Category: Outfielders

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