The Baseball Zone Blog

12 General Mental Tips for Better Infield Play

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Where is YOUR mind in between pitches???

Baseball is without question very much a game of thoughts and has been referred by some as a “thinking man’s game”. Unlike other sports like hockey, basketball or soccer as examples, there is a tremendous amount of downtime in a baseball game. During these downtimes or rest phases of each game, the minds of each player, coach or manager will constantly be shifting and swaying with each pitch, each out and each complete inning played. Players try and out-think other players; pitchers and catchers try to out think hitters; and coaches and managers try to out think opposing coaches and managers. Sometimes, however, infielders (and outfielders) do too much thinking and fail to hone in on simple, yet general mental aspects of infield play...or sometimes let their minds wander to never never land.

The following is a short list of 12 mental considerations for more consistent infield play.

1. Hit it to me: Expect every ball on every pitch to be hit to you. If you expect the ball, you will always be in a position to make a play or know where to go if not making a play. If you ask the Baseball Gods that the ball not be hit to you, it will find a way to get to you. It’s Murphy’s Law.
2. Pre-pitch movements must be consistent: If, in a game, your pitchers throw 120 total pitches, that means each infielder must get to their ready position the same amount of pitches...120! The moment you take a pitch off, will be the time when the ball is hit to you.
3. Play defence in real time: What is real time? The present, one pitch at a time. Baseball is game where boredom can set in. Learn to play defence in real time, don’t think about the next pitch, it is one pitch at a time.
4. Stay in the mental zone: Control the controllables. Don’t get caught thinking of how your last at bat went or how you fielded the last ground ball or where you didn’t go on the previous play. They are all history. Hit the delete button and move on. The sooner you trash it the better.
5. Use the time between pitches to re-focus: This is the time not to reflect on the negative, but only to reflect on the positive...like... “I want the ball hit to me” or “I want to make a play”. In this time prepare, plan and position yourself to make the play.
6. Know the speed of the runners: This will help you gauge your amount of available time on each play. 
7. Know the hitters' tendencies: Position yourself accordingly. Know what the hitter likes to do. What is the general direction of most of the hits by each opposing hitter? Do certain hitters like to play small ball? Do they spray the ball? Slap it? etc...
8. Don’t give up on booted ball: Many infielders give up on the play once they have booted the ball. You never know, maybe a lead runner made a wide turn and the infielder can recover and make a back door throw for an out. Don't give up - this is a mental skill!
9. Limit compounding errors: So, the infielder makes a fielding error, then he proceeds to hurry up and try to recover, only to make an errant throw. Now we have two errors on one play. Practice and perfect the mental skill of forgetting the immediate past in the middle of a physical movement.
10. Dive on all balls with a runner on second base: Often times the third base coach will think the ball is going through and proceed to send the runner to score....Boom, the infielder dives, knocks the ball down and recovers to throw the runner out at plate. Be mentally prepared to do this when the situation presents itself.
11. Know the base stealers: Knowing them will affect your position as well as your infield team defensive positioning. Remind your teammates that certain guys like to run and to hold their positions as long possible in the event the ball is hit to a vacated spot on the infield.
12. Never stop communicating: Get in the habit of letting your infield teammates know where you are positioned; how you will be moving with the count; and where to make throws.

Now take these 12 mental tips and work on them with your team. Take control of your responsibilities, your controllables and your thoughts. Encourage your teammates to work on them with you and each other. Over time you will see that the time in between pitches that is spent more productively will result in improved play on the field and a more fruitful experience on the diamond!

If you liked this blog you might also be interested in our free eBook "2013 Guide to Mental Performance in Baseball". For a free download, just click the button below.

Baseball Drill of the Week | "Derek Jeter Drill"

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This week's Baseball Drill of the Week is the "Derek Jeter Drill" (aka Driving the Outside Pitch).

We're calling this one the Derek Jeter Drill as Jeter is widely known as a player who can drive the ball effectively to the opposite field. However there are a vast number of players who can also do this, with some other famous examples being Roberto Clemente, Ryan Howard, Mike Piazza, etc., the list goes on. In fact, let's invite a sabermetrician to inform us on who the greatest opposite field hitter of all time is. Until then, we'll stick with the household name of Derek Jeter.

