The essentials are that you are in motion as the pitch is being delivered, so that if the ball is hit, you are moving, allowing you to get to the baseball quicker. Work out a technique which is comfortable for you. Pre-pitch techniques can vary somewhat, player to player. Middle infielders will be communicating constantly with each other, who has the bag on a steal, where is your short throw, bunt possibilities and coverages, it is non-stop.
Long periods where there is no communication with the outfield will eventually become a disaster, as they drift off into their next at bat, or worse, their last at bat. Keep them informed of the number of outs, speed of current runners on base, wind changes. They are a long way from home plate and it is easy for their thoughts to drift to most anything except the defensive situation at hand. It is essential to stay in contact with your outfielders. Verbal, visual or a combination of the two will keep you, your fellow infielders, the pitcher, catcher and outfielders in the game at all times.Ĭommunication is not "chatter". Let's take a look at the vast array of skills required to play this middle infield position.įor middle infielders, communication in some form is generally non-stop. That is certainly offset by the degree of difficulty making the throw to first, off of double play pivots and backhand groundballs behind the second base bag, that become bigger factors as players move up through the system. If there is one difference, it may be in the shorter throw to first base from the second base position, compared to shortstop. Your second baseman is essentially a shortstop, on the right side of the infield. One of the five positions generally thought of as the building blocks of most baseball teams, building your defense strong up the middle, with your catcher, pitcher, shortstop, second baseman and center fielder, is always a good idea!
Second base fundamentals, the tools that you will need to play this very interactive position.
If necessary, he can throw to first, third, or home to try to get an out.Įventually, the ball goes back to the pitcher to get ready for the next pitch.Īll of this action usually unfolds in the matter of a few seconds and can leave fans, players, coaches, and even umpires breathless with excitement.Second Base Fundamentals ~ It's more than just ground balls and a short throw! Once the play at second is resolved, the fielder should turn his attention to the other bases to make sure no other plays are developing. The first goal of the fielder covering second base on a throw down from the catcher is to catch or deflect the ball, and then apply tag. No matter which middle infielder is responsible for this baseball task, the other one needs to back up the play in case of a wild throw or a gaffe by the primary fielder. But if the batter is left-handed, it’s usually up to the shortstop to make that crucial play.īecause a right-handed batter more likely blocks the catcher’s view of the shortstop, while a lefty hitter makes it more difficulty for the (usually) right-handed-throwing catcher to target the second baseman, who is lined up more to the catcher’s right. If the batter is right-handed, the second baseman will cover. The answer depends to a large extent on the batter at the plate. The runner on first base has a huge opportunity to steal second, and if he does so without getting caught, it often leads to a run for his team.īut who covers during a thrown down from the catcher? The second baseman or shortstop? In fact, the throw down from the catcher to second base is typically one of the most exciting plays in all of baseball. The second baseman or shortstop covers second base on a throw down from the catcher, but there is much more to the play than that.
0 kommentar(er)
