There's still some catching-up to do, but at least our national pastime is moving toward the 21st century. (Dorfman and Kuehl, The Mental Game of Baseball). To get all 5 Practice Plans emailed to you for free, just enter your email below and Ill send it ASAP: Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 5 organizations (CO Rockies, NY Yankees, PIT Pirates, MN Twins, & TX Rangers) over the past 16 years. Comes off bag and takes a step in in case of ball bunted hard right at him. "We . Each question becomes it's own web page on this site. situation: Have the runner on first start walking to second and get in a rundown. This is part 1 of Trained Ready & Armed 2 part defensive shooting fundamentals. And if youre looking for a great pitching resource, check out my book below and subscribe to my baseball YouTube channel. Day 3 emphasis is taking a step closer to a player led catch & daily drill routine. You cannot go wrong here! 11 municipalities and county (city) governments including . There is nothing too complicated about it and it is easy to run. 1. This is a no-brainer: playersespecially corner infieldersneed to shift slightly to play the odds where appropriate. Good Luck. We eliminate the pitcher only for safety reasons. Hit a grounder to the right side of the runner at 2nd base (toward the 1st or 2nd baseman) Even if the shortstop fields the baseball and has to move to his left, he will most likely just take the out at 1st base. He has Major League time at every infield position, and has played every position on the field professionally except for catcher. "He's 100 percent healthy and he's ready to go," Armstrong said. Catcher 1 knee stance Right or Left knee down? . Again, this is going to be part of every baseball practice. Maybe you'd like to browse through questions already submitted. He. It dramatically cuts down on the range of infielders and allows otherwise easily fielded ground balls and bloopers to fall through and become hits. But instead what happened was that the ball hit to the left of the third basemen and it got through and shallow out to left and two runs score allowing the home team to win the game on a two-run single through the play-in gap. Throw out any base runners attempting to steal a base. Infielders set up at their positions. Due to my increased coaching schedule, I would ask that questions be limited to the following categories: Baseball Instruction, Baseball's Mental Game and Defensive and Offensive Situations. In a sacrifice bunting situation, one defensive strategy is to utilize the wheel play in attempt to throw out the lead runner on a bunt. If there is a slow runner at third, then you have more time and can back up. Get a free expert analysis and custom report from Former MLB Infielder & Defensive Specialist Doug Bernier. We hope to keep all or most of the info on PBI free so that everyone can have access to it. Click here to read more, Fixing Common Backhand Mistakes | Tips on Coaching Youth Baseball #3, Active Catch Routine | Tips on Coaching Youth Baseball #2, Quick Win for Fielding | Tips on Coaching Youth Baseball #1, Baseball Tryout Tips | #1 biggest tip from MLB Pro Scout, Best Amazon Prime Day Deals for BASEBALL 2022, Former MN Twin shares Quick Tip to be a better hitter (Video). Think of driving the baseball middle of the field to the opposite gap, this will give you a good approach for driving the runner in from third base. Three Individual Responsibilities - 'BBB'. How we keep it free. During the baseball game if the batted ball passes over the outfield wall in flight and touches the foul pole, it is a fair ball and the batter is awarded a "home" run. Pitcher simulates a pitch to home. At the very least, that failure to prepare makes everyone's reactions slow, which is never a good thing. This will help the other defenders be engaged and hopefully the entire team will communicate better with the others on the field. That's why it's important to have quality practices that work on first and third . Baserunning will be spent at 1st base, reviewing how to take a lead, and going through 1st base scenarios. Ground ball double plays occur under the following big conditions: If a fielder has to charge a ball for many steps, it will take too long to turn the double play. Its player led, so the coach can do the other things needed to prepare for practice. Fielders must think about what they may have to do with the ball before it comes to them. In this relay situation, the throw or relay is to home plate. Defensively, catchers will throw, infielders and outfielders will have drills then we will finish with team defense. How to Steal Bases in Baseball | 4 Tips for advancing on wild pitches, passed balls and balls in the dirt, How Steph Curry built a monster | Pro Tips for Becoming a Top Athlete, How to field a backhand ground ball | Baseball Fielding Drills, Click here to see a list of pros who have contributed to this website. That means, this defensive drill should be run before any offensive baserunning drill associated with the same situation. We want to hit it to the off middle infielder because he likely