Five Steps for First Basemen

June 16th, 2009

First base in baseball is more difficult to play than most people think. Good first basemen save their teams countless runs during the course of the season. They do this by using proper footwork and balance. Not all throws from infielders are on the mark. Low throws, wide throws, high throws, and every kind in between are what the first basemen must deal with. So, here are the top five footwork steps a fundamentally sound first baseman does.

1. Get to the Base Quickly
The first baseman should read the ball off the bat, and when it is hit on the ground, he should run to first base as quickly as possible. Naturally, he must take his eye off the ball, but experienced first sackers know where the base is almost instinctively. They use peripheral vision and repetition to know exactly where the base is and how many running strides it takes to get there — but all first basemen take their eyes off the ground ball. Of course, when they get to the base, they find the ball and focus on the next step.

2. Set Up Correctly at the Base
Set up next to the base in fair territory and face the infielder who is fielding the ground ball. With his chest facing the infielder, the first baseman gives the best target possible to the fielding infielder. With four infield positions besides first base (the pitcher is now an infielder too!), there are four general directional angles the first baseman can use. Do not put either foot on the base — yet. He should be in an athletic, ready position to catch any potential bad throw.

3. Read the Throw From the Infielder
This can’t be overstated. From his athletic, ready position the first baseman now reads the inbound throw. Is it high, wide, or low? How much velocity does it have? Which infielder threw the ball? This last question is important because every player has a unique flight to their throws. Some infielders throw with high velocity all the time. Some have a natural sink to their throws. Experienced first baseman read the throw first, before moving his feet.

It’s very important the first baseman not stretch to receive the ball until the throw is in flight and he has read it correctly. When I started playing first base in professional baseball, I did this incorrectly all the time. And many times the direction of my stretch was not the direction of the incoming throw — and it cost my team precious runs.

4. Use Footwork to Receive the Throw and Touch the Base
When a good throw is in flight, the first baseman now moves his feet to make the catch while touching the base. Either foot can be used to touch the base; however, most young players always use the same foot every time. This is okay, but more experienced first baseman learn to use either foot to touch the base — depending on the throw’s direction.

For instance, if the throw is to the outside of the base toward right field, he will put his left foot on the base while striding out with his right foot in order to reach the ball. Conversely, when the throw is inside the base (toward home plate), his right foot is on the base and left foot is striding. By switching feet this way, he extends his potential reach by a good margin. And, for throws directly at the first baseman, either foot can be used to touch the base.

It’s very important the first baseman not put his foot in the middle of the base. Players can get injured if this happens. We’ve all seen youth league first baseman put their foot in the middle of the base and the base runner either trips over it, or steps on it, thus injuring either the runner, first baseman, or both.

First baseman should always touch the inside of the base, not the top of the base. Inside means the edge of the base that faces the infield. Bases are approximately three to four inches high and have a crowned top. The sides of the base are high enough for the first baseman’s foot to fit next to, or on the top edge of, the base. Also when throws are wide, either outside or inside, the corners of the base extend his reach and should be used.

5. Adjust to Poor Throws
The third step in our series here described reading the throw. If the first baseman determines that the throw is completely off line, he should use footwork to come off the base. Only repetition and experience can tell the player when to do this. In these instances, don’t worry about touching the base, just make the catch. This prevents the batter-runner from advancing to second base, or other base runners from either advancing or scoring.

Low throws are another matter. If the low throw will skip far enough away from the first baseman, he should stay square to the throw and not attempt to stretch out for it. The idea is to provide time and distance to read the hop and hopefully catch the ball. Good first baseman know when to stretch for low throws and when to stay back and receive them on a long hop.

In between hops are tough. These are low throws that will not provide either a long or short hop. But, with the largest glove on the field, some first baseman get lucky and the ball bounces in to their glove. My rule on these throws is to relax your glove hand and do the best you can. But, and this is important, if there are base runners who will score when the ball gets by the first baseman, the first bagger should get in front of the low throw and block it. The batter-runner will most likely be safe, but it has prevented a run from scoring and given our team a fighting chance.

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Outfield Rules and Priorities

May 21st, 2009

Defense in baseball is both an individual and team function. Being a good defensive outfielder requires correct fundamentals and focused practice. Playing good defense also requires that the players on the field work together. Each player must know the responsibilities of his position. They must back each other up and communicate clearly. And they must know the priorities to which each team member is subject.

