Month: February 2018

MLB Network Outfield Assist Breakdown

Darryl Hamilton takes 3 minutes saying this:

If you catch the ball on the ‘throwing arm’ side of your body, your feet, hips, and shoulders are ALREADY lined up to make a strong, accurate throw. Catching the ball on your glove side will cost you precious time to get rid of the ball

What he never mentions: Beltran is moving toward his target when he catches the ball. On the other hand, Crawford is moving sideways, which promotes a weak, off-target throw.

Still a good vid to compare the differences between a fundamentally sound throw and a poor effort

Infield Relay Demo

Harold Reynolds and Bill Ripken discuss proper footwork for a relay throw. Some extra notes:

  • In the first clip, both OF and INF 1-hop the ball. Both deliver perfect tall hops. In a lot of cases this is just as good as a direct throw. And if its a choice of 1-hopping or overthrowing the cutoff man, you MUST 1-hop
  • Outfielders do a good job of taking good lines to the ball, and picking it up with their feet in line toward their target
  • Byron Buxton is a filthy athlete. There is no way he should’ve gotten a glove on the first ball

Sick 7-6-2 Relay

Great play by Davis off the wall: direct route to the ball, ball spits right out to him. Fields with feet in line with his throw

Simian makes an incredible relay: hips shoulders and feet point toward target, catches ball shoulder high, hands together

If you don’t have the arm strength to put in on the glove directly, throw a 1-hopper. Its quicker than a rainbow.

Great 8-4-2 Relay

Great 8-4-2 Relay

  • Fowler, as soon as he realizes its over his head, plays the carom perfectly, moves his feet before catching the ball
  • 2B catches, shoulder-high, with feet moving toward home
  • Unbelievable focus by Molina to catch the ball with a guy bearing down

 

Perfect Rundown Execution (great look at how 1st/3rd play looks)

Awesome work by the defense.

  • Great move by pitcher after hold.
  • 1b runs with the ball in his throwing hand held up (no pumping)
  • SS runs at the runner and catches the ball at full speed (runner has no chance at this point)
  • SS tags, pops up, and immediately drives runner back to 3b.

Note: 3b runner does a terrific job of shuffling off the base to generate momentum

Note: Simmons (Rundown runner) needs to get the defense to chase him AWAY from home plate to make the tag. Give Calhoon a chance to score.

If Simmons could draw Lindor away from the diamond, the Angels get a run out of this

Good 1st/3rd Execution…Better Rundown Defense

Pretty good execution on both sides.

Runner steals, then stops short, stays in the rundown as long as he can

SS thwarts the play by keeping his eyes on 3b runner while he chases down the guy in front of him

1st and 3rd plays are risky with 2 outs cause the runner has to score before his teammate gets tagged.

This would’ve been a run for KC if run with less than 2 outs.

Awful Run Down Execution – Good Baserunning

This is awful rundown execution. Hamilton hasn’t committed to second. Peoria should be sprinting at the runner when he receives the ball.

Instead, Hamilton dekes, 1b gets rid of the ball, and Pedroia chucks it into the stands.

Nice work by Hamilton, who keeps his eye on second so he’s not surprised. Pretends to commit to second which draws a throw.

If you’re stuck in a rundown, force as many throws as you can. The more you force, the better chance the defense makes an error

 

Rundown Execution

This is how you catch a player caught between the bases.

  1. Baez doesn’t throw to a base, runner would be safe at the other bag. Instead, he runs at the stranded runner until/unless he commits. Run with the ball in your throwing hand
  2. Once 1b gets runner moving toward Second, He gets rid of the ball
  3. 2b Is running full speed at the runner  when he catches the ball. No way the runner gets out of this one.