hitting infield practice

What is the purpose of your infield? Are you trying to:
A. Get lots of ground balls to your fielders to test the surface?
B. Run through game speed for the infielders to field and throw?
C. Bond the team before the game?

If A, don't worry about a routine. Put fungo hitters on each side of the plate and alternate hitting lots of ground balls (ie. SS->1B, 3B->2B), etc...

If B and/or C, define a routine that goes through the following progression:
1. Infield in, tag play at the plate.
2. Infield in, play at first.
3. Usual depth, getting one with a catcher throw around the infield.
4. Usual depth, backhand side to lengthen throw to 1B.
5. Get two.
6. Infield in, slow rollers to 1B.
*** Make sure the catcher gets some throws to each base, and if you can, figure out a way for each player in the infield to field a pop up. You could hit a ground ball to the 3B, have him throw a pop up to the 2B (then SS to 1B, 2B to 3B and 1B to SS).

Many, if not the most experiences of good Baseball Coaches, and from those who have been around since the 40's, begin infield practice with the outfield.

What's been happening since the 90's, is the younger guys forget about that part.

I have not seen infield practice at a pro game in a long time. Have you?

cheers,
Bear

Bear is correct on both items.

Don't know why folks don't properly prepare the OFers before a game. A mistake in the outfield can be a two or three base miscue. We always insisted on our OFers playing balls live during BP (if hitting on the field). Otherwise we would incorporate some OF work into our pre-game IF/OF.

Secondly, I don't know that I have seen an IF/OF at a pro game in quite a while. I know that they tend to incorporate a regimented program during BP (atleast for the IF), but for the most part they must figure playing every night is enough for building rhythm.

I have always been under the impression that an 8-10 minute IF/OF program is strictly a team building exercise and has some, but not a lot of impact when it comes to making plays during a game.

IMO

we use the system in Ron Polk's book. we start with the outfielders, alternating throws to 2B and 3B. we move real quick during this - i'm probably hitting a ball every 5 seconds or so. everyone has to be ready and know what to do. after the outfielders throw home and come in, we work the infield. routine balls to 1st, balls to left, right, dribblers, then double plays and then plays to home.
Takes about 10 minutes, but its real efficient. if done right, it lets the other team know that you know what you're doing.
Also, make sure you hit balls that are fairly routine and playable. you want to make your players look good and feel good. don't go hitting tough hops. make 'em feel like a million bucks!!

We love infield/outfield pre-game. There are times it sets the tempo.

One of my biggest complaints with the so called "showcase" tournaments is the lack of infield practice. My thought is they should make the games an inning less and allow infield practice. I think if they ever asked most recruiters they would concure. During the course of a game, you may never see each outfielder make a throw to a base, never see a middle infielder turn two or see a catcher field a bunt.... Games are great to see pitchers throw, hitters get their swings, and base runners run. As for seeing defensive skills,,,NO.

Infield practce serves multiple purposes and you hear many scouts say they're only staying for pre-game...unless they want to see the pitcher.

Pregame IF/OF may be the only time the fielders really and truly get the chance to show off their arm-- who knows what the game will bring in terms of chances

We use a preset system which is quick moving and shows the players to the best of their talents

thank you all, very much

Please consider this, if you intend to hit one position at a time, then you are allowing one or two players to work while 7 + backups are standing. Therefore, you might have as many as 10 players standing. Develop a system where more than one ball is being fielded at a time. Our system is called "Double Infield." One rotation of this has a ball being hit "third to first" while at the same time, a ball is being hit second to SS. At the same time, balls are being hit to all outfielders by our pitching staff. I don't want to give too much away but this is an idea. Also, PLEASE make sure that your catcher is figured in to your infield in more than a shagging capacity. Finally, don't forget that a sharp infield/outfield can intimidate the other team.

One of the main purposes of pre-game in/out is to showcase each players' talents to the college and pro guys in the stands. Although, speaking to you CoachB25, I agree that this is extremely effective for preparing your players for the game, and, if done correctly, it looks good, whenever I go out to recruit, I always make sure I am there for pre-game so that I can see each players different defensive aspects. When there are numerous balls flying around the infield, and, especially numerous coaches hitting fungo, it is not possible to see as much as you would like. It always seems that I'll miss a couple of guys b/c I am watching someone else.

