How To Play
Baseball Outfield
Baseball Outfield
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Contents
1 Introduction
Defense
The Outfield
About This Book
Additional Thoughts
2 Basics: Ground Ball Fielding
Fielding Ground Balls
Catching Ground Balls
Fielding Drills
3 Basics: Fielding Fly Balls
Proper Glove Position
Get Behind the Ball
Fly Ball Drills
4 Throwing Basics
Hand and Arm Positions
Shoulder Alignment
Separation
Delivering the Throw
Building Arm Strength
The Cut-Off Man
5 Running In The Outfield
Running Dynamics
Running Drills
Outfield Running
6 Jumps, Reads, and Angles
Getting Good Jumps
Reads
Angles
Drills
7 How To Get To and Play The Wall
Getting To the Wall
The Warning Track
Diving
No-Glove Situations
Team Defense Drills
8 Defense & Communication
Outfielder Back-Up
Field Priorities
Outfield Communication
Defensive Schemes
9 Odds and Ends
Playing the Sun
The Outfield Glove
Optimum Player Per Position
Drop A Fly Ball On Purpose
Wearing the Uniform
Big League Mistakes
Best Catch – Ever
How To Deal With Errors
Wrap-Up
Index
1 Introduction
Defense
The Outfield
About This Book
Additional Thoughts
2 Basics: Ground Ball Fielding
Fielding Ground Balls
Catching Ground Balls
Fielding Drills
3 Basics: Fielding Fly Balls
Proper Glove Position
Get Behind the Ball
Fly Ball Drills
4 Throwing Basics
Hand and Arm Positions
Shoulder Alignment
Separation
Delivering the Throw
Building Arm Strength
The Cut-Off Man
5 Running In The Outfield
Running Dynamics
Running Drills
Outfield Running
6 Jumps, Reads, and Angles
Getting Good Jumps
Reads
Angles
Drills
7 How To Get To and Play The Wall
Getting To the Wall
The Warning Track
Diving
No-Glove Situations
Team Defense Drills
8 Defense & Communication
Outfielder Back-Up
Field Priorities
Outfield Communication
Defensive Schemes
9 Odds and Ends
Playing the Sun
The Outfield Glove
Optimum Player Per Position
Drop A Fly Ball On Purpose
Wearing the Uniform
Big League Mistakes
Best Catch – Ever
How To Deal With Errors
Wrap-Up
Index
| How To Play Baseball Outfield covers every aspect of playing the outfield - many drills and fundamentals not covered anywhere else. The book contains 118 photos and diagrams to illustrate the text and provide visual aids in learning the often overlooked area of defense - the outfield. |
Table of Figures
Figure 2-1 Athletic Ready Position
Figure 2-2 (a) Incorrect Glove Position
Figure 2-2 (b) Correct Glove Position
Figure 2-3 One Knee Block Technique
Figure 2-4 (a) Crow-Hop – 1
Figure 2-4 (b) Crow-Hop – 2
Figure 2-4 (c) Crow-Hop – 3
Figure 2-5 (a) Infielder Technique, Side
Figure 2-5 (b) Infielder Technique, Front
Figure 2-6 Sliding Crow-Hop
Figure 2-7 Babe Ruth Cha-Cha
Figure 2-8 (a) Gliding Crow-Hop
Figure 2-8 (b) Off-Balance from Gliding
Figure 2-9 (a) Ground Ball at Apex
Figure 2-9 (b) Short-Hop Ground Ball
Figure 2-9 (c) In-Between Ground Ball
Figure 2-10 (a) Glove Inside Technique
Figure 2-10 (b) Glove Inside – Short-Hop
Figure 2-11 (a) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 1
Figure 2-11 (b) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 2
Figure 2-11 (c) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 3
Figure 2-11 (d) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 4
Figure 2-12 (a) Glove Side, Above the Waist
Figure 2-12 (b) Glove Side, Below the Waist
Figure 2-12 (c) Backhand, Above the Waist