Driving the outside pitch is something that doesn't come naturally to many hitters. Our instinct is usually to pull the ball no matter where it is pitched. As we know though, this will lead to disconnection in the swing (i.e. hands too far from the body) thus weak grounders, or poor stabs at the outside pitch. Hitters need to be comfortable and confident in their ability to drive outside pitches as that is where pitchers, especially younger ones, live - on the outside part of the plate. Some pitchers never get comfortable throwing inside, and even as you get older and play in better leagues, pitchers will still try and get you swinging weakly at outside pitches. So get comfortable with hitting the outside pitch, and not just hitting it, but DRIVING it.

So what we want to do with this drill is just get hitters to understand how to hit effectively off the tee as if it were an outside pitch.

Watch a video here and catch some of our coaching cues below on this fundamental tee drill:

We want to watch that our athletes have a point of contact deeper in the strike zone with the outside pitch. This can be done by setting up further ahead on the tee (shown) or by hitting the pitch later if it is thrown. The later point of contact will help the hitter to keep their hands connected to the torso as they move to impact (notice Jeter's hands ahead of the ball and right arm still connected with the torso). Also of note, nothing should change in the swing, the only change is in point of contact. Hitters should be able to hit the outside pitch as well as the inside or middle pitch, though it will take time. What we don’t want hitters to do is to have the hands move away from the body as they move to point of contact. This disconnection will result in loss of power and bat control.  

We'd love your feedback on trying this drill out as a player or coach and if you have your own name for the drill share that with us too!

Recent Drills of the Week:

Throwing the Change Up

Playing Better Catch

Short Hops

Wall Transfers

Defensive Backs

Baseball Strength Training Transformation Tuesday | Daito Kojima

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For this week’s Transformation Tuesday we feature Ontario Terriers' 16U player Daito Kojima.

Daito is a Shortstop and Pitcher with the Terriers and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the province for his age group. Daito has been a member of The Baseball Zone's High Performance Program since 2010. He has always been a very "natural" athlete who runs and jumps extremely well. He has also always possessed plus velocity for his slight stature. Even as a 13 year old in 2010, he hit 78mph on a raw velocity drill.  

Daito is one of those athletes who tends to make the game look very easy, because he is so smooth and explosive. I’ve overheard fellow teammates and other athletes around the gym say he’s lucky because he was born with all this natural ability. Now it is true that Daito is very fortunate to have great genetics for sports, he has always been able to run faster, jump higher and throw harder than most of his peers. That being said, he also trains harder than most of the other kids and rarely misses a workout. When he is in the gym, he goes from one exercise to the other with no chit-chat and he trains with INTENSITY. Every coach and trainer reading this knows how important this skill is...and it IS a skill. If kids are not good at it today, they can work at it and be better at it tomorrow.

Since Daito has started training with us he has added over 30 pounds of lean mass in the past year and a half! Check out his transformation as well as some of his before and after numbers…

Great job Daito!

You can also check out a short clip of Daito hitting 91MPH on the gun back in the Fall here:

If you are ready to take the first step towards transforming your own career, just click the link below and we'll be in touch with you shortly. There is no cost or obligation to do so.

We look forward to helping you achieve your goals!

Sincerely, Rick Boutilier - The Baseball Zone and SST Mississauga

Some other recent Transformations:

Cory Hayden

Evan Lawrence

Justin Wamboldt

Andrew Lonsdale

Joe Guaragna

Baseball Drill of the Week | "Throwing the Change Up"

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When pitchers have developed control of the fastball, meaning they have the ability to throw strikes regularly, their next best friend can, should, and ultimately will be the change up. Often young pitchers will want to add to their repertoire before they even have a reasonable command of their fastball (which is no easy task) and their first desire is to throw a curve ball. What they don't know is it will be much easier and more effective to develop a consistent change up as their next pitch. Why? Having an effective offspeed pitch will disrupt the timing of the hitter and the change up looks more like a fastball than any other pitch. If a hitter sees fastball in each and every way yet the ball gets there a split second later than they are anticipating...presto...you have upset the timing of the hitter.

