball. For example, if there's a runner on 2nd, less than two out, and an easy bouncer is hit to the third baseman, he should, after picking up the ball, "look" at the runner leading away from 2nd. That look is usually enough to make the runner stay where he is.

A somewhat similar situation develops at 3rd with a runner who has a big lead. After fielding the ball, the third baseman may not only find it necessary to look, but to hold the ball for a few seconds. It's not a difficult play-just a matter of forming the proper habit.

There are probably more line drives hit to the 3rd base area than to any other section of the diamond. Usually, as the ball is hit, the runners will instinctively break. Just as on a fly ball, the fielder can put the runner out if he can get the ball to the base before the runner can return to it. Thus, with less than two out and one base occupied, the third baseman, after catching the line drive, should immediately whip the ball to that base. With 1st and 3rd occupied, he should throw to 1st if the ball is hit to his left, try to step on 3rd if hit to his right. With 1st and 2nd occupied, or the bases loaded, he should go to 2nd on balls hit to his left, try to step on 3rd and throw to 2nd on balls hit fat enough to his right. In the latter situation, if there are none out, there's the possibility of a triple play.

On tag plays at 3rd, the boy who covers that sack should straddle the base, facing 2nd. His feet should be in foul ground. He now knows where the runner will slide and should lay the back side of the glove against the base in the path of the runner's tagging foot.

There are three occasions for the third baseman to... [Chapter Incomplete]

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