When the ball is hit out to the field of play, each defensive position has responsibilities. The players must know where to position themselves. They must also anticipate the play and re-position themselves correctly.

As defensive teammates, each outfielder needs to “pick each other up” as the saying goes. Backing-up fellow outfielders and infielders is key. Covering for each other, and covering the field well, requires following assigned priorities. To do all of these things mandates clear and unambiguous communication.

The center fielder is the “field general” of the outfield. He is considered the best fielder in the outfield. He is most likely the fastest runner of the three outfielders too. Lastly, he is in the middle of the field and well-positioned to see all parts of the outfield better than the corner outfielders.

If the center fielder and a corner outfielder both go after a hit ball, the center fielder has priority to it. This rule assumes that both outfielders have an equal chance to field the ball! This qualification is important to note.

Unfortunately, I have seen two problems with stating this rule to players, or of not informing outfielders of the rule. The first problem usually happens in youth baseball. One of the corner outfielders takes this rule a little too seriously. This results in the corner outfielder not aggressively pursuing a hit ball because “you told me the center fielder should take everything”. And the ball ends up very close to him without any attempt at catching it.

The second problem of not understanding, or even knowing, this rule is player collisions. Both the center fielder and a corner outfielder run after a hit ball and neither gives way to the other. Nothing good can come from this situation.

The center fielder has priority to catch the ball when both he and a corner outfielder have a good chance at it. In these situations, both outfielders should communicate that they will catch it – they both “call” for the ball.

The center fielder should recognize that they have both called for the ball, and he should continue to call for it. When the corner outfielder hears the center fielder call for the ball, he should immediately veer off and back-up the center fielder.

It is important that outfielders understand the nuances of this rule. It does not mean he center fielder should take every ball hit to the outfield. Further, it does not mean that if a corner outfielder calls for the ball first that he has a “right” to the ball. It means only this: if the center fielder calls for the ball, the corner outfielders should give way and back-up the play.

On fly balls, or pop-ups, behind an infielder, the outfielder has priority on the catch. This assumes that both the infielder and outfielder can reach the ball. How do they know if they can reach it? Both the infielder and outfielder should run to the fly ball, and not quit, until they hear the other player call for the ball.

Infielders are taught, or they should be, to go after pop-flies until they hear an outfielder call them off. If they don’t hear the outfielder, they continue to run and attempt to catch the ball.

Now outfielders have to be smart on these plays. Just because an outfielder has priority does not mean he must take the ball. There are many instances where the outfielder has to run full stride to make the catch. Meanwhile, the infielder is standing under the ball in perfect position.

Why is this a defensive rule? It’s because the outfielder is running forward and the infielder is running backward, or backpedaling. And remember, it’s easier and faster to run forward for a catch than to run backward.

Another reason is back-spin, and/or side-back-spin of the ball. Pop-ups near the middle of the diamond have back-spin. This makes the ball move farther away from the infield as it descends. That means it is moving toward the outfielder and away from the infielder. Much easier play for the outfielder.

Maybe you’ve seen a catcher try to catch a pop-up in foul ground behind the plate. Once in a while a youthful catcher will start to backpedal as the ball is descending. Did he misjudge it? Did he overrun the ball? Yes and yes. But this happened because back-spin is moving the ball toward fair territory. Experienced catchers know this and approach the catch from the infield side of the ball, not the backstop side.

When a pop-up is hit down either foul line, the ball has side-back-spin. This makes the ball move toward center field as it descends. This is a really tough play for first and third basemen. It’s a little easier for shortstops and second basemen. And it’s very easy for left and right fielders – if they can get to the catch target.

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Base Running is Offensive

April 14th, 2009

Base running in baseball is a lost art. Some players do it well and others not so well. Ever wonder why the difference? It is mainly due to two areas: not knowing the rules of base running, and being too defensive. And these two areas are interrelated.

Base runners are offensive weapons that are not used to their fullest extent. I see major league mistakes on the base paths during every game I watch. A player will not freeze on a line drive with less than two outs, or try to advance from second to third base with a ground ball hit in front of them, or tag up when a fly ball is clearly over the head of an outfielder. These are just a few of the myriad of mistakes made – even at the major league level.

And the worst thing about base running mistakes is they are mental errors. As a player and coach I can tell you that mental errors are the worst mistakes baseball players can make. They sap the momentum from a team. Physical errors are going to happen – it’s just the nature of the game. But mental errors have no such leniency because they are avoidable.

