where does the shortstop stand on the field

#WHERE DOES THE SHORTSTOP STAND ON THE FIELD HOW TO#
#WHERE DOES THE SHORTSTOP STAND ON THE FIELD PLUS#

Taller catchers are becoming more common.

The pop time is very important for a catcher, and I dive into pop times and arm strength in the video below.

Excellent hands and receiving technique.

#WHERE DOES THE SHORTSTOP STAND ON THE FIELD PLUS#

Hitting skills are a plus and less of a requirement.Catchers DO still have strong, thick lower halves, regardless of height.Catchers used to be very thick and could be shorter and less physical, but again – this is changing.The modern MLB catcher is getting taller and more athletic than in the past.Foul tips and long days squatting and blocking in the heat make for very long, draining days. Catcher (Position #2 on the field chart)Ĭatchers have an extremely demanding role on the team – both physically and mentally.īecause the catcher must control and corral the pitcher, he has to be physically and mentally quick. Big forearms can also be a positive indicatorĢ.Tall – the average MLB pitcher is 6’3″ tall.Good body control for repeatability of mechanics.High dexterity and “feel” for throwing a baseball.Able to handle high-pressure situations.The following are some of the skills a pitcher needs: Demands, Skills & Role of a Pitcher Pitchers have the #1 designation in the baseball scorebook, and they’re in control of the ball and the speed of the game. This video below on pitching mechanics is the most detailed tutorial on the internet, so check it out. Pitchers have a LOT of influence on the outcome of a game. Pitchers (Position #1 on the field chart) Okay – let’s now get into details on each of the nine positions in baseball.

#WHERE DOES THE SHORTSTOP STAND ON THE FIELD HOW TO#

Positioning for Lefties and Righties in Non-Force Out Situationsįor more on how to shift left and right–and why–check out my article on advanced infield positioning – it goes deeper into when and why to shade and shift left and right depending on the hitter and situation. Remaining infield defenses mostly involve slight shifts to sensibly cut down tendencies by hitters in different situations. This one is a bit more nuanced and warrants some explaining. To learn more about the infield halfway defense, go here for my in-depth article on infield positioning in baseball. Advanced Infield Defense: Infield Halfway The first baseman will be holding the runner, so he will shuffle in front of the baseline once the pitcher delivers to home plate. The corner infielders are typically even with the base so that they too can field a ground ball as soon as possible and get the double play started.

If the SS and 2B are too far from the base, they won’t get there soon enough to complete the double play.ĭouble plays happen only on medium or hard-hit ground balls, and a lot has to happen in a very short time. Many youth coaches misuse infield in by over-using itīasic Infield Position #3: Double-Play Depthĭouble-play depth is different than the standard infield positioning in that middle infielders need to be closer to 2nd base so they can quickly touch the base and make the return throw to first.Bringing the infield in can also be used sparingly with a runner on third when there is not a big threat of a big inning.Infield in Is typically used only late in games when the runner on third base CANNOT score – this means the runner is usually the tying or go-ahead run.This GREATLY reduces the range of infielders, so it should not be used in non-essential situations, because more routine ground balls and bloopers will fall in for hits.Here are key things to know about infield in: Infield in calls for infielders to position themselves on the infield grass where they can get a runner on third out at home plate if he runs on contact. The first baseman can play deeper than the third baseman because he’s close to first base, but in this “standard” defense both are shown in similar positions.The shortstop will play pretty deep, but has to be mindful of the runner and his own throwing arm strength.The third and first baseman are never standing too close or too far from the line, and their proximity to home plate varies based on the perceived speed of the hitter.

Where does the shortstop stand on the field