Left Field in 3 Easy Steps

Left field is among the most challenging positions to play in baseball. It takes an exclusive set of skills to play left field well. You have to generally be fast, have good range, continually be able to make particularly complex plays as well as have a good arm. A large number of fly balls hit to the outfield tend to be hit to left fielders and consequently left fielders have always been expected to catch pretty much every ball hit out. Read on to understand how to correctly field the left side of the outfield.

The very first trick to fielding left field well is knowing your environment. Therefore you must be aware of where the sun is, which way the wind is blowing, and exactly how the baseball bounces in the outfield grass. By using this method you are going to be geared up to make a play on almost any baseball hit to you. You will not be fooled on any kind of fly ball.

The second quick tip to playing left field is getting an appropriate read from the bat. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was said to be so good at obtaining reads off the baseball bat that Shoeless was capable of getting a running start right before the ball had been actually hit. While very likely a misconception, he was a quality outfielder who had superior range. Getting a good read off the baseball bat is needed to being an experienced left fielder. It will make sure that you are able to get the best chance actually possible getting fly balls. Getting a quality read off the bat can also make up for a slower than normal outfielder. I would rather have a more sluggish player who will see a solid read off the baseball bat as compared to a speedy athlete who does not.

The third advice to playing left field is knowing the batter. You must know whether or not he is a pull hitter or an opposite field batter. Remembering this will confirm where exactly to stand in left field. Most notably, you might be playing left field and one right handed hitter who has a tendency to pull the baseball is hitting, you will be playing him close to the line. It really is unlikely that he will hit 1 to the left-center gap if he is considered to be a pull hitter.

While quite a few people see left field as a spot that can by played by athletes whom generally are not experienced fielders, this certainly should really not be the case. Left Field requires a special kind of athlete to field this particular position. Ted Williams, Barry Bonds, Musial, Rickey Henderson, and additionally Joe Jackson are often reported to be some of the greatest pros to ever play ball. Guess what? They were mostly flexible left fielders.