Base running is a balance of risk and reward. Players and base coaches must constantly evaluate each play before and during the play. The game situation is important by knowing the number of outs, the score, and in what inning the game is currently. Base runners must know the defense: who’s fielding the ball, the fielder’s position and arm strength. And the base runner and base coaches must factor in the runner’s attributes of speed, jump quickness, reads, and savvy. It’s a lot to know and evaluate, but all good base runners do it.

When base runners know the rules and situation, they become an offensive force that puts pressure on the defense. This can force defensive miscues, and can turn the tide of games. If base runners merely “check in” to each base, they allow the defense to relax and keep the upper hand of momentum.

We have all seen overly aggressive base runners that “run” their team right out of a big inning. I’m not advocating this type of silly aggressiveness. What is important is knowing the rules of base running, then constantly pushing the defense to make perfect plays every time. By putting this kind of pressure on the defense, it grabs momentum and forces defensive errors. Thanks for reading!

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Outfielder Basics: Charge the Ball!

March 31st, 2009

Recently, a friend of mine who coaches high school baseball told me the one thing that stood out after reading my new book was the concept of charging the ball. He had read my book, How To Play Baseball Outfield: Techniques, Tips, and Drills to Learn the Outfield Positionand said he really liked it. He went on to say that his outfielders had thrown out more base runners than ever before in his 20-plus years of coaching after emphasizing this fundamental.

It’s not surprising that my very experienced friend did not know about this aspect of outfield play. After all, he was an infielder when he played competitively. Also, most coaches are primarily concerned with teaching their outfielders to just catch, or at least stop, the ball. Unfortunately, this angle of coaching is a glass half empty approach. What I mean is it relieves the player from being aggressive in the outfield. The player’s mindset is to let the ball play him, not the other way around.

As my book shows, outfielders have a lot of ground to cover. They have 360 degrees of ground that they must roam to catch a myriad of batted ball possibilities. But when balls are hit directly, or nearly directly, at them, they may be timid and wait for the ball to come to them. This puts the player in a “defensive” frame of mind – and usually results in a missed chance. I say this because if the outfielder lets the ball come to him, most times he will not get a good hop. Most times he gets an in-between hop that is very difficult to glove.

By charging the ball, the outfielder does two very important things for himself and his team. Firstly, he can position himself, and time the catch, much better. Good fielders are taught to catch a ground ball after the ball has reached its apex. Even if the ball is not bouncing very high off the ground, the outfielder can still time the catch while the ball is in the air, and as it comes down from its high point. Secondly (and no less important), the outfielder cuts down the distance the ball travels. By reducing this distance, the outfielder also trims the distance of his ensuing throw. Now if the ball is bobbled or missed, the throw is much shorter to a base or cutoff man.

Base coaches have two indicators they evaluate when deciding to stop a base runner, or wave them through the base. This especially pertains to third base coaches and their decision to send runners home. Base coaches first look for the catch, then distance. If the outfielder catches the ball but has not charged it and is farther away, they will send the runner. But if the outfielder catches the ball and is much closer to the throwing target, the base coach will probably hold the runner. And here’s a bonus: if the outfielder aggressively charges the ball, the base coach may hold the runner anyway! We have all seen plays where the runner is stopped, but the outfielder bobbles the ball. By the time the coach and runner realize this, the outfielder has recovered the ball and has made the throw.

So by outfielders charging the ball, they go on the “offensive”. By being aggressive and charging the ball, the outfielder greatly increases their chance of catching the ground ball (after the apex), and of throwing runners out – and even preventing runners from even trying to advance. In my playing career, I threw out a lot of base runners. But I stopped many more from scoring by closing the distance of my throw by charging the ground ball.

Coaches: teach your outfielders to be aggressive, not timid. Coach them from an offensive standpoint, not a defensive one.

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The Outfielder’s Crow-Hop: Book Excerpt

February 25th, 2009

One of the least understood and incorrectly executed movements is the Crow-Hop. This movement used by outfielders correctly will improve throwing accuracy and strength. So what is a Crow-Hop? Basically, it is a movement the player executes to provide balance and throwing momentum after the catch. The catch can be on ground balls or fly balls – but the player must properly use the Crow-Hop to give him the best chance of making good throws. Balance is the goal and the key to good outfield play.

Below is an excerpt from my new book, How To Play Baseball Outfield and can be reviewed and purchased at my Bookstore. Happy reading!

“The Crow-Hop
This next sequence is done in one fluid motion. After catching the ground ball, the outfielder should push off the front knee and replace the front foot with the back foot.

The best way to do this is to elevate off the ground, lift the back knee first, then the front knee, and put the back foot down approximately where the front foot was. When done correctly, the back-knee/front-knee lifts and back-foot/front-foot exchange happens quickly.

While elevating and replacing, the player should also turn his torso and hips so that his glove shoulder is pointing toward the target. This motion is called the “Crow-Hop”.

The Crow-Hop is a movement that gets the player best positioned to throw the ball. The outfielder is creating balance, aligning shoulders to the target, and loading up his throwing (back) leg for the throw.

Loading the back (throwing-side) leg is a term used to describe the beginning of the throwing motion. Simply put, it means most of the player’s weight is on his back leg. “Most” means more than 50 percent and less than 100 percent. Some instructors like to pinpoint the exact percentage, but my experience with thousands of ballplayers tells me it is a little different for each player. The average weight distribution is about 80-20 back leg to front leg.

Like most sports including baseball, a player must move in one direction to move better to the opposite direction. Both hitters and pitchers do this as well. It’s a mechanism for balance and bodily energy.

Some players exaggerate the crow-hop by lifting their knees very high, almost like a marching band. Other players drag their back leg in to a bad, or “short”, position – and the back leg never gets completely under the body. Neither of these methods is correct.

The proper technique is to lift the knee high enough so the player’s back leg supports the body. This creates balance – and good throws. See Figures 2-4 (a), (b), and (c) for this sequence of movements.
When outfielders get really good at the Crow-Hop technique it looks seamless and smooth.
Here’s a summary of the One Knee Block Technique:
• Drop the throwing knee to the ground, slightly behind the other knee.
• Extend the glove hand, elbow slightly bent, to “look the ball in to the glove”.
• Expose the glove pocket to the ball by bending the wrist back.
• Open the throwing hand and position it two to six inches above the glove.
• After catching the ball cleanly, push off the front knee (the one not on the ground).
• When rising, crow-hop by replacing the front foot with the back foot (replace the glove- side foot with the throwing-side foot).
• The final result is the player’s back leg (throwing-side) is loaded, his shoulders are aligned to the target, and the throwing sequence begins.
• The One Knee Block can be used by any level player, but youth players benefit most by it.”

Caution: Sliding, Cha-Cha, and Gliding
Many players, me included in my youth, try to execute the crow-hop without clearly replacing one foot with the other. They just slide the back foot, leaving it short of replacing the front (glove-side) foot.

First hand experience shows that this results in bad balance and poor throws. Once I learned to lift my knees and position my throwing leg underneath my body, my balance and throws were consistently good. Figure 2-6 illustrates the incorrect Sliding Crow-Hop. You can see that the outfielder has not loaded his back leg, is overstretched and off-balance. This throw is highly likely to be a poor one.

A common situation of the Sliding Crow-Hop happens after his back leg has slid short of full balance. The player’s brain tells him he is off-balance and he tries to correct it by quickly re-positioning his back (throwing-side) leg. His front leg is still in the air while his back leg is pumping up and down.
This makes him look like he is on a pogo stick. He pumps his back leg two or three times to try to get balanced – and all the while his momentum is carrying him forward so that he rarely gets fully balanced.

Another incorrect variation of the crow-hop is what I call the Babe Ruth Cha-Cha. The Babe would move up in the batter’s box to swing at a curve ball before it curved. He did this by moving his back foot behind his front, then striding to hit the ball. A lot of today’s slowpitch softball players do this too. Figure 2-7 shows the Ruth Cha-Cha move.

Again, you see that the player is off-balance. He is also moving parallel to the target, taking his momentum off-target. Arm strain and bad throws surely will result.

Many players use the Cha-Cha move to turn their upper bodies to throw. While the move does align the player’s shoulders to the target, it also reduces balance and momentum.

The Gliding Crow-Hop looks like a mid-air scissor kick, as if a ballet dancer were fielding the ball. The player’s knees do not lift; instead he leaps up, brings both straight legs together, then strides out with his front (glove-side) leg while his throwing leg hits the ground.

To most untrained observers, this looks pretty good. But gliding has very high odds of getting the player off-balance. Most times, the player’s momentum is moving so fast that he does not allow himself to properly load his back leg for the throw.

