To work on short stop and hitting

Question
QUESTION: Dear Coach Bundy,

Let me thank you for answering a previous question about outfield instruction. I was hoping you could answer questions about me in the infield.

I could be playing 2nd, Shortstop, or 3rd on varsity baseball and would like to know some things i should be working on playing the infield and what i should be expecting from ground balls and line drives.

Also ive been struggling with my hitting lately and would like to know the basics back to hitting so i can go back to the basics and just work from there.

thank you

ANSWER: Robert:  I am glad the outfield information was of assistance.

With your hitting, I would refer you to my website, www.theoleballgame.com.

Under Baseball Instruction there is a hitting page.  As you get to the bottom of that page, there is a section on additional hitting topics, with links listed below.  You will find information from rookie to advanced hitting progressions, along with many other hitting topics.

If you look back on the nav bar, you will also see a section called Personal and Team Game Changers.  There is a section there on hitting for success that might give you some additional insight on a plan or approach at the plate.

Finally, the section on Baseball Drills.  There are many hitting drills listed, and I am adding more as we go forward.  These drills are good to use to solidify your progressions, which are your base for hitting.

I think you will find the information is easier to understand in the website, as there are pictures and examples that I don't have room to use on All Experts.

At this point, I don't have my infield pages up on the site.

If you could resubmit the infield portion of this question in all experts, I can answer that separately.  It will be too long to add on this page.

Yours in baseball,

Rick



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you coach your website is helping my swing.

for my fielding i woill most likely be playing shortstop or second and want to know what to expect at that position on the varsity high school level. I am working on bare handers, back handers, regular grounders, and line drives, as well as reaction time. I would like to overall know how to keep my self on top of the game and be a great defensive player for my team at the shortstop or second base position.

thanks

Answer
Robert:  I am glad you are finding the hitting information helpful.

Drilling on the progressions is the first step.  The goal would be to step in the box and only think about seeing the ball, and hitting the ball.

If a hitter needs to think about his mechanics, he is in trouble.

The good news is that, through repetition over time, the progressions become second nature, and the main area of concern becomes approach, pitch selection and the host of mental game topics that are the true separators between consistent and inconsistent hitters.

Infield basics:

1.  Good balanced athletic position, feet slightly wider than shoulder width, throwing side foot slightly back, slight flex to knees.

2.  Pre-pitch motion.  This varies player to player.  We teach a right, left step as the ball is being delivered, the idea being to put yourself in forward motion as the ball is being hit.  Glove is extended out in front.  If you look on my site, on the nav bar go down to Situations/squeeze bunt.  On that squeeze bunt page is a good picture of a pre pitch position, it happens to be a 1B.  There is also a picture in the drills by category page, infield of both a SS and 3B, same position.

3.  If a ball is hit so hard you don't need to charge it, you won't have to make that decision, it happens to fast.  Come and get everything else.

4.  Quick feet, get to it and through it, then square up to your target, step online and throw, gaining some ground towards your target before you throw.

5.  Your knees take your glove to the ground, provide your body with the opportunity to get your rear end down.  If you stay with straight knees, and reach down to field the ball, it will be under your glove.

6.  Proper position is:  knees bent, glove out in front, field the ball at the top point of a triangle, drawn from both feet, out to that point in front of your body.  Head down, someone should be able to see the button on the top of your cap from out in front.  Position your body so that you line the ground ball up on your left eye.  This gets you around the ball to where you see it a little from the side.  You can see hops better than straight on. ( get someone to roll you balls at first to get used to it, work up to fungos.)

7.  Infielders should work at playing catch and fielding ground balls with both hands, not one.  It is all about being quicker at everything you do.  If you imagine a short rope, about 7" long, attached from one wrist to the other, such that if you move your glove to the left, your right hand has to come with it, and the same to the opposite side.

What that does is make it faster for you, on any ball you catch, to get it out of your glove and into a throwing position quicker than if your hands are separated. For middle infielders, it is particularly essential for turning double plays and making relay throws.

8.  Try to limit the number of hops a ground ball takes.  Get to it in the least number of hops possible.  Field it on the bottom of the shorthop, or the top of the long hop, if at all possible.  In between hops are very difficult to be consistent with.

Do your best to create your own good hops by getting to, and through the ball as quickly as you can.  That process also allows you to set your feet and throw without rushing, eliminating many throwing errors.

9.  As a middle infielder, you have the responsibility to constantly communicate with the outfield.  Keep them informed of the number of outs and the situation on a pitch to pitch basis.  Outfielders, being so far away from home plate and the immediate action, tend to let their mind wander.  You can help keep them focused just with that simple contact between pitches.

10.  You also have the responsibility to let the pitcher know who has his comebacker.  He should be checking with you; but they often forget as they focus on the next pitch they are going to throw.  If you take it upon yourself to get the pitcher's attention and let him know you have his comebacker, it takes a little pressure off him and should that comebacker occur, he will turn and throw without hesitation, just because you have put it in his head.  Provides a much greater opportunity to turn that double play.

11.  Shortstop has priority over all other infielders on pop flies.  If it isn't your ball to get, call out the name of the fielder who should get it.

12.  On pop flies into the outfield, go get the ball, until you are called off.  Outfielders have priority over all infielders; but go out until you are called off.  You don't want to assume the outfielder will get it, let him tell you he has it.

As I mentioned, I haven't created an infield page as yet.  It will be coming soon.  I hope this will help you get a start.  Keep checking back, if you have some questions, please ask.

Best of luck as you move forward.  It does sound like you are building an ability to play multiple positions, something that will benefit you in many ways, some you might never imagine.  Every additional skill you can develop increases your value to the team, and your coaches flexibilities within that team.  It also provides you with a greater overall understanding of the game itself.  Stay with it.

Yours in baseball,

Rick

www.theoleballgame.com