Figure 2-12 (d) Backhand, Below the Waist
Figure 2-13 Pepper Batter’s Stance
Figure 2-14 Pepper Batter’s Grip
Figure 3-1 Glove Position on Fly Balls
Figure 3-2 (a) Behind the Ball – 1
Figure 3-2 (b) Behind the Ball – 2
Figure 3-2 (c) Behind the Ball – 3
Figure 3-3 (a) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 1
Figure 3-3 (b) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 2
Figure 3-3 (c) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 3
Figure 3-3 (d) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 4
Figure 3-3 (e) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 5
Figure 4-1 (a) Hand Position – Side
Figure 4-1 (b) Hand Position - Top
Figure 4-1 (c) Hand Position – Front
Figure 4-2 Overhand Throw Position
Figure 4-3 (a) Four Seam View
Figure 4-3 (b) Two Seam View
Figure 4-4 Ball to Ceiling Drill
Figure 4-5 Tennis Ball Drill
Figure 4-6 (a) Shoulder Alignment - Front
Figure 4-6 (b) Shoulder Alignment - Rear
Figure 4-7 (a) Throwing Separation – 1
Figure 4-7 (b) Throwing Separation – 2
Figure 4-8 Throwing Arm Position – 1
Figure 4-9 Throwing Arm Position – 2
Figure 4-10 12-6 Spin Arm Position
Figure 4-11 Throwing Follow Through
Figure 4-12 (a) Throwing, Lower Body
Figure 4-12 (b) Throwing, Hips Turn
Figure 4-13 (a) Kneeling Throw Drill
Figure 4-13 (b) Follow Through
Figure 4-14 (a) Arm Across Body
Figure 4-14 (b) Elbow Behind Head
Figure 4-14 (c) Forearm Stretch, Palm Out
Figure 4-14 (d) Forearm Stretch, Palm In
Figure 4-14 (e) Butterfly Stretch
Figure 4-14 (f) Large Arm Circles
Figure 4-14 (g) Small Arm Circles
Figure 4-14 (h) Arm Windmills
Figure 5-1 50-Yard Knee Lift Drill
Figure 5-2 50-Yard Leg Extension
Figure 5-3 (a) Sitting Arm Pump Drill
Figure 5-3 (b) Arm Pump, Rear View
Figure 6-1 360 Degree Coverage
Figure 6-2 (a) Outfielder’s Athletic Ready Position
Figure 6-2 (b) Correct Knee Bend
Figure 6-3 The incorrect Jab Step
Figure 6-4 Cross-Over Step
Figure 6-5 (a) Cross-Over Step, Upper Body
Figure 6-5 (b) Cross-Over Step, Footwork
Figure 6-6 Cross-Over Step 180 Degree Coverage
Figure 6-7 Drop Step
Figure 6-8 Stay Low in Drop Step
Figure 6-9 Incorrect Feet Shift
Figure 6-10 Batter’s Stored Energy
Figure 6-11 Outfielder Deep Angle
Figure 6-12 Incorrect J-Shaped Angle
Figure 6-13 Circling the Ball
Figure 7-1 (a) Look Over the Shoulder
Figure 7-1 (b) Over the Shoulder, Left
Figure 7-2 Incorrect Backpedal
Figure 7-3 Incorrect Side-Stride
Figure 7-4 (a) Incorrect Inside Turn – 1
Figure 7-4 (b) Incorrect Inside Turn – 2
Figure 7-4 (c) Incorrect Inside Turn – 3
Figure 7-5 (a) Turn Away to Travel – 1
Figure 7-5 (b) Turn Away to Travel – 2
Figure 7-5 (c) Turn Away to Travel – 3
Figure 7-6 Side-Spin Diagram
Figure 7-7 (a) Feel for the Fence, Hand
Figure 7-7 (b) Feel for the Fence, Glove
Figure 7-8 (a) Slide Catch, Front
Figure 7-8 (b) Slide Catch, Side View
Figure 7-9 (a) Ball to Fence – 1
Figure 7-9 (b) Ball to Fence – 2
Figure 7-10 (a) Circle Move – 1
Figure 7-10 (b) Circle Move – 2
Figure 7-11 Tweener Drill
Figure 8-1 Outfielder Back-Up Example
Figure 8-2 (a) Center fielder Routine Back-Up
Figure 8-2 (b) Corner OF Back-Ups
Figure 8-3 RF Back-up 2B
Figure 8-4 Back-Up Angle, OF to OF
Figure 8-5 Fence Carom Back-Up
Figure 8-6 RF Back-Up of 1B
Figure 8-7 RF Back-Up on Double Plays
Figure 8-8 RF Back-Up of 1B, Catcher’s Throw
Figure 8-9 LF Back-Up 3B on Bunts
Figure 8-10 LF Back-Up on Double Plays
