What to do before the pitch:

Some items are missing. Fill in!

Read the hitter's set up.

Is he nostride,

is he tall or bent at the waist ,

is his bat slot looking like he wants to oppo.

His foot alignment.

Is he hiding his hands at toe touch on takes.

3 hole vs 7 hole.

Can he run

does he look like a hitter

is he agressive

would the coach put a play on here and with this guy

CoachB25:

This is what we do

Before the pitch is delivered:

1. Communicate with other fielders
2. Watch your coach signal pitch and pitch location to your catcher
3. If possible, also watch their third base coach give signs to their batter/runners
4. Position (set up) according to the situation (example: with 2 strikes on a right handed hitter, the third baseman moves back to the edge of the “outfield” grass and the right fielder shades in 5 steps)
5. Discretely shade batter based on pitch and the pitch location that’s called for (example, inside fast ball to right handed hitter, step to your right to pick up an imaginary pebble, step again, toss it and stay).
6. Note the batters speed
7. (1-6 are more important than what that hitter did his last time up)


As the pitch is being delivered:

1. Take one step in and down
2. Read the pitch location and react

Oh yeah, one other thing. Ignore all of the above if you ever face a hitter that no strides, moves his middle, loads either scap, hides his hands, slots his back elbow, exhibits instantaneous linear velocity, matches the swing plane to the pitch, performs a circular hand path or knows about top hand torque. Just forfeit the game or at the very least wear two cups in the field. The hitter will dominate your pitcher and the team probably has not lost a game in 10 years.

THop

Hey CoachB25. Great stuff and as we all learn from each other, I'll fill in some of what I need here. #3. After mid-infeilders decide who take the catchers throw, they signal the catcher, closed fist or something like that. The pitcher turns to them and signals who will take the throw on ground balls, usually the ss as he will be coming to the back on anything back to the box and he has a better throwing angle than 2b. #4 we have bunt defense calls and the infielders know them and repeat them if necessary, they can be flexible if the situation calls for, but they cannot change them. #5 calls for a pre-pitch stance or move. So important, we never stop moving our feet in the infield, they start glove hand foot and continue in small steps forward until contact. Momentum will allow them to change direction, come forward and so on. This is one of the elast taught aspects of the game and it can make a great difference in a fielders ability. Not even all pro's use it, some were never taught it and are good enough the way they are. It will enhance your infielders ability to move. I hope this only added to your look or opinion, as I have read your many threads and I do respect you coaching style. Lets share other game situations in the future.
Swingbuster, I have read your many technical opinions on hitting, some I consider very informative. However, a coach or mayber even a good catcher could notice some of the things you mention. As a coach, I will adjust my fielders if I notice some of the things you mentioned. I have had discussions with many players over the years about reading hitters, they have all, I mean all said that they have too many other duties or that they are concentrating on their responsibilities to notice much of that. It happens too fast for many a high school kid. I am sure there are exceptional players that will read hitters, but for now, we'll leave that up to the coaches. We have to play to the situation above all else and then adjust to the play as it unfolds.

Coachric

Yet, a dad, helping a 6 year old swing properly, instead of "having fun" is labeled "overcoaching" by most of you.

We're talking high school competition here Linear. These are the fine points of the game that many college coaches would like to see. I have been told by many college coaches that kids are comng into their programs today with less and less of baseball fundamentals, which these are. For many that have coached at high school or college levels, this is just shop talk. I don't wish to challenge your vocabulary as you seem very articulate, but I have had my share of success in coaching. This discussion was put forth by a reputable high school coach and it is not meant for 6 year olds or 12 year olds.

Coachric

Before #1

We always say that you should look into the dugout to see if we want a shift on or some particular defensive scheme.

Coachric, save your breath on Linear. He's done nothing, coached nothing and accomplished nothing. He's of the cyber world where he can act like he knows what he is doing but he never has to put a team on the field. To this point, he knows more football than football coaches. He knows more basketball than basketball coaches. Nuff said on the baseball. A legend in cyber world! Of course, he can show us the video of his achievements if he has any!