The Gliding Crow-Hop also never allows the outfielder’s back leg to get fully loaded. He is so off-balance that many times he falls forward to the ground after the throw. Figures 2-8 (a) and (b) show this incorrect sequence of movements.”

I hope this post helps players and coaches know the correct and often-used incorrect ways to use the Crow-Hop in the outfield. You will be amazed at the improvement in your fielding and throwing by properly executing this critical movement.

For the full explanation of all outfield techniques, visit Steven E. Michael Publishing and click on “Bookstore”. Thanks for reading my blog.

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The Stigma and Stench of Steroids

February 11th, 2009

So the U.S. judicial system found 104 names in a spreadsheet at a testing company in Long Beach, California. This was November 2003. Obviously one major leaguer’s name on that list stood out from the rest – Alex Rogriguez. The test results and the list were to have been destroyed. But for six days, the Major League Players Association (MLPA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) could not agree on when the records destruction should take place. Enter the government who legally entered and searched Comprehensive Testing, Inc.’s premises for ten names who were allegedly associated with their BALCO investigation. Instead they find the almost anonymous list of 104.

I say almost anonymous because Rogriguez’s name is now front and center in sports news across the world. Two questions immediately come to mind. If this list was supposed to be confidential, who leaked the one name from the list with the most incendiary consequences? And secondly, what should be done about the other names on the list?

The confidentiality of testing for player’s use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) is an agreement between MLB and the union. There is no aspect of U.S. law that protects that confidentiality directly. Given these facts, who is in the most beneficial position to have the names exposed? The federal prosecutor that’s who. So without a shred of evidence on my part, I hereby name the prosecutor’s office the leaker. There are laws on the books when it comes to government employees leaking confidential information. And whoever leaked the information, in all cases, should be tried. Who else benefits from this illegal act? You guessed it, the media, specifically Sports Illustrated.

Will we ever know who leaked the information? Will that person or persons ever be prosecuted? No. All we have to do is look at the BALCO investigation and prosecution. Barry Bonds et al are either in the process of being permanently harmed, or have already been permanently harmed. But these users of PEDs are not completely innocent either. I believe they get what they deserve. If they must give up gold medals, or lose lucrative sponsorships, or be left out of the Hall of Fame, so be it. They are cheaters and have stained the very sports that have given them so much.

What about the media? Their skirts are clean, right? Wrong. Taking ill-gotten information from illegal government sources and “reporting” that information to the public is all they say they do. Reporters look past the fact the reason they received the information is through illegal means. They write multiple columns that try to explain they are just doing their job.

So what’s the result? The leaker (prosecutor) gets to expand the investigation by leaking one name. They hope to find the sources of these (now) illegal substances and if they must ruin athlete’s lives to do it – they view it as collateral damage. The SI reporter and the magazine get what they want – readership. More readers mean more exposure for the magazine, which means more advertising dollars and more profit. The writer may even net industry awards for “just doing their job”.

But two wrongs do not make a right. The government and Sports Illustrated were doing things in their best interest. The government leak is illegal. The SI stance, they say, is protected by law, specifically freedom of the press. But what about right and wrong? Standing beside the first amendment claiming that sources are confidential is not a protected right of the press and they should be brought to divulging their source – period.

This is all very muddling. Where does it end? Who is responsible? I lay the blame for what has happened and what should happen going forward on two parties. Major League Baseball and the player’s association. The reason the 104 names were to be confidential was because these two entities wanted to only assess the extent of PED use in baseball in 2003. They believed that by moving slowly on policing PED use would serve the best interests of all concerned. What is the best interest of all concerend? – MONEY. Use of PEDs throughout the 1990’s was accelerating at a rapid pace. Home run records were falling and attendence was breaking records every season. Television revenue was being attracted in quantities never even dreamed of in years past. If MLB and MLPA brass did not know about PED use by players, they had their collective heads in the sand.

But they did know, and wanted it to go away by itself. Instead of stopping it immediately through rigorous testing and penalties, they whitewashed it for the money. The difference between knowing of the abuse and not knowing is the difference between a conspiracy and ineptitude. I vote for the insidious choice.

So what should happen now? If MLB and the union want to get baseball out of the mess they have allowed to happen, they should publish all test results and punish the transgressors. Defuse the entire situation and do the right thing. Take the sting out of being complicit in PED use, protect the players who have not cheated, and use the high road to bring baseball out of this well-muscled abyss.