When throwing the change up we want to throw it with the same arm speed, arm action, arm slot and release point as the fastball (which is what makes it the most natural pitch to develop after an effective fastball). In the video we will show you the main grips, those being the 3 finger grip and the circle change grip (pictured). An effective change up will be about 10MPH slower than a fastball, perhaps more for older players with a lot of velocity, maybe less for younger developing players. But 10MPH is a good reference point. The movement on the ball will be either straight down or having arm side sink.

Please check out our video where I go over the change up with pro pitcher and former Canadian National Team member, Coach Jamie Richmond:

When coaching your pitchers, coaches should watch that pitchers are maintaining a delivery that is the same as their fastball. This can be judged through the naked eye, as the hitter will see him, or if you want to get extremely technical, you can use high speed video to look at things like frames per second and compare the fastball delivery with the change up. As stated, nothing should change with the delivery other than the the grip. If you have access to a radar gun the typical speed difference compared to the fastball should be 10-12MPH, and perhaps a little slower, like 8-10MPH for younger pitchers.

If pitchers are having a hard time locating the change up make sure they are not gripping the ball too tightly, and that release point is similar to a fastball down the middle. Typical movement for a change up is straight down or down and to the arm side.

Change ups can also be thrown in long toss, which should help the pitcher with release of the ball - if we are too tight it will be very tough to throw the ball a long way. Also of note, the change up can be thrown on the 4 seam (shown) or 2 seam. 

So remember, command and OWN your fastball, first and foremost, and then add the change up to your repertoire. It will not only be the easiest pitch to transition to, but also likely the most effective. Ask hitters at higher levels - they hate great change ups so develop one of your own!

Sincerely,

Ryan Armstrong - The Baseball Zone

PS - Click on the button below and try out a session in our Summer High Performance Program - I promise to help you with your change up!

Recent Drills of the Week:

Playing Better Catch

Short Hops

Wall Transfers

Defensive Backs

Double Play Drill

Throwing and Catching…Quintessential Defensive Baseball

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Make it a field or dreams or a field of nightmares (errors) - your choice

Spend your time around enough ball parks or indoor training facilities and there is one thing you will soon find out…most kids struggle with playing simple Catch and Throw. Think about this - all defensive aspects of baseball revolve around the ability to perform two fundamentals…Catch and Throw. But what happens? Most commonly, the mistake is made trying to teach kids complicated, intricate techniques and skills before they have been able to master the fine art of catching and throwing.

Take for example, an extra base hit that gets past an outfielder. This is a true example of a retrieval, a throw (to the right player), a catch, another throw, another catch and maybe a tag play on the runner. That’s two throws and two catches. Yet how many times have you seen this sequence go askew?

Another simple example of teaching beyond the realm of the player’s capabilities is the development of how a team will endlessly work on pick offs or even timing pickoffs, with players moving all over the field in hopes of retiring a baserunner, when these players in question (working on the pickoffs) struggle to play catch in the first place. Geez, most of these pitchers probably struggle to throw strikes, yet there is a need to work on pick offs?!?! I don't think so - poor choice of time investment.

An even more straightforward example is 5-3, 6-3, 4-3, 3-1…oh, do these sound familiar? They should - they are all the routine plays in the infield that need to be fashioned daily. But no, the 6-4-3, 4-6-3, 5-4-3, 3-4-3 and the ever so prevalent 3-6-1 must be worked on because these defensive plays happen often? Ya right! (You might want to check out "Practicing the Double Play - How? How Often? How Important Is It?")

Young players in the infantile stage of development should spend an abundance of time working on mastering the skills of catching and throwing. What would you consider infantile? For me, it starts from the first day the glove is put on the hand, until the glove is retired and put up in the mantle case. That means catching and throwing should be worked on and continued to be mastered and never taken for granted. On defense in this game, everything depends on the ability of how the nine players catch and throw. You catch and throw well, then you have a chance to win. You do a poor job of catching and throwing, then you have little chance to win.  In other words, teach the process and execution of catching and throwing and the wins will come.  

