In the video below, Im going to talk about WHAT were trying to accomplish, and HOW were being strategic about it inside this practice plan. Mistake #1: Bringing the infield in too early and/or often, Mistake #2: Failing to utilize the infield halfway position, Mistake #3: Being too rigid about positioning, Mistake #4: Not shifting on righties vs lefties in non-force situations, FAQ Common Questions About Infield Positioning in Baseball, My Detailed Article on Baseball Positions, Read all About Balks The Rules & How to Avoid Them, The tendency of a hitter to hit to one side of the field more than another, The second baseman will play deeper than the shortstop because the throw to first is not nearly as long, The first baseman will play deeper than the third baseman because hes so close to the base. We are taking the out at 1st base for a run. Bunts and popups in their area. You can vary this distance a little, usually depending on the speed of runners. Coaches, have the same player run the catch routine. The fungo hitter is in full command of what they want to work on, players are easily interchanged. In this relay situation, the throw or relay is to home plate. The further back you play, the more time you will have to react. 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. See #2 for doubleplay depth on the infield positioning diagram. Hitters also dont have as much power and amateur fields have longer grass than pro fields, so batted balls dont make it as deep on the infield, either, so players have to charge balls more aggressively to have a chance at an out. The further back you can move, the more range you have and the more balls you can get to. Help us keep it free. 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, Relay and Double-Cut Positioning for Second Baseman, You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier, What baseball scouts look for: Advice from Orioles Scout, Everything you need to know about how to use a wood bat, Linear vs Rotational Hitting, Pros and Cons of each baseball swing, Bat Path The most important hitting trait no one is talking about, Baseball bat sensor product review: Swing Tracker by Diamond Kinetics, How to know good from bad baseball instruction, Runner at 3rd and less than 2 outs (If there are two outs, play at normal depth and try for the out 1st base. General Question guys 2 outs, slow runner on second. You also dont have to bring the infield all the way in to prevent this conceded run. I personally like the shovel pass, I think it makes playing second base much easier. The right fielder. Defensively, catchers will throw, infielders and outfielders will have drills then we will finish with team defense. Sign up below to receive my beloved weekly emails updates on new videos, articles and content. I Have seen more playable balls lose a game with the infield in that I never use it anymore. Here are a few common mistakes. In this defense drill, offense learns to bunt a runner over, while the defense learns to work together to execute good bunt defense. At the youth level, the one defensive situation that may cause more confusion for kids is with runners on first and third base. Good Luck. Get your offense moving with this exciting and aggressive play. The shortstop will run over to 3rd base and cover the bag. Ball. Unfortunately it is one accept of the game which is not, My players were in a tournament this past weekend and lost. The more options you have the better. 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, High school baseball. If the baseball is going to bounce we are betting that the catcher wont be able to block the ball, pick it up and throw out the runner that is stealing on the pitch. Playing far back takes up too much time. Benefit from a structured, easily-communicated system that helps your athletes play with confidence in pressure situations. Drill Setup Have players take their positions on the field. I think the play to throw the ball home was fine. 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. Coach with fungo bat up the third baseline Get a free expert analysis and custom report from Former MLB Infielder & Defensive Specialist Doug Bernier. On a grounder through the infield you might have a chance at home on a brilliant throw, but you would likely be better off getting a force at third (from left or center) or second (from right) and hope to make it to extras. Also, if there are runners at 1st and 3rd and you want to keep your option for turning a double play open. Where should a coach position his infield for the best possible defense given the situation? The corner infielders play at standard depth and closer to the foul line roughly 5 to 6 feet. Baseball Defense. 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. 