will be the person covering the second base bag on a steal, so there will be a big hole open for you to hit through. Are you sending the runner home? Do you feel its legal/fair to move players out of position, such as moving an infielder from one side of second base to the other, to play a pull hitter? Defensively, you need to prepared for anything the offense may opt to do and adjust on the move to what actually happens as the pitch is delivered. #3 Bringing the Infield In. Bases loaded.. up 3 runs late in game What should shortstop do if a ground ball is hit to him? As the infielders begin to move, pulls the bat back, and gets a ground ball in the hole where the shortstop or second baseman has vacated, thus advancing the runner from first to third and arriving safely at first himself. All Rights Reserved. Doubleplay depth should be a part of practice from a young age and reinforced in games. Defense is required to make a certain number. I feel that some of these strategies are a bit unfair to the hitter and its hard enough getting a base hit as it is. Because throws are so long for such small players, shortstops and third baseman often play much closer to the plate so they can make these longer throws (compared to the youth-sized diamonds). I will tweak my positioning a little depending on if a righty or lefty is hitting and what their tendencies are. Fungo, Purpose Learn more. Just like "hustle" never has a bad day, think of defensive communication as "mental hustle". Doug played professionally for 16 seasons, for 5 MLB organizations (Rockies, Yankees, Pirates, Twins & Rangers), including Major League time at every infield position. Not just doing infield drills and outfield drills, but ALSO involving catchers, baserunning, team defense, mental aspect, etc. Next we want to hit a ground ball, the runner is stealing the base and we have to protect him. Here are a few common mistakes. Set Up A grounder gets hit right back to me and I decide to go home with the ball . The third baseman has a long throw and most hitters who bunt will try to push it down the third base line, so third baseman will usually start closer to the plate early in the count, then move back if no runners are on base and the hitter is past the point of bunting. The corner infielders play at standard depth and closer to the foul line roughly 5 to 6 feet. the Infield in situation is one that is often overused where greedy coaches try to prevent a run early in games. Yes, most MLB hitters use a tee at some point throughout the day. What are the basic baseball infield positions that should be taught in youth baseball? The further back you play, the more time you will have to react. Keep your sights up the middle and hit a ground ball. The play at 1st base. For the coach looking to increase his baseball IQ, this article and my other resources will be a great start. With all the hoopla and substituting and stuff . Infielders practice turning 5-4-3 and 6-4-3 double plays. I would then play half way and either get a force out at home or DP. My son who typically bats 4th picks up some bad habits and then has to work hard to fix them. The Weapon's Size. TEEN Mom Jenelle Evans' husband, David Eason, has been ripped after he used a homophobic slur in an offensive video. Hitters rarely try to bunt after they have 1 or 2 strikes on them, so third baseman generally relax about bunt threats after a strike has been called. The bat is more likely to get under the baseball and end up with a weak pop fly to the 2ndbaseman or right fielder than to bat a ground ball the other way. If pitcher makes play, 3B must cover 3 rd base for play. Pat Hughes, Legendary Baseball Announcer. First Baseman - Stays home, unless bunted right at him. The idea behind this positioning is if we are going to give up a hit they are only going to get a single and not be able to stretch it into a double. return from baseball defensive situations to the ole ballgame.com. Baseball defensive strategy has more to it than where to position your infielders and outfielders. Currently Doug is the Data and Game Planning Coordinator with the Colorado Rockies, Sign up for the 5 Point Power Booster videos here Get the free videos. Can you please recommend some educational as well as light reading regarding baseball for him? (You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier) Where is he now? printable PDFs for all 5 practice plans, click here and tell me where to email them. General Question guys 2 outs, slow runner on second. Bases Empty: Standard Depth (Position 1) Runner At 1st Base: Double Play Depth (position 2) if less than 2 outs. The workup drill for defense is one of the best youth baseball fielding drills. We support the site through affiliate relationships with baseball retailers. Ive seen this work many times and its effective at all levels of baseball, and it can catch the offensive team napping they make think they get a free run with a ground ball to the middle infield, only to have the infielder make the choice to go home. After the catch routine, Position Players will go straight into on knee glove work, and then the