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Defensive Fundamentals, Part 1

By Coach Jack Dunn

"Coach Dunn's Quick Pitches" — By Coach Jack Dunn

INFIELD PLAY

Since the majority of balls are handled by the infield, an alert and capable infield makes for a winning team. In rare cases an exceptionally good pitcher is able to win a game with a mediocre infield playing in back of him. But this is the exception, not the rule.

Three basic qualifications are needed for an infielder. First, he must have a good pair of hands because he would be able to catch ground balls with regularity. Second, he must have a good throwing arm. This is particularly true of the shortstop and third baseman. These two players will have the long throws to first base. Third, an infielder should be able to move quickly. His ability to get in front of the ball, to field it cleanly and make a good throw all mean that he must handle his body with ease. However, strange as it seems, you can have these basic qualifications and still be a poor fielder. Unless you carry out your infield assignments by using your head, you will never be a good fielder. Each player has his job on the diamond and if he fails in that, he can make an otherwise good team look like a very poor one.

Never let your mind wander when you are on the field. Think baseball every minute. Check the infield set-up—where are the infielders playing, short or deep?—what bases are occupied?—how many are out? Figure out the play you would make should the ball be hit to you. Also, be so alert that you are able to adjust yourself to any situation that may arise on the ball field. So, you see, even if you have the physical qualifications for a good infielder, they must be accompanied by quick thinking.

GENERAL INFIELD PLAY

Lean the weight forward as the pitcher releases the ball so that you are ready to move in any direction. Weight on the balls of your feet.
Think where a throw should be made if a ball is hit toward your position. Move in a step or two for left-hand batters and players who might attempt to beat out a bunt.
Maneuver on a grounder so that the catch can be made on a high bounce or short hop. Do not let the ball play you.
Pounce on fumbled balls, then fake a throw and attempt to catch a runner off base.
Talk it up on the infield and help each other by yelling information such as “Home,” “There he goes,” or “No play.”
Analyze yourself and inquire about your shortcomings, then try to overcome these weaknesses.
Never leave a base uncovered.
On all fumbles, look for any runner over-running bases. Run toward him with the ball until he makes his move, then throw it.
Straddle the bag, taking throws, always tagging the runner, never going out to meet him—dropping the ball and glove to the bag, letting the runner tag himself out.
Keep hands close to the ground, facing the ball while fielding it—hands well in front, feet apart, but always on balance. Do not fight the ball with rigid hands, but be relaxed.
Step as the throw is made.
Always anticipate a coming play or situation. You should have your mind made up, before the play, where you will throw the ball if it is hit to you. Make one man a sure out on all attempted double plays.
The whole infield should play close in, to cut the run off at the plate, if it is the tying or winning run in the late innings of the game. Never play your infield close in, during early innings, or in a lopsided game.
Do not throw the ball if there is no chance of getting your man. Bluff the peg; you may catch someone else trying to take an extra base on the expected throw.
When a man is caught off base, make sure he is run back to the base from which he came. One or two throws should be sufficient. When running him back, keep your arm cocked and bluff your throw once or twice. When a man is caught between bases, do not make a long throw to catch him, unless he keeps going. Run toward him with the ball until he makes his move, then throw it. If another runner makes a break for an extra base during the original run-down, go after him.
On extra base hits to the outfield, the second baseman goes out to act as the relay man on balls hit to right and right center, with the shortstop covering second base. The shortstop goes out to act as the relay man on balls hit to left and left center with the second baseman covering second base. On balls hit directly to centerfield, the infielder with the best arm acts as the relay man. The infielder’s throw should be the short accurate throw, and he must not go too deep in the outfield beyond that point where he cannot make the short-accurate throw, to start the relay.
The most important thing to be taught and stressed is to keep the wrists loose and bring every ball into your body. Stiff wrists make infielders “Box balls.”