For the most part, coaches, players and parents are used to the microwave society, where being patient is not part of the equation. They all want to float over key essentials, move past what many will consider elementary material or technique and get to the nuts and bolts. Well, let me tell you, it is not the nuts and bolts that get players or teams in trouble; it is the basic quintessential patterns, movements and techniques that do. It then becomes a widespread problem…players can’t catch and throw well because little or no time is put on the most basic, yet fundamental of the disciplines. You want to be a better defensive player, work on the simple fundamentals of catching and throwing, then all those 5-3’s, 6-3’s, 4-3’s will become habitual and routine.  Don’t turn catch into fetch!

I would like to leave you with a few famous lines from one of the best baseball movies, "Field of Dreams":

Ray Kinsella: Hey... Dad? 

[John turns]

Ray Kinsella: [choked up] You wanna have a catch? 

John Kinsella: I'd like that

GOOD LUCK!

Sincerely,

Rick Johnston, Head Instructor - The Baseball Zone

Rick is the Co-Founder of The Baseball Zone and has been coaching baseball for over 25 years in a career spanning the globe and garnering several championships and individual accolades. His main passion, however, is seeing concrete, individual development in his athletes on, and more importantly, off the diamond. See his bio here.

courtesy of ifcamedia.org & opinionofkingmansperformance.blogspot.com

Batting Practice: 6 Ways to Make it More Effective

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Make it Effective or Don't Do It At All!

Perhaps the most difficult part of any practice is the organization of batting practice or as it is commonly referred to as BP. It is difficult for a number of reasons in youth baseball, far more so than in collegiate, professional or even older levels of amateur baseball. Trying to organize as many as 12-15 hitters in a timely fashion, under a supervised breakdown of tasks, with a certain amount of pitches, is certainly not easy and for many can be daunting to say the least. 

Unlike collegiate or the professional ranks, where teams have multiple coaches on staff to throw batting practice, hit fungoes and work with baserunners, at youth levels it is the exact opposite. Moreover, because BP is a time consumer and literally permits one player hitting live at a time while others shag or run bases, the amount of standing around is significant. In college and the pros, multiple coaches means multiple stations or side stations, where the number of players standing around is limited and players actually make their wait time between BP groups much more productive.

How can you do this?

1. Prior to any structured BP a number of items need to be covered before any type of multi-station work can take place. Baseballs are the most important inventory any team can have when taking batting practice. Simple, right? I can tell you right now, having a dozen or so balls, some that are water logged others that have ripped seams unquestionably will make the BP ineffective and useless. I have been to practices where this is what the team has. No good.  Not even close. Make sure baseballs are plentiful and they get retrieved and brought in a timely fashion.  
2. While baseballs are the most important inventory, the most important piece of protective equipment without question is an L-screen. If you have not got one, DO NOT throw BP! Once again, if you want an ineffective and useless BP, throw with no screen and be more concerned about getting hit by a line drive right back at you, which is totally natural and completely understandable. That’s where the BP coach's thought goes, not toward the hitter and throwing quality strikes, which is his job and a critical element, obviously, of effective batting practice.
3. Now comes the major youth level problem with BP. It begins with the inability to throw strikes and then kids are told to swing at everything, because it's BP, right? Well if it's BP, then working on offensive tactics, swing thoughts, tracking, etc…should be implemented, not "swing at everything". This swing at everything practice needs to change. The best hitters in baseball do not swing at everything, however we are asking our players to swing at everything. This does not make sense. The objective of BP is to get quality swings in with a purpose rather than just swing to swing the bat or swing the bat because there are only a dozen baseballs and the BP pitcher struggles to throw strikes. Listen, there is a simple and massively effective method that can be used to have hitter get more quality swings in the same amount of time. IF consistent strikes are a problem and as long as there is an L-screen, all you need to do is front toss from about 12-15 feet away. Hitters get more swings, baserunners get more reads for advancement and defensive players do less standing around and more shagging, as more balls are put in play, all contributing to a more effective batting practice.
4. The next problem coaches will incur deals with the actual distance they will throw BP from if you indeed throw versus front toss. It need not be from 60’6 inches or from whatever the full game distance is. As a matter of fact, most BP is thrown from 45-50 feet away from the hitter. This will increase the number of strikes being thrown, saves the arms of coaches from becoming dead and will permit the BP coach a chance to firm up his pitches.  
5. Another problem and really a youth level epidemic is because it can be a struggle to throw good BP, players really only get about a dozen or so swings per at bat and each usually only gets a single round of hitting. Conversely, at higher levels BP is about 4-5 rounds, with 25-30 swings per hitter in their allotted time. This excludes what they do in their small ball or bunting rounds. Picture one or two BP sessions a week, for 12 weeks with each hitter only taking 10-12 swings each. That would mean from 120-240 swings in BP for the summer. That is not a great deal at all but it is reality. How can anyone get good at anything, let alone a motor skill, with 120-240 reps of practice. That should be a daily prescription, not a yearly one. So when your kids are struggling at the plate, don't yell, get mad, or try some silly "fix". They are just not practicing enough, I guarantee it. The body is brilliant at organzing itself, but a prerequisite of that is that it needs a lot of time to work it out.
6. Lastly for this post, at the youth levels it is always better to have a BP pitcher throw live with a catcher. This will permit the catcher to work on his receiving; allow them to get used to hitters; give the BP pitcher a target to throw to and additional live practice (which again they do not get enough of); and when pitches are taken, it will allow the hitter a chance to see if the pitch was a strike or a ball that he took.