Figure 8-11 LF Back-Up 3B, Steals and Right-Side Throws
Figure 8-12 CF Back-Up 2B on Double Plays
Figure 9-1 Outfielder Sunglasses
Figure 2-1 Athletic Ready Position
Figure 2-2 (a) Incorrect Glove Position
Figure 2-2 (b) Correct Glove Position
Figure 2-3 One Knee Block Technique
Figure 2-4 (a) Crow-Hop – 1
Figure 2-4 (b) Crow-Hop – 2
Figure 2-4 (c) Crow-Hop – 3
Figure 2-5 (a) Infielder Technique, Side
Figure 2-5 (b) Infielder Technique, Front
Figure 2-6 Sliding Crow-Hop
Figure 2-7 Babe Ruth Cha-Cha
Figure 2-8 (a) Gliding Crow-Hop
Figure 2-8 (b) Off-Balance from Gliding
Figure 2-9 (a) Ground Ball at Apex
Figure 2-9 (b) Short-Hop Ground Ball
Figure 2-9 (c) In-Between Ground Ball
Figure 2-10 (a) Glove Inside Technique
Figure 2-10 (b) Glove Inside – Short-Hop
Figure 2-11 (a) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 1
Figure 2-11 (b) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 2
Figure 2-11 (c) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 3
Figure 2-11 (d) Urgent Throw Crow-Hop – 4
Figure 2-12 (a) Glove Side, Above the Waist
Figure 2-12 (b) Glove Side, Below the Waist
Figure 2-12 (c) Backhand, Above the Waist
Figure 2-12 (d) Backhand, Below the Waist
Figure 2-13 Pepper Batter’s Stance
Figure 2-14 Pepper Batter’s Grip
Figure 3-1 Glove Position on Fly Balls
Figure 3-2 (a) Behind the Ball – 1
Figure 3-2 (b) Behind the Ball – 2
Figure 3-2 (c) Behind the Ball – 3
Figure 3-3 (a) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 1
Figure 3-3 (b) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 2
Figure 3-3 (c) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 3
Figure 3-3 (d) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 4
Figure 3-3 (e) Fly Ball Crow-Hop – 5
Figure 4-1 (a) Hand Position – Side
Figure 4-1 (b) Hand Position - Top
Figure 4-1 (c) Hand Position – Front
Figure 4-2 Overhand Throw Position
Figure 4-3 (a) Four Seam View
Figure 4-3 (b) Two Seam View
Figure 4-4 Ball to Ceiling Drill
Figure 4-5 Tennis Ball Drill
Figure 4-6 (a) Shoulder Alignment - Front
Figure 4-6 (b) Shoulder Alignment - Rear
Figure 4-7 (a) Throwing Separation – 1
Figure 4-7 (b) Throwing Separation – 2
Figure 4-8 Throwing Arm Position – 1
Figure 4-9 Throwing Arm Position – 2
Figure 4-10 12-6 Spin Arm Position
Figure 4-11 Throwing Follow Through
Figure 4-12 (a) Throwing, Lower Body
Figure 4-12 (b) Throwing, Hips Turn
Figure 4-13 (a) Kneeling Throw Drill
Figure 4-13 (b) Follow Through
Figure 4-14 (a) Arm Across Body
Figure 4-14 (b) Elbow Behind Head
Figure 4-14 (c) Forearm Stretch, Palm Out
Figure 4-14 (d) Forearm Stretch, Palm In
Figure 4-14 (e) Butterfly Stretch
Figure 4-14 (f) Large Arm Circles
Figure 4-14 (g) Small Arm Circles
Figure 4-14 (h) Arm Windmills
Figure 5-1 50-Yard Knee Lift Drill
Figure 5-2 50-Yard Leg Extension
Figure 5-3 (a) Sitting Arm Pump Drill
Figure 5-3 (b) Arm Pump, Rear View
Figure 6-1 360 Degree Coverage
Figure 6-2 (a) Outfielder’s Athletic Ready Position
Figure 6-2 (b) Correct Knee Bend
Figure 6-3 The incorrect Jab Step
Figure 6-4 Cross-Over Step
Figure 6-5 (a) Cross-Over Step, Upper Body
Figure 6-5 (b) Cross-Over Step, Footwork
Figure 6-6 Cross-Over Step 180 Degree Coverage
Figure 6-7 Drop Step
Figure 6-8 Stay Low in Drop Step
Figure 6-9 Incorrect Feet Shift
Figure 6-10 Batter’s Stored Energy
Figure 6-11 Outfielder Deep Angle
Figure 6-12 Incorrect J-Shaped Angle
Figