When a runner is on 1st and a batter hits a single to right field the defensive unit swings to the positions diagrammed in Fig. 42. The centerfielder naturally moves to his left to help the right fielder either by backing up, or by calling the play. The left fielder moves in, to back up a possible throw to 2nd. The third baseman covers 3rd with the shortstop some 15 to 20 feet in front of him and in a direct line with the right fielder. The second baseman covers 2nd, the first baseman takes a cut-off position some 15 to 20 feet in front of the catcher but in a direct line with the right fielder. The pitcher, as soon as the ball is hit, runs to a spot at least 15 feet behind 3rd and in a direct line with the third baseman and the right fielder.

Once in position, this is what can happen:

If the hit is fielded cleanly and fast by the right fielder, he should fire at the shortstop’s head. If the lead runner stops at 2nd, the ball is “one base ahead”, as it should be. The shortstop, by the way, should cut the ball off. Baseball Training - Read More.

When a baseball team is in the field, it must function as a unit to properly defend against the team at bat. When the ball is hit, every player on the defense has an assignment-a place to go, a maneuver to execute.

The fielders, of course, try to anticipate plays in advance and determine what will be done if a runner steals, if a pitch is bunted, if the batter lashes a hit to centerfield, etc. To make adjustments, the fielders consider several things: The kind of hitter at bat, the strength of the pitcher in relation to the hitter, the type of pitch to be used and the general strategic situation, such as the score and inning.

Take a look at some of the simpler aspects of Team Defense.

The Hitter: If the batter hits consistently to left, the infield and outfield should move a step or two toward left field. If the hitter is short and light of build, he probably hasn’t much power. Bring the outfielders in two steps, the infielders in one step.

The Pitcher: Does the pitcher overpower most of the hitters? If so, the defense should move a step or two to right for right hand batters, a step or two to left for left hand batters. This move is made on the assumption that the hitters will be a little late with their swing against a strong pitcher. If the pitcher has average speed, but throws a lot of curve balls, the outfield should move up and toward left field a step or two. A hitter has to supply much of his own power when hitting the curve. He also will bring the bat around quicker.

The Situation: With a runner on 1st, none out and the score even, or the batting team ahead, the defense must be prepared for the Sacrifice Bunt. Specifically, the outfielders should be ready to back up the bases; the shortstop should be ready to go to 2nd, and the second baseman to 1st. The pitcher, catcher and the third and first basemen should get set to rush in on the bunt. The diagrams on pages 90-99 show the defensive positions that are taken to offset certain plays by the offense. Here is a word description of what occurs in each situation. Baseball Training - Read More.

The Manager, and no one else, decides whether the team will bunt, hit-and-run, steal, etc. Usually stationed at the 3rd base coaching line (or on the bench), he uses either voice or body signals to tell batter and base runner what the play will be.

Whether a player is experienced, or inexperienced, he’ll make the right move if he sees the Sign and understands it. But the sign is on and off in an instant. To catch it, both batter and runner have to be looking at the Manager at the proper time.

The natural spot for the giving of Signs is during the few moments before the pitcher gets on the rubber to start his throwing move. The batter-if we can concentrate on him before discussing either the runner or Manager-actually has control of the situation. If he expects a Sign, all he has to do is stay out of the batter’s box and keep looking for it! As soon as he gets the Sign or becomes convinced no Sign is forthcoming, he should step into the box. (Caution: Don’t step into the batter’s box immediately after a sign is given. Let the 3rd base coach go, through at leas two additional motions.) At this point the pitcher will put his foot on the rubber and start his delivery. After the firs pitch (and each succeeding pitch), if the batter thinks a play might be coming, he should again step out of the batter’s box and ‘look”.

The runner, too, has a definite procedure to follow in leagues in which “leading” is permitted. As the ball is being delivered, he should be moving off the base, ready to advance if the batter swings and connects. If the ball goes by the batter into the catcher’s hands, however, the runner should quickly return to the base. As soon as the runner’s foot strikes the base, he should turn and watch for a Sign. He should keep watching until the pitcher again puts his foot on the rubber. Once that happens, he should forget the Sign and concentrate on running. Baseball Training - Read More.

A base runner can travel the 90 feet between bases in about three to four seconds. A ball can be thrown that same distance in less than one second. It is obvious then that any boy who wants to steal a base has his work cut out for him. Let’s assume you are the runner now, and breakdown and examine the whole process of leading away, returning to the base, and breaking for the next base.

First of all, be sure the pitcher has his foot on the rubber before giving up contact with the base. As you wait for him to put his foot on the rubber, face the mound with your left foot against the rear corner of the base.

You can start leading away as the pitcher takes his stretch-but be careful! The pitcher can throw almost any time during the stretch move. (If the pitcher uses a full windup, you can move as soon as he moves).

To get away from the base, take a sliding step right with the right foot. Bring the toe of the left foot in back of right heel and take another sliding step right. You should be able to take three and a half such steps. (About the length of your body plus one step).

When you reach the end of your lead, the heels should be off the ground, the weight distributed evenly on the balls of both feet, the body bent at the waist, hands hanging free. Be poised to go either way.

Never turn your back on the base and walk away from it to obtain a lead. Never lean, or shift too much weight in one direction. Baseball Training - Read More.

The youngster learning to play baseball needs more instruction about conduct on the bases than one might suspect. Most are not aware of the fact that there are basic principles that can be applied to base running.