Anytime team batting practice is implemented, it is critical that it has a team focus with a number of elements of the game being worked on. It is not just a time for individual hitting work, but a time when all players need to bear down and accept the fact that there will be standing around, but that it can be made useful. Find ways to limit this as best as possible. The success of the offense is so dependent on the organization of efficient batting practice. Make it effective or don’t do it at all.  Good Luck.

Sincerely,

Rick Johnston

Rick is the Co-Founder of The Baseball Zone and has been coaching baseball for over 25 years in a career spanning the globe and garnering several championships and individual accolades. His main passion, however, is seeing concrete, individual development in his athletes on, and more importantly, off the diamond. See his bio here.

Image courtesy of maininibaseball.com

The Batting Order by the Book - Who Wrote the Book Anyway?

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The Batting Order

Do you realize players on a team are really pieces of a puzzle that you are trying to mold, massage and fit together to work in harmony with each other. No two players are exactly alike and each has a special place where they best fit to help complete the puzzle. Each is as important to each other and no one in the puzzle is more important than anyone else. Heck, if the smallest piece of the puzzle were to be misplaced, guess what…that puzzle is now incomplete. Thus, the construction of the batting lineup takes the same thoughtful approach as the construction of that puzzle. 

Constructing a batting order, as thoughtful as one needs to be, can cause a manager or coach to totally over-think the process and place far too much importance on what his perfect batting order should look like versus his best batting order. First of all, is there a perfect batting order? That is like saying the Mono Lisa is the most perfect painting in the world. I know nothing about paintings, but I would certainly say that the Mono Lisa is not perfect to me, but it is to many others.

Now, if you were to read every baseball book out on the market, many would say this is an example of a perfect batting lineup:

1. Fast, uses speed to advantage, takes pitches, is creative, vary rarely strikes out, knows how to bunt for hit, when on base forces the pitcher to throw over, etc …

2. Preferrably a left handed hitter, ability to hit ball through the vacated 3-4 hole, willing to take pitches, adept at bunting, doesn’t strike out much, unselfish, second fastest player in lineup

3. Best hitter on team, hits for both power and average, ideally left handed to be able to yank ball to right side to move runner from first to third, big RBI guy, has speed enough not to clog up the bases, doesn’t strike out much

4. Plus power, most on team, big run producer, clutch, will come to the plate often with two out, should have most RBI’s on team

5. Similar to four hole hitter, but strikes out more, possible base clogger

6. Similar to the lead off hitter in qualities but not as good that’s why he is hitting sixth 

7. Similar to two hole hitter, but less overall tools

8. This hitter is hitting eight for the same reason that the ninth hitter is hitting ninth…they are the eight and ninth best hitters on the team

Now, I want you to read that last line…the eight and ninth best hitters on the team.  As you are reading that turn it around and now say this…who do you want up in the first inning and who would you want to have more at bats during a game? Well, in my opinion that is a simple answer. You would want your best three hitters there, to have as many at bats or plate appearances as possible as well as having them bunched together. 