But as we all suspect and fear, they will not do that. Bud Selig and Donald Fehr will not take the public relations hit they richly deserve. They will cite legal reasons and privacy rights without telling us the real reason – they are bowing to the dollar.

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Fielding Ground Balls: Book Excerpt

February 5th, 2009

I have seen and heard too many different coaching methods for fielding ground balls in the outfield. And most of the methods I hear are wrong. Some coaches teach players to field the ball off to one side of the body, and others say get a bigger glove and just snatch everything with one hand. But, hands down, the worst mistake coaches make in teaching young players is neglecting the lower body and its proper movements.

In this post, I give you another excerpt from my new book, How To Play Baseball Outfield: Techniques, Tips, and Drills to Learn the Outfield Postion. Today, we will explore the correct way the player should position his feet, knees, arms, hands, and head. Too much you say? Without all these body parts in the correct position, the player’s chances of consistently fielding ground balls is slim and none – and slim left town. Read on and enjoy.

“Fielding: Non-Urgent Throw
While every throw an outfielder makes should be accurate and strong, not all throws are urgent. Urgent means the throw is used to put out a base runner.

Those throws where the outfielder has more time to field the ball are called Non-Urgent. These are throws back to an infielder or a base and are used to prevent base runners from advancing. The typical example is where a batter gets a base hit and the outfielder returns the ball to second base. This prevents the base runner from advancing beyond first base.

One Knee Block Technique
This is just like it sounds. The outfielder positions himself in front of the oncoming ground ball, drops one knee to the ground, and fields the ball. Sounds simple right? Not so fast, there’s more to it than that!

The outfielder should be ready to field the ball as it gets closer. He should be in an athletic stance:
• feet outside shoulder-width
• knees bent (not too far)
• head up
• torso bent slightly forward

Figure 2-1 shows the outfielder prior to the One Knee Block Technique. Notice that his hands are not on his knees, his head is up and alert, knees are bent, and his torso is slightly bent forward. This position gives the outfielder the best chance at not only fielding the ball cleanly, but also getting good jumps on the ball. More on “Jumps” later in the book.

As the ball approaches and the outfielder is sure he is positioned directly in front of it, he drops one knee to the ground. This reduces the size of the hole between his legs. It also brings his chest lower to help block the ball in case of a bad hop.

The fielder’s glove hand should be extended out in front of his body, but his elbow should not be fully extended. The fielder should bend his wrist back just far enough to expose the glove’s entire pocket to the ball. Too many outfielders keep their wrist straight, which points the glove pocket skyward. Bad wrist position reduces the size of the pocket and contributes to the ball glancing off the heel of the glove.

The other problem is not getting the glove out away from the body far enough. While keeping the glove closer to the body allows the pocket to be easily exposed, it also prevents the player from seeing the glove. A player can’t “look the ball in to the glove” if he can’t see his glove. Figures 2-2 (a) and (b) show the incorrect and correct ways to position the glove.

His throwing hand should be two to six inches above his glove, facing out and open. His throwing hand will help knock the ball down and also help prevent a bad hop from striking him in the face.”

There is much more information in my book on all aspects of playing outfield. If you are interested, visit the Bookstore at www.stevenemichael.com. You can also read about my experience and qualifications for the book. Thanks for reading!

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The Importance of Outfield Basics: Balance

January 30th, 2009

As a player, I always wanted to hit. I wanted to swing the bat until my hands were sore or bleeding – or both. It’s the part of the game that’s most fun. So why do coaches stress and work on defense so much? Because defense wins ballgames.

Below is an excerpt from chapter two of my new book, How To Play Baseball Outfield: Techniques, Tips, and Drill to Learn the Outfield Position. To be a good outfielder, you need balance, and balance comes from the ground up. Read on and enjoy!

“The main focus of outfield play is to cleanly field the ball and efficiently get it back to the infield. It’s not any more complicated than that. But accomplishing it at a high level takes flawless technique and a lot of concentrated effort.

So outfield play includes not only fielding the ball well, it involves throwing the baseball well. And throwing the ball accurately, with something on it, should flow easily after fielding the ball. If the player does not have good fielding technique, their throwing will suffer as well. A good arm does not make up for fielding problems.

From the Ground Up
Footwork by the outfielder is the most important part of fielding. This is because where the feet are is where the body will be. And throwing a baseball accurately and with force takes balance. Balance is only achieved through good footwork.

