Baseball infielders, close to the action and ready to react in a split second. The essentials for an infielder? Quick hands and quick feet.
Looking at the images below, you could say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
These images were taken roughly 65 years apart. What worked for Johnny Pesky in the 1940's is still working for the high school player of today.
As with societies fashions, "what goes around, comes around" is prevalent in baseball also.
The Basic Skills For An Infielder ~ Fielding A Ground Ball And Throwing The Runner Out
Pre-pitch set position
Feet, shoulder width apart.
Glove side foot a little ahead of throwing side foot.
Glove out in front.
Knees flexed, head up.
Weight on the balls of the feet.
Fielding Position
Feet shoulder width apart
Glove foot a little ahead of throwing foot.
Glove out in front.
Infielders feet and glove should form a triangle.
Knees take your glove to the ground.
Field the ball at the top of the point of the triangle, out in front of your body.
Head down, from out in front someone should be able to see the button on the top of your cap.
Stay down and "through" the ball, looking the ball into your glove.
Field the ball on your left eye, this gets you around the ball, so you can see it a little from the side. Easier to judge hops than straight on.
Field the ball with both hands, work on catching the ball in the heel of the glove, so it doesn't stick in the web. Also makes it easier for a quick release and throw.
Square Up To Your Target, Gain Some Ground, Set your Feet And Throw
Picture 1, once a ball has been fielded, the player needs to quickly get his body squared up to his target, that is, glove side alignment: knee, ankle, shoulder, hip should be facing the target, with hands together at chest.
Picture 2, arm action. Hands come apart with thumbs under ( like cracking an egg ) while taking the thumb in a short arc, to the belt and back. Knuckles to the sky, elbow up high. In this picture, the player is almost to the power position. His glove is pointed at his target, body alignment is closed. He is about to take his knuckles to the sky, which will put his throwing elbow at shoulder height, the back of his throwing hand facing target.
Step On Line And Throw
Picture 3, the throw and follow through. Small step on line, hips rotate, tuck glove while letting throwing arm go with body. Stick chest out towards glove, head should never move off target.
Infield Tips ~ From the Dugout
Move your feet!
Use two hands whenever possible, it will make you quicker.
Field ground balls lined up off your left eye. This gets you to the side a little where you are better able to judge hops.
Receiving ~ Ball is soft in, quick out.
Get around the ball, to the ball and through the ball.
Work on your quickness every day, your feet and your hands.
Communicate constantly with the pitcher, other infielders and the outfielder on you side of the field.
The Basic Things To Think About Pitch To Pitch:
How many outs
Score
Inning
Where is the force?
Where is my short throw?
Speed of base runners, as well as the batter.
Every field plays different. Know if the grass is slow or fast, rough or smooth. Make your positioning adjustments based on the information gathered.
It's A Pretty Sure Thing That A Player's Bat Is What Speaks Loudest When It's Contract Time; But There Are Moments When The Glove Has The Last Word! ( Brooks Robinson )