So now, go back to what many baseball instructional books say about the batting order. The perfect one is one that has the ingredients of the above nine hitters and in that order. However, in that order may mean that your best run producer and the hitter with the most power may not get a plate appearance in the first inning because the “book” says the perfect batting order doesn't look that way.

In a regular nine inning game, when each team is allowed 27 outs before there could be declared a winner, why would you want an inferior hitter in your lineup to have more opportunity to hit than the superior hitter? Do you really think that makes sense? 

Let's look at the Toronto Blue Jays this season (a disappointing one to be sure). They spent the first 36 games of the season creating their lineup in the traditional, by the book way, with such players as Brett Lawrie, Maicier Izturus and Emilio Bonifacio, with their Mendoza Line-like batting averages littering the top of the lineup in the 1 or 2 holes and striking out far too often. But the book says they should have been there because they have speed and/or can bunt and move runners over. Bravo. They started 12-24 and scored just over 3 runs a game.

Since May 11, they dropped the "book" and slid Jose Bautista into the 2 hole and Edwin Encarnacion at 3. The book says they are classic 3 and 4 guys. But manager John Gibbons, I will assume, said "to heck with it, I am tired of giving away outs to start the game and seeing one of my best hitters either lead off the 2nd or come up with 2 outs." Since May 11 they have gone 9-5 and averaged over 6 runs a game (at the time of writing).

So what do I believe eschewing "the book" and bunching your best three hitters at the top of the linup does? 

While I won't attribute all of the turnaround to this one change, throwing "the book" out and instead having your 3 best hitters at the top of your lineup is likely to lead to (and has for the Jays):

• Starting the game with runners on base more often
• Having your best hitters hit with runners on base more often
• Having your best hitters hit with less than 2 out more often
• Scoring earlier and more often
• Chasing the other team from behind less often
• Getting into the other team’s bullpen earlier and more often (which not only can help with that game but also as the series wears on)

I will attempt to put it into more perspective, hopefully without hurting people's feelings. Picture slo-pitch softball right now…you are playing, however, it is mixed slo-pitch. Now not to offend the females (as some can really hit, many better than their male counterparts), but here is what will happen in most instances. You have to have the lineup go male-female-male-female- and so on. It will very often go something like hit, out, hit, out, hit, out…inning over, little to no damage done. When it doesn't go that way, when you have the typical "out" get on base or you have females that can really hit, you know you are in store for a potential big inning. So why would we NOT avoid this type of set up in baseball if we can avoid it?

So, if you wish to set up your batting order for the perfect “book" batting order, remember in doing so, you are risking taking at bats away from your better hitters. It might be time to take "the book", throw it out and make your own book for success.

Good luck with it!

Sincerely,

Rick Johnston

Images courtesy of ata.org & palmettopublicrecord.org

Practicing the Double Play - How? How Often? How Important Is It?

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The Double Play…a different look

The formation of any good team defense is up the middle. The foundation of that defense is usually centered around the combination and teamwork of the middle infielders. When working in harmony together, they will form the backbone of the team defense. That being said, their ability to turn and complete a double play at a key or pivotal moment in a game can possibly signify the difference between a win or a loss in the standings. But how often does this occur? And how much of your valuable practice time should be dedicated to the mastery of turning the double play?

When discussion of double play does come about, it should not come about as a primary defensive skill that needs to be worked on more than simply taking routine balls. I am not saying the double play should not be a part of any team's main daily defensive work - what I am saying is that, as important as the double play is to teams at pivotal points of games, take this as food for thought. In 2012, only 3 MLB teams turned more than 1 double play per game. Just think about that - only 3 teams turned at least 1 double play per game. Wow…who would have thought? Well, then think about it this way, 27 MLB teams turned less than 1 double play per game. 2 of those teams turned just over half a double play per game. It is safe to say that MLB teams, loaded with the best middle infielders in the world, who play on the best fields in the world, on average only turn 1 double play per game. Now, ask yourself this question…how much time should be spent on working on the skill development of double plays? Has it changed yet?