The base runner who flounders-makes a false start, back-pedals, starts again, then stops-usually does so for two reasons. First, he is inexperienced. Even if he’s played a full season, it’s possible, because of the nature of the game, that he may not have been confronted with a given situation more than once or twice-if at all! But the biggest factor of all is this: Our base runner has not analyzed the “situation” in ADVANCE. He should know, BEFORE THE PITCH, how many outs there are, the ball and strike count, and what he’s going to do if the ball is hit on the ground, or in the air. This is not as difficult as it sounds. Consider, first of all, the simpler possibilities:

With two outs, the runner should leave the base at the crack of the bat-on every batted ball. If the batter flies out to center field, the inning is over. If he grounds out to 3rd, the inning is over. But if he smacks out a base hit, the runner may be on his way to score! The runner has everything to gain, nothing to lose.

If a runner is on 1st base with less than two out (or on any base in a force-play situation), he MUST run on a ground ball. His objective is to beat a possible throw to the base ahead of him, defeating any bid for a double, or even a triple play. If the runner hesitates in this situation, he makes it easy for the defense to execute the DP. On the other hand, if the ball goes through the infield, he could pick up an extra base-the one directly ahead of him and one more. And, again, that last one may be home plate! So, with no ifs, ands, or buts, we now have two MUST situations, as they are called. Baseball Training - Read More.

A ball club’s outfield has three major assignments when in the field:

Take a base hit away from a batter whenever possible. (Catch the fly ball).

Cut down the length of base hits. (Hustle and work together to hold the batter and/or runners to the minimum number of bases).

Keep runners from advancing whenever possible. (Throw to the right base; throw strongly and accurately).

Every move the outfielder makes has one of the three points we’ve named as its objective. These suggestions will help:

The outfielder, to repeat a point, should watch the batter and not the pitcher, as the ball is being delivered to the plate. His line of vision should be so adjusted that the top of the batter’s head comes just under the peak of the put-fielder’s cap. (New hats have a little fuzz along the under edge. This should be burned off).

As the batter strides to hit, the outfielder leans forward slightly, raises the heels off the ground and takes one small step forward. He should listen to the sound of the bat meeting ball. With a little experience it will tell him how well the ball has been hit.

On balls driven to right or left, the outfielder uses the “cross-over” step. If he’s going to his right, his first move is to pivot right and take the first step toward the ball with his left foot. The opposite to the opposite side.

The outfielder always breaks fast! On fly balls to his area, he should not-as he starts-try to time his approach to the arrival of the ball. After the ‘”jump”, with runners on base, the outfielder can use some momentum to make a throw. But, if no throw is going to be involved, he wants to be waiting to catch the ball when it comes down. A slow-starting, lazy outfielder is a threat to the success of the ball club. Baseball Training - Read More.

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. Baseball Training - Read More.

The shortstop, a combination of infielder and outfielder, is normally the best all-around infielder on the club. To do his job well, he needs good hands, a powerful arm and sprinter’s legs. Like the second baseman, he has to be agile and quick. And he has to know how to make the double play!

The shortstop doesn’t have as much trouble making the DP as the second baseman because he’s traveling in the general direction he has to throw and he has the fielder, the runner and 1st base in front of him. Still, he ought to have a combination of steps that permit him to tag the base and effectively fire the ball to 1st.

The simplest way for the shortstop to start the DP is for him to put his right foot on the sack, hop to the right field side of the base, pivoting the body right at the same time. He should land on his right foot for the throw. Follow these instructions and you’ll get the idea:

Stand on the right [foot only. Hop on it. Hop forward on it. Now, hop forward on it and turn the body a quarter to the right.

This time, step forward left, step forward right, hop, make the pivot right, land light and throw.

A shortstop crossing the base at fair running speed can put himself completely out of the baseline with this move and make a strong, fast throw.

A variation, called the “drag” step (used by most professionals) will also take the shortstop out of the baseline nicely. A boy can surely learn it by the time he’s 13 or 14. Here’s the way it works:

Stand facing 1st with the centerfield corner of 2nd between the feet. Raise the right foot slightly and with a dragging motion, touch the side of the base. Keep the right foot moving and place it behind the left. Step left with the left foot and throw. Baseball Training - Read More.

The second baseman has to be the most agile, acrobatic individual on the ball club. No other player, in carrying out his assignment, need shift direction as sharply, quickly and as many times as the second sacker. It’s “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick” every moment.

Our second sacker is the key to the double play, one of the most powerful defensive maneuvers in baseball. That’s why old-time sportswriters often referred to him as “guardian of the keystone.”

We’re going to concentrate here on the footwork used to make the DP from this strategically important infield position. Primarily, three things are involved: Get to the base quickly so the shortstop or third baseman doesn’t have to hold up his throw. Tag the base while in possession of the ball. Make a strong throw from a point away from the base.

The third item, of course, is the toughest, although the professionals make it look easy. The professional can use six or more different steps to make the DP. The amateur should learn at least three.

The spot where the shortstop fields the ball generally tells the second baseman which step he must use; it indicates whether he is to go “inside” the diamond to make his throw, “out” (toward center field), or “back” (toward right field).

To go “inside,” the second baseman puts his left foot on the bag and propels his body into the diamond as far as possible. Naturally, he lands on his right foot. As he does so, he shifts his weight to that right foot, then strides left toward 1st and makes the throw. Baseball Training - Read More.

On a ball hit to any infielder, the first baseman hustles quickly to the bag to establish himself as a target. He wants to catch the ball as soon as possible and, simultaneously, tag the base for the put-out. He will be knocked down by the runner, however, if he stands on top of the base. If he stands in back of the base and the runner passes between him and the thrown ball, the ball is apt to hit the runner and the put-out opportunity will be lost. The only logical place to stand and receive the ball is in front of the base.

As soon as the first baseman determines that he will not be fielding the ball, he runs to the base, placing his feet so the heels touch the side nearest the fielder. In this position, he doesn’t have to turn his head away from the fielder to locate the base. He knows where it is. He also knows the runner has room to cross the bag. Thus, he need only concentrate on the throw. Baseball Training - Read More.