Linear (teacherman):

Like you and Mark H, I like to compare what I teach to what the best MLB players do day in and day out.

And since I have coached high school players for over 20 seasons (700+ games) and since this web site is called the High School Baseball Web, and since this is the Coaches Tips forum “information exchange between coaches”, I enjoy sharing the little things that add up to make a big difference to high school players on the 60/90 diamond. I also enjoy helping my fellow man.

If you want to teach 6 year olds your way of swinging a bat and throwing a baseball that’s fine. Just don’t dog everyone else who sees little value in learning a new language for old things and chooses not to neglect the fundamental hitting, base running, pitching and defensive skills that the best high school, college and professional players do perform instinctively.

THop

Tim,

maybe I over did it a bit,,,,,,,, since all our guys do is pat their glove an dsay hey battter batter

Ok, I'll add another. Knowing the count, the order in the lineup, the score and the pitcher. BEFORE #1, take an educated guess on the type of pitch that either the coach or catcher will call and adjust one step in that direction before you know that you have to adjust. EXAMPLE - We have certain rules for each infielder. A secondbaseman is NEVER going to get beat up the middle on a changeup. Therfore, he moves one step to second on a changeup count say 2-0 and then tells the 1st baseman the pitch when it is called. The SS relays a code to the 3rd baseman. Of course, this can all be eradicated if the possibility of the bunt is there.

Also good stuff CoachB25. Of course you know that middle infielders can use signals to inform the others what type pitch is comng. This is if you can get them to remember that one along with everything else. I had a SS play for me a couple years ago, now in college doing well, and he came back and told me that he had finally learned his pitch signals. He used to cry to me all the time that he was paying attention to lots of other thngs and that he couldn't always read the catchers sign. For him I thinks its maturity. An open mouth for fastball, a closed mouth for curve or soft stuff can allow the players to take that cheat step. The glove should also be over the mouth as not to give away what we're doing. You will see this in college and further up the ladder. You obviously have a well schooled team and I wish you luck in the new year and upcoming season.

Coachric

Great Post B52
Defensive preperation is vital to success. I might add to the list(s), 1st baseman reminding pitcher to cover first on ball hit to his left.
One of my favorite lines is to communicate before, during, and after every pitch.

quote:

Originally posted by Flintoide:
Great Post B52
Defensive preperation is vital to success. I might add to the list(s), 1st baseman reminding pitcher to cover first on ball hit to his left.
One of my favorite lines is to communicate before, during, and after every pitch.

I also used to pray alot - before each pitch.

A lot of good advice on this one. I agree about the pitcher covering and wanted to share a humorous story.

This topic came up during a “100 inning game” (college team's fundraiser) a few years ago. I was talking to a couple of college coaches who were watching the game when the pitcher happened to get a very late break and almost fall down before he stopped half way to first.

The pitcher happened to have played for one of the coaches I was talking to, the previous year. The D-1 coach said “geez, don’t you guys teach your pitchers how to make that play down at so and so junior college”. The JUCO coach never hesitated and said “there’s no time. Our guys are too busy delivering the pitch and backing up third”.

THop

Thats a great one by the college coach Thop. We did and do train our pitchers defensively everyday right after warmup tosses. We start with 3-p, 3 pitchers, one receives gb and throws to 3rd, middle to 2nd and other to 1st. Then they rotate. Then we do get-overs, followed by picks. Full defensive practice follows. Practice it, make it routine and watch the execution.

Coachric

CoachB - if I read all this stuff that you do, will we finally have a chance to beat you guys??????????

Cardsfan14, you already beat us. Besides, maybe this is mirrors. Maybe I'm posting this hoping you are reading this so that I can do something else because you were thinking that we were thinking but we knew you were thinking and so, we didn't think it.

The key for every hitter---RELAX !!!!

CoachB, I can't think that far ahead. I am looking forward to the season, even though I have enjoyed the basketball season so much and I hope it continues for a while yet. I's say our battles will be good ones again this year. We have a former coach who had over 500 victories helping us out this year. I am looking forward to him being there. My son is also, as he is son's godfather.