Well, that answer will be different for all, but when working the double play development, consideration must be taken into numerous factors, similar factors that big league players and coaches also deem as critical, with the difference they (MLB) players are much, much more talented than the amateur player.

Double Play Factors:

• The most important factor is shortening up their (middle infielders) defensive position, from their initial or regular defensive, to a position that is in and over toward second base. Shortening up permits the infielder to get to second base ON TIME, rather than arriving late. 
• Front defender or the middle infield defender who is the primary fielder of the ground ball is considered the SURE man. He must surely field the ball and surely give a good feed or throw to the turn or pivot man at second base.
• The back end defender, turn man or pivot man, is the QUICK man. He will decide on how quick he must be, based on the throw, throw direction, handling of the ball, the incoming runner and the trail runner. He should adjust to the ball and always expect a poor feed or throw. Then, he must let the ball dictate the type of footwork that will be used around the base.
• All footwork completed by the quick, turn or pivot man must be fashioned around the base and not away from the base. Around the base, simply means avoid a catch, carry and throw, it should be catch (or deflect), plant (the foot), throw, get out of the way (of the runner).
• Timing should be 4.5 seconds or less. Now, the argument will be the average baserunner is 4.1-.4.2 seconds from home to first. Yes, that may be true, but the double play is a tough enough play in itself, so the rushing of it will only cause additional problems. Accept the fact that sometimes you will turn it perfectly and still not successfully turn it into two outs.
• The type of ground ball hit and direction of the ground ball will determine what the probability is of starting a double play. For example, a tailor made, routine, right at a middle infielder will undoubtedly assist in the development of the front end of the double play. A ground ball taking one of the infielders away from their double play depth may not permit a double play to be even considered.

Obviously there are numerous other factors that play a significant role in the double play. However, as the double play looks like a routine defensive play (well, the best make it look that way), it actually occurs far less than one would think. The development and importance of it certainly is up there on the list of defensive priority, but if MLB teams on average turn roughly 1 per game, then consideration should be given to how much time is actually spent on it in practice...rare, valuable practice time, at least at the youth level. It is not that you don’t want to work on it, but the question is more about how much time is spent on it when the bare probablities are that your infielders will be much more likely to be fielding routine and/or tough plays that are simply plays to first base. Hopefully this provides a little food for thought and reason to reflect on the allocation of your most valuable and scarce resource this summer - practice time.

Good Luck!

Sincerely,

Rick Johnston, Head Instructor - The Baseball Zone

Rick is the Co-Founder of The Baseball Zone and has been coaching baseball for over 25 years in a career spanning the globe and garnering several championships and individual accolades. His main passion, however, is seeing concrete, individual development in his athletes on, and more importantly, off the diamond. See his bio here.

Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org 

Baseball Drill of the Week | "Playing Better Catch"

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Last year we posted a blog by Rick Johnston titled "Developing Infielding Movements Through Playing Better Catch". In it, Rick opined that the number one method of improving natural infielding movements is simply by playing catch. But not the poor "catch" you will see so often at diamonds during pre-game. Instead, it is catch with a purpose - every catch, every throw, every movement through to catching and through to throwing. It is about being efficient with your time and focus.

Today we will give you a better visual of one aspect of what Rick means which can even be done while by yourself (and is demonstrated as such in the video). 

In the drill our fielders toss a ball up in the air to their forehand side. Since the ball has been tossed to their forehand side an angle and profile view has already been created. They will then move toward the ball and pick out a hop that allows them to keep momentum going toward the target as they make their throw. This drill can be done anywhere you can bounce a ball off the ground or with a partner as part of your game of catch. The footwork and fielding in this drill does not have to be done with a baseball either, any ball that bounces will do - in fact the footwork can be done without a ball. (Please note that throwing balls that are not regulation weight is not recommended.) 