FIRST BASE

The first baseman should be of medium size or height, with a good reach, and he must have extraordinary ability in making pick-ups of low-thrown balls from the infielders. He must, at all times, maintain a perfect balance on his feet, with the ability to shift easily. He should be able to throw sidearm for the force-out at second base. He can be either right- or left-handed, with the left-hander having the advantage on tag plays and the throw to second base.
Position of Play
1. Normal (No one on)
  The first baseman takes his position in the infield in such a spot that there is no extra effort on his part to reach the bag in time to receive the throw.
  As soon as the ball is hit to any other infielder, he breaks immediately for the bag, takes a position in front of the bag, with his feet stationary in front of the bag before the throw reaches him, and should be ready to shift instantly in either direction if the ball is thrown wide. On balls thrown wide to the left side of the bag, he shifts the position of his feet so that his right foot is in contact with the bag and his left foot is extended as far as possible away from the bag. On balls throws wide to the left side of the bag, he shifts the position of his feet so that his right foot is in contact with the bag, and his left foot is extended as far as possible away fro the bag. On balls thrown wide to the right side of the bag, the first baseman shifts his feet so that his left foot is in contact with the bag and his right foot is extended as far as possible away from the bag. Always remember, the most important thing is to catch the ball.
  On all throws that are not wide of the bag, the left-handed first baseman keeps his left foot on the bag and extends his right foot; the right-handed man keeps his right foot on the bag and extends his left foot.
  On good throws, the first baseman should stretch as far as possible to meet the ball on anticipated close plays. The hardest play to first base is the ball thrown on the left side of the bag, directly in the path of the base runner. If there is time to step completely off the bag and catch the ball and then touch the runner, do so. On high-thrown balls, the first baseman should, if there is plenty of time, take a step back into foul territory, keeping his left foot (if a left-hander) and his right foot (if a right-hander) on the bag, reaching high into the air for the catch.
  The first baseman should try for every ball that it is possible for him to reach. It is the duty of the second baseman to chase him away if he attempts to field a ball more easily handled by the second baseman. The second baseman does this by shouting, "I've got it!" Then the first baseman immediately returns to his bag for the put-out.
  Whenever the first baseman goes for a ball, the pitcher covers first base. In making throws to the pitcher covering, the first baseman should make all throws so they can be caught shoulder high, at least two steps from the bag. These throws will be made with an underhand toss motion while striding toward the bag. When the ball is fielded deep, and when the pitcher has time to cover first base and come to a stop—ready to catch the throw like a first baseman—the throw should be made overhanded "with something on it."
2. Runner on First Base and Situation Prompts a Bunt
  The first baseman comes toward the plate—but not too quickly. If the batter bunts down the first-base side of the playing field, the first baseman charges quickly toward the plate for a possible force play at second base. If there is no chance for a play at second base, he will throw to the second baseman covering first base. On bunts toward third base, the first baseman returns to the bag to make the put-out. After the put-out, he rushes into the infield to help break up any attempt by the runner to advance to third base. When the pitcher fields the bunted ball, the first baseman returns to the bag, if possible, to make the play. Otherwise, the second baseman takes the throw from the pitcher.
3. Runner on Second Base
  The first baseman plays his normal position.
4. Runners on First Base and Second Base
  If the bunt is in order, play close in—halfway between the pitcher's box and first base. If the ball is bunted, field the ball and throw to the base called by the catcher. If the bunt is not in order, play in the normal position.
  Double play starting from first base: A left-handed first baseman, in starting a double play from first base to second base, fields the ball and throws the ball to second base, making sure of the force-out at second base. When a right-handed first baseman fields the ball, he pivots on his right foot and takes a quarter turn and throws to second base, making sure of the force-out at second base. The first baseman must then return quickly to first base to receive the throw, which completes the double play. The first baseman should throw to the inside of second base when throwing to the short stop. On balls fielded deep in the first-base position, throw the ball to the outside of second base when throwing to the short stop.
  On two base hits, back up second base on throws from left and center fields.
  On any ball thrown by the catcher, other than on an attempt to pick a man off first base, take the throw inside the diamond. This is to avoid having the ball hit the runner. When the catcher throws, in an attempt to pick off a runner, always make a tag at the runner.