900 seconds. Double play depth is when the shortstop and second baseman stand closer to 2nd base to be prepared to receive a throw quickly on a hard-hit grounder that has a chance to become a double-play. Coach is at-bat. (You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier) Where is he now? This is normal shifting that all high level players do and VERY few amateurs are taught to do. Features & Benefits. Purpose Purpose: Most people hit more fly balls to the opposite field and more ground balls to the pull side. If right handed, hit a ground ball to the second baseman. Doug played professionally for 16 seasons, for 5 MLB organizations (Rockies, Yankees, Pirates, Twins & Rangers), including Major League time at every infield position. Baseball game situations: Experienced coaches are really good at between inning transitioning. Coach Schaefer guided Point Loma Nazarene to eight consecutive postseason appearances as well as two NAIA World Series appearances and was NAIA . Our Promise. And since double play balls are hit hard, they have to be able to be at 2nd base within about one second. Im the pitcher . When the 1st baseman is holding on the runner at 1st base, the 2nd baseman is in double play depth which brings him a little closer to the 2nd base bag it leaves a huge hole open to the right side of the infield. See #1 on the infield positioning diagram. Good team defensive involves having a good strategy, practicing the plays that are part of that strategy, and then calling those plays in the game. BASEBALL POSITIONS DEFENSIVE CHEAT SHEET. Baserunning will be spent at 1st base, reviewing how to take a lead, and going through 1st base scenarios. Later, coach-up the pitcher's role of an early-steal: (1) Step off, (2) show baseball to runner at 3rd, (3 . There also needs to be base runners, with helmets on. This is much easier for a left handed hitter but there are many hits to be had by hitting the baseball in the lane between the 1st and 2nd baseman. And when should teams shift their infielders and outfielders? Purpose What Lessons on Teamwork Can Baseball Give Us? These stations are for all players. But in most situations, bringing the infield in done in the late innings when the outcome is clear and just a single run to tie or win must be prevented. *** I recommend you print out the catch routine for the player that is leading, especially when you first start using this routine. 2.Swing correctly. This drill can also be performed with line drives, The shortstop must use proper technique when playing in cut off situations, because the plays are very close to third base and home plate, and in some cases second base, The Shortstop is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Question 1. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Hejazi finally . Bases loaded.. up 3 runs late in game What should shortstop do if a ground ball is hit to him? The short game adrenelin rush. How we keep it free. Hit and run. 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). Otherwise, self-defense devices like tasers, pepper spray, pocket knives, tactical pens are tools you can keep in your car, as well as use to injure the offender. 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. 2. Up by one run 23 had one out. Below you'll find our collection of game-situation defensive baseball drills, all involving multiple players. The problem is that he doesn't know jack-squat about baseball. The runner on third will score. By sacrificing a runner into scoring position, the offense assumes that a base . Mistake #3: Being too rigid about positioning. Teach this to your players! 3. Base hit with a runner on 2nd base. How it Works The cornerstone's of offensive situations. He has Major League time at every infield position, and has played every position on the field professionally except for catcher. In this section will look at different defensive plays that you can use with your team. Photo: Bill Stanton: Checkswing.com. But make sure you work on both feeds. Middle infielders should talk amongst themselves and know where they are going if they get the ball or if another infielder gets it. Its a great way to be in 100% control of your swing. Step up to the plate and put the ball in play! Don't worry, just click the back button or check out our popular posts below. We support the site through affiliate relationships with baseball retailers. Watch this video for an in-depth explanation, Double Play Depth: Where it Is & Why Its So Important, Infield Halfway A Gray Area Type of Positioning, Slight Shifts in Positioning for 1st & 3rd Basemen. A coach knowing strategies for defensive situations is key to proper defense. But what is difficult is making sure you keep on top of it. A failure to think ahead and communicate can become a train wreck. This throwing routine is something youll want to do at the beginning of every baseball practice. These 5 downloadable PDFs will explain how to run a youth baseball practice during the defensive portion of practice. If it would change, how would it change? So, next time you need to buy something online, we hope you'll click through our website first! Teaching your shortstops how to turn a double play, in order to increase your, Bunting technique is not a difficult concept to teach. In baseball, the team that is positioned out on the field is referred to as the defense. Get a free expert analysis and custom report from Former MLB Infielder & Defensive Specialist Doug Bernier. #3 Bringing the Infield In. 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. *This article may contain product links which pay me a small commission if you make a purchase. 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. 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? Learn how your comment data is processed. Formerly trained by Bob Baffert, he's now in Tim Yakteen's barn. A baseball field is also known as a "ball field" or a "baseball diamond". Bloopers can land on the infield dirt for base hits in many cases, and medium-hit ground balls often become base hits because the fielders are so close.