When supervising this drill watch that players regulate speed and angle to the ball so they can receive the ball on a long or short hop. If players move too fast or too slow they could cause an in between hop or lose momentum to the target and the throw could be negatively affected. If the ball is not tossed to the forehand side the players must move to the right of the ball to create an angle and profile view so they can better see and select the hop they wish to field. We move to right and back to the left because infielders typically make more throws moving to their left or toward first base (other thand the 1B man), we want momentum to help us to make strong accurate throws.

Recent Drills of the Week:

Short Hops

Wall Transfers

Defensive Backs

Double Play Drill

The "Do or Die" Play in the Outfield

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To Do or Not to Do…That is the Question!

Believe this - many of the errors that outfielders actually make are not on balls in the air, but instead they are on balls on the ground. Why this happens is very simple - because outfield defense is thought of as second tier in its true value of team defense. Most of any type of its vocation, is centered on fly balls, not ground balls. What outfielders lack is the clear comprehension of and ability to field a ground ball and where to make a throw to once the ball has been fielded. Similar to a routine ground ball on infielder fields, an outfielder should strive to field every ground ball in the exact same fashion an infielder will field it. That is, with true infield style patterns and working hard to field the ball on big or long hops, while avoiding the tweener hop. The outfielder must make every effort to create the correct angle to the ground ball, similarly like they would in the pursuit of a fly ball. But, because most outfielders rarely work on ground ball defense, it is no wonder the defensive process of outfielders significantly falters when trying to make a play on a ground ball.

For any outfielder to become better defensively on grounds, they must work on ground ball techniques, be aware of the situation (score, inning, hitter, etc…), be responsive and visually aware of the type of ground ball and their movement toward the ball and most importantly where the baserunner is or baserunners are and where did each of these baserunners originate from. These considerations are critical and frankly will determine the proper and most efficient technique by which the ground ball should be fielded. Having stated this, I will make this statement…far too many outfielders field ground balls one handed in a "do or die" fashion!  

The "do or die" style or technique of fielding the ball should be limited to only critical situations when the outfielder has NO CHOICE but to try and pick up the ball with as much controlled momentum as possible and attempt to throw out the potential winning or go ahead run late in the game. The problem with this type technique is that, it is really all you ever see young, amateur outfielders doing in a game. Hence, just another reason why outfielders make more defensive miscues on ground balls than fly balls. 

When taking into consideration the "do or die" play, one just cannot arbitrarily decide this particular technique will be used. Prudent in-game judgment must be measured prior to attempting such a method. In fact, it is safe to say that the ability for most outfielders to pick up a ball clean and make a good, accurate throw will carry and velocity will be quite low. However, the infielder that works hard on fielding ground balls resembling an infielder will have better end results and minimize mistakes far less than the outfielder who insists on the "do or die" method.

A coach should not discourage the outfielder from the "do or die" technique at all, but what a coach can do is explain the number of problems that can occur if the "do or die" method fails.  

Problems with "do or die": 

1.     Poor field conditions, outfield is rough, causing untrue hops

2.     Error in visual judgment, outfielder breaks body down too late, the ball scoots under glove

3.     Outfielder moves too quickly to the ball, struggles to get body set and controlled, glove is late to fielding position, ball bounds off glove

4.     Outfielder moves too quickly to ball, body is out of control, feet get ahead of arm, throw is made, balls sails over cut off man, permitting trail runner to move up a base

5.     Outfielder comes up throwing only to recognize after the throw there was no chance and the ball has been thrown to the wrong base (plate)

One of the best approaches to ensuring outfielders become better outfielders is to put them in the infield and let each take ground ball after ground ball using infield technique to field the ball. The best approach to ensuring outfielders understand the do and don’ts of the "do or die" is to make sure they are fully armed with how to field a routine ground ball.

Thanks for taking the time to read and if you have your own take and/or experiences with the "do or die" play in the outfield, I would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Rick Johnston, Head Coach - The Baseball Zone

PS - We'll be working on "do or die"'s in each of our summer camps this year, so be sure to make it out to one near you...or come to more than one and cash in on the multiple camp savings we have in 2013!

Image courtesy of thestar.com