Footwork is important because it gives the outfielder the best chance to not only field the ball cleanly, but it also sets up the ensuing throw. Good footwork gets the outfielder in the best position to field the ball. And good footwork helps to stop the ball and keep it in front of them. Nothing hurts a ballclub more than a batted ball getting by the outfielder. Except maybe walks, but that’s another book.

Proper positioning of the outfielder’s hands is also important. The reasons are as important as footwork. Positioning of the glove will make the odds much better that the outfielder catches the ball. Further, good glove position greatly increases the chances that the outfielder will throw the baseball quickly and accurately.

From Youth to Big League
We have all seen youth baseball or softball games where the outfielder has a ball hit at them and it gets by them. Some turn their bodies sideways to avoid getting hit. Some do not bend their knees and the ball goes between their legs; this is called “through the wickets” (remember Croquet?).

Being afraid of the ball in youth baseball is common. Most youth players have never been taught the basics of fielding, so they leave it to their own methods, which usually result in errors. But is also results in being afraid. Proper technique will eliminate fear and give the player confidence.

I have also seen major league players with bad fielding technique. Many people assume that these players have learned the proper techniques, they merely choose to not use them on “routine” fielding attempts. Wrong.

Big League outfielders were once youth league players, and probably the best athlete on their teams. Good athletes can “make up” for deficiencies in their technique by having superior reflexes and coordination. So they never learn the correct way to play the outfield. And it comes back to haunt them, and hurt their team.”

Chapter two goes on to cover the basics of fielding ground balls in detail. If you are interested, check out my publishing website where you can order a copy of How To Play Baseball Outfield at www.stevenemichael.com. Thanks for reading.

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NEW! Excerpt from Steve Michael’s new book

January 29th, 2009

I sat down last September and wrote down everything I knew about playing the outfield in my baseball career. After three nights of writing one-line descriptions, I started organizing these thoughts into book chapters. In three weeks, the text of the book was finished. I was writing so fast, my keyboard could not keep up. My new book is the result.

Next, I asked a good coaching friend of mine at a local high school if I could use his field and a couple of his players to pose for pictures for the book. He agreed, and the kids did a great job. There are 118 pictures and diagrams that illustrate the book’s techniques and instruction. I want to share with you a quick excerpt from chapter one:

“Baseball is a great game. It’s great for many reasons, but my favorite is, it’s the only game I know where the defense has the ball. No action can start until the pitcher delivers the pitch.

It’s also the most democratic game I know of. What do I mean? Every player has his turn at bat. The only exceptions allowed are pinch-hitters. Baseball doesn’t allow the coach to dictate who will bat in a crucial situation. Unlike basketball where the Lakers can give the ball to Kobe every time. Or football where player substitutions happen on every play.

Baseball is also a game of failure – or how to deal with it. A good hitter will not get a hit, he will fail, seven out of ten times. A pitcher has to throw pitches to a small strike zone – and a 60 percent success rate is viewed as very good. How players deal with the little failures in baseball is just as important as how they practice the fundamentals.

The game of baseball has a thread of continuity seldom realized by other sports. It’s been played the same way for over one hundred years. So while nothing really new or ground-breaking is in this book, it is nonetheless chock full of proven techniques to make you a better outfielder.

There are many books, camps, DVDs, and other media that teach baseball offense. Pitching, infield play, strategy, and team defense are also popular topics that are available. Very little has been written concerning outfield defense and its fundamentals. I think the reason why is because everyone assumes playing outfield is easy. In fact, many outfielders are ex-infielders who didn’t measure up. Many a poor shortstop has been banished to the outfield. Playing outfield well is anything but easy, and we’ll find out more about it in this book.

The great Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates, in the book Out of Left Field (by Adelman & Hall) said, “…Outfield is the hardest position to play. It takes great concentration. Balls don’t come to you often, but you must tell yourself that every pitch that is thrown is going to be hit to you.””

The same high school coach who allowed me to use his players and field for the book’s pictures, recently told me he read my book. He said in his 20-plus years of coaching, he had not been exposed to some of the details on how to play outfield my book contained. He went on to say that his outfielders have already thrown out more baserunners than all of last season – and this was only the winter part of his program!

If you are interested, check out my publishing website at www.stevenemichael.com, and click on the “Bookstore” link. I’ll post more informative parts of the book in later posts. Thanks for reading.

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