One thing I do suggest, which is what we do where I coach, is have the catchers field bunts rolled by the other catchers, and throw to first while the outfielders are throwing to second. I then have the first baseman throw balls to the catchers, who throw down to second base while the outfielders are throwing to third.
During this time, the scouts can see the catchers' arms.
After the outfield is done going to third, I have a fly ball round where the outfielders throw into home, with the infielders cutting the ball to other bases, based on the catcher's call. This is followed by a "do-or-die" situation where I hit a slow base hit to each outfielder, while this time they throw through the cut-off man to home plate.
These two rounds are where the scouts get to see the outfielders arms.
I follow that up by a fairly standard infield pre-game.

The guys in the stands always get to see each player play numerous balls, and make multiple throws. Sure, not everyone is in on every play, but I feel this style of pre-game is beneficial to everyone.

It's not the only way to do it, but this is the way I like to see it when I'm recruiting, and it gets my team prepared for the game.

I'm interested to hear any suggestions, 'cause I'm always looking to improve.

www.blastbat.com

C_PEN_Bears, thus the rub. I understand what you are saying. However, what is my job? While working with recruiters is a part of it, having my players at their peak performance for that game is my top obligation. I need to make sure my players are ready to play. In my opinion, standing around watching one or two play isn't conducive to doing that. We do our "Double Infield" and it wraps up with a brief time when we do a standard infield basically for the purposes you suggest.

Again, I'm not arguing your perspective. In fact, I understand. I also have my responsibilities to my team. JMHO!

In and Out before a game has a purpose and most coaches don't understand that purpose. It is to show off your players. It is not to get them ready for the game. 6 throws is not going to do that. There is a reason the pros don't take in/out, they are already in the pros. Choose an in/out routine that shows off your players and tell them to do everything like someone important is watching.

I respectfully disagree, LT. I think pre-game infield/outfield does get them ready for a game. Not only physically, but we get their confidence up my letting them field balls and make their throws to the bases. We want our players feeling good about themselves and we want them to feel ready for the game.

Most pro's do a pre-game infield outfield. We just aren't allowed in the parks early enough to see it. It does not impress the opponent, but keeps the players sharp, and you can't get enough of that in this game. Used to be you could get in some parks at 4:30 for a 7:05 start. Now its 5:30 before gates open many places I've been to.
Warm-up can also give the coach a slight indication of how his player's approach is for that particular game.

Alright, first of all, if you're doing it to get the guys ready for the game, then you're not practicing like you should during the week. If you're doing it to build confidence, then by that theory, the kids can lose their confidence if they have a poor in/out. That's no good. And pros taking in/out before the stadium opens...that's just practice, not pregame. I'm definately not trying to argue with yall, I'm just trying to tell you the purpose of in/out.

So you're gonna tell us that because we don't practice for EVERY field situation possible, we are not getting prepared enough during the 'week'? Also, I dont know about your schedule, but once our season hits, we practice maybe 2 times a week typically.

Infield warm up gives the players an opportunity to get a feel for their area on the field. Is it wet, hard, soft, any traction? etc

There are some high school and college coaches who forgo a pre-game "infield" with the purpose of not showing off the arms and defensive abilities of their teams to their opponent. When I coached collegiately, infield was the only time you could get a read on arms, particularly the catcher and outfielders. When you only play an opponent for a single game or even a weekend, it may be to your advantage not to take infield.

When I was recruiting, infield was the one thing I wanted to see - I was often ready to leave after seeing infield. But as a coach, sometimes we didn't take infield for the reasons stated above. I think the carryover effect to game performance is zero.

Just one man's opinion....

Infield does give your players a good "feel" for the field and the conditions. That said, if I have an outstanding catcher sometimes he will stay in the bullpen during infield... If they want to see him throw the ball they can push their chips to the center of the table and gamble that they'll be safe.

I agree with many of you. Pre-game in/out has several purposes....show-off talent, but that is a free scouting report for the other team. It can be extra practice time, or it can be to get a feel for that day's conditions, or one of the dozens of other things listed. I guess that is where the coaching of your individual team comes in.

That brought up another point. I have not seen a correlation between a good in/out routine and a well played game. How about you guys? I have not seen it as a player or a coach or against the teams I have played or coached against. I will say that I was impressed with Carlsbad,NM infield one year...everone on the infield threw @ 90+

well, if my players have strong arms, I'd rather the other team see that, get intimidated, and go conservative from the get go..

if my guys have lousy arms, then yeah, maybe I don't want to "show" them off...

and unfortunately, I agree - not alot of carryover into games, but I do want them to get the feel of the field conditions, etc.