Catch Routine. These plans are strategically designed to accomplish multiple important goals that baseball coaches and teams need to be concerned about. We like this model because it doesn't cost YOU anything extra at all, and it allows us to keep offering much of our content for FREE. YOU MUST END THE INNING DURING THIS AT-BAT. Use this as a learning aid and next time let whoever you plan on throwing the ball to know your intentions if you get the ball, before the play happens. You also dont have to bring the infield all the way in to prevent this conceded run. This section describes the defensive positioning for a base hit to outfield if there is a runner at second base. Bringing the infield in can work in some situations and/or be low risk at times early in the game, but many coaches hurt their teams by using it too much. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Hejazi finally . My recommendation for a Left and Right Fielders is to maintain a depth of 270 to 280 feet under normal circumstances. See #2 for doubleplay depth on the infield positioning diagram. Features & Benefits. Any baseball team's defensive strategy will be centered around the pitcher. A self-defense bat should be made of sturdy material like aluminum or hardwood. In the off seasons, he runs team defense practices for dozens of youth teams at a local baseball facility. In this scenario outfield positioning is more important than that of the infield. See #1 on the infield positioning diagram. 1. A fielder may use any piece of equipment such as a hat or catcher's mask to legally field a ball. He would enjoy it. Definitions of Cuts and Relays: Cuts: A regular base hit to the outfield with runners on base will have the ball thrown to a cut man on the infield. Help us keep it free. Have the QCBaseball blog sent straight to your inbox! Welcome to our fast-paced world, Major League Baseball. Defense Situation: You are playing Right Field (RF). Hit a grounder to the right side of the runner at 2nd base (toward the 1st or 2nd baseman). Demo what it's like when Coaches and Athletes connect! Introducing new drills and field organization to get the most out of your space, keep everyone engaged and cover the most important skills that will really make a difference in your season and your players development. This can be 5 to 15 feet in front of the outfield grass, and can be adjusted if needed for faster runners. Baseball Defense. 2. Good team defense takes practice. There will also be a line of base runners and a coach with a bat just in front of home plate. The runner at home must try to make it to second base or even third base or home. The purpose of this drill is to improve general team defense. The fungo hitter is in full command of what they want to work on, players are easily interchanged. Ball. With that degree of difficulty how does a defensive team equalize the odds in these situations? Fielders generally throw the ball one base ahead of the lead runner. The team at bat has the advantage of knowing what strategy will be used on the next play, the defense must try to predict what that next move will be and counter with a defense play to attempt to stop it. In today's, In today's blog post, I want to talk a little bit about the baseball outfielder, how to handle a rolling or stationary ball situation, and what players in the outfield, Having been a catcher in my playing days, I know the need for hard accurate throws when runners steal. See #3 on the infield positioning diagram. You can move the runner up from 2nd to 3rd base by hitting a fly ball deep enough for the runner to tag up and move up a base. Infielders learn to make throws to possible double play situations. Required fields are marked *. Sequence - Pitch 1: Sacrifice bunt to 1B side. You might want to adjust slightly, playing more forward or more back, based on factors such as the speed of the runner, how the hitter is being pitched, and hitters tendencies. During the off season most hitters will hit off a tee quite a bit to get their swing grooved and especially if they want to fix any problems with their swings. Covering Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Gilbert, the valley . With one out in this situation you still might end up with a runner on third, the game tied and 2 outs, but all it takes is a passed ball or a single to end the game. Purpose Summary: Basic Situational Positioning for Infielders. How it Works India has increasingly scooped up Russian oil since the invasion a year . . Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland: Running 4.35 with a 42-inch vertical and 11-foot-4 broad jump will get you drafted in the first round at corner in most situations. We like this model because it doesn't cost YOU anything extra at all, and it allows us to keep offering much of our content for FREE. However, if it is middle to late in the game, and especially if the score is close, you can expect the coach to pull the infield in. Practice # 4 emphasis is continuing our player led catch & daily drill routine. How we keep it free. You will fall in love with all this drill can do for you and your players. A hard ground ball is hit straight to you at shortstop; you field it cleanly. 10. Progress skill development from introduction to mastery to finally, GAME READY. Defensive communication never stops. Understanding baseball situations and how to hit strategically in those situations set you up for a productive at bat, even if you dont get a hit. *This article may contain product links which pay me a small commission if you make a purchase. Q. Holding runner on. The further back you can move, the more range you have and the more balls you can get to. ), Anytime you absolutely cannot let the runner score from third base, In this position your starting point will be where the infield grass meets the infield dirt. Most double plays happen on hard-hit ground balls that are within only a handful of steps in any direction of a fielder. Working With Players on Focusing on the Correct Part of the Baseball when Hitting (October 15 2016), Getting More Accurate Throws From Your Team (April 5 2016). The batter gets a base hit that gets past the second baseman and rolls out to you. No outs, outfield in: You might make a catch on a short liner to the outfield that would normally be a single, and runners might not try to advance as it would be a much shorter throw to home, or you might have a good chance at an out at the plate. And good first baseman have a standard shift away from the first base line when a righty is up. Catcher 1 knee stance Right or Left knee down? Rays ignite new trend for catchers (Everyone thought they were crazy), BASEBALL MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING 3 Steps to FOCUS like an NFL Quarterback, MLB Catcher shares What I learned after a full season CATCHING ON 1 KNEE, Tips from a Major Leaguer on How to Throw a Baseball THE RIGHT WAY | Youth Baseball & Softball, How Tyler Flowers changed my mind about Framing | Baseball Catching Tips, How to Discover Whats Causing Your Fielding Errors & Bad Throws so you can fix it for good. A team may be very talented, but if they can't play team defense they will be exploited by a good offense. The infield halfway position can be very effective with two smart middle infielders who know their arm strength and can make a decision in real-time as to whether to go home, to second or to first. A baseball field is also known as a "ball field" or a "baseball diamond". 5-1-3 The ball becomes dead when time is taken to make an award when a catcher or any fielder obstructs a runner, when an intentional base on balls is to be awarded, or when baserunning penalties are imposed.. 5-1-4 After a dead ball, the ball becomes live when it is held by the pitcher in a legal pitching position, provided the pitcher has engaged the pitcher's plate, the batter and the . The problem with the infield in, however, is that it DRASTICALLY reduces the range of the infielders. Can you explain the difference between a Hit and Run, and Run and Hit for the batter? FACT: Defense wins championships. If the tying run is on 3rd, wouldnt it be best to play infield normal and outfield pretty normal as well. Situational hitting is important slice of a balanced offensive attack. Image by Ed Wolfstein, The direction of our bunt will be towards first base. It should also be the right size for you - not too long or too short. Execution If he goes and scores you still have a tied game and runners on first and second, which gives you a good chance of making it to extras. Use this glovework routine to get more touches in a short amount of time than you ever could doing full-length ground balls alone. False. Regardless of level of play or the situation, each player on defense has one of three responsibilities: handle the BALL, cover a BASE, or BACK-Up a throw.Once the ball is fielded and moved to another point on the field, the responsibilities of some players change, while most have to reposition themselves in . Other team had the tying run on third and the winning run on second base. Practice 2 emphasis is taking a step closer to a player led catch & daily drill routine. The third baseman will be even or in front of the third base bag. Proven techniques for hitting, pitching, fielding and baserunning, Purpose If right handed, hit a ground ball to the second baseman. If the ball is hit hard, you will try for the double play. Coaches, start to get an idea of which teammate would like to lead the throwing & drill routine, they will start to work through it this week with help from us and you. Don't worry, just click the back button or check out our popular posts below. Baserunning will be spent at 1st base, reviewing how to take a lead, and going through 1st base scenarios. Below are links to some defensive situations that coaches need to address with their team. Not only are players getting their arms warmed up, but theres something powerful about starting practice off with an intentional routine like this. What Can I Do Today That Takes Me One Step Closer To My Mission! They include bunt situations, 1st and 3rd situations, double cut-off situations, steal attempts and much more. After 16 years of playing professionally, Doug retired and took a position as a Major League scout with the Colorado Rockies for 2 years. Defense is very hard to estimate if a player is "good defensively" even if you watch all the games for a player, it is hard to tell because you will end up being biased. Base hit with a runner on 2nd base. It is important for the defense to be talking before a play happens. Coach Schaefer guided Point Loma Nazarene to eight consecutive postseason appearances as well as two NAIA World Series appearances and was NAIA . Think of driving the ball rather than hitting a fly ball. 3. I will typically move in about 3 steps closer to the hitter from my normal position and take 3 steps closer to the second base bag. Since 2015, Baseball Info Solutions has tracked situational defensive alignments like "infield in" and the rare five-infielder defense, among several other variations. Learn player priorities, responsibilities and communication to handle ALL defensive situations and get outs. A failure to think ahead and communicate can become a train wreck. Drills to improve fielding, double plays, bunt defense, relays and more. Being over- or under-confident in your defensive shooting ability can be costly. Defense usually doesn't make the headlines, but it goes a long way towards winning baseball games. Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 5 organizations (CO Rockies, NY Yankees, PIT Pirates, MN Twins, & TX Rangers) over the past 16 years. If it is not hit hard enough, you will get the out at home. You should be aware that the situations and the options can, and often will, change pitch to pitch. A number of pro guys have written articles about positioning here on PBI. The primary object of the defense is to prevent the offense (the team at bat) from getting hits and scoring runs. A coach knowing strategies for defensive situations is key to proper defense. When your players are comfortable within the situations they will be facing, they take on a different look and dynamic. By sacrificing a runner into scoring position, the offense assumes that a base . Slash and Run. Coaches and players need to know proper baseball infield positioning and all the major defenses for different situations. The batting tee is a great tool. They do this in situations either when the bases are clear or they dont have to cover their home base, hold a runner on or receive a throw on a steal. We hope to keep all or most of the info on PBI free so that everyone can have access to it. Baseball hitting situations and strategy. And since double play balls are hit hard, they have to be able to be at 2nd base within about one second. Double plays happen FAST. The team at bat has the advantage of knowing what strategy will be used on the next play, the defense must try to predict what that next move will be and counter with a defense play to attempt to stop it. Check our more of my resources below for more helpful guides. Rather than let the run score on a routine grounder to third, the coach could bring the middle infield in halfway to allow them to throw home if they saw the runner going and believed they had a clear shot to get him. The Pirates defeated the Orioles 7-4 in the warm-up match today, but after the end of the last 9 innings, the referees had already left the field, but the two teams continued to play the next 9 innings, and there was no referee on the field to enforce the law, forming a rare situation Scenes. Bunt Responsibility & Technique Drill for Catchers, Get To The Ball Outfielder Drill for Working The Fence, Training Outfielders To Handle Hits Off The Fence, Baseball Defensive Drill Double Play Drill. Remember often times you are playing the percentages and sometimes they dont work out. Also, not every product pays us a commission, but if we like it, we still recommend it. But if a hitter has a tendency I think its perfectly acceptable to move the defense around. Cover 3B: open until the bunt is thrown then the 3B, pitcher or even the catcher in an emergency. Baseball defensive situations, it's all about thinking ahead and communicating with your teammates. The 1st & 3rd Defense Drill is the first step in teaching your team about this complicated game situation. 10,000+ people already dosign up now! This spot on the turf can be found with the knowledge that 1B/3B are 90 feet from Home Plate, the Infield/Outfield Cut is 125 feet from Home Plate, and the Outfield Wall is typically 330 feet from Home Plate. After 16 years of playing professionally, Doug retired and took a position as a Major League scout with the Colorado Rockies for 2 years. Backup 2nd base: Center field/Left field. In my experiences as a player and a coach, I found the most efficient way to teach baseball defensive situations is with game situation fungos. Fixing Common Backhand Mistakes | Tips on Coaching Youth Baseball #3, Active Catch Routine | Tips on Coaching Youth Baseball #2, Quick Win for Fielding | Tips on Coaching Youth Baseball #1, Baseball Tryout Tips | #1 biggest tip from MLB Pro Scout, Best Amazon Prime Day Deals for BASEBALL 2022, Former MN Twin shares Quick Tip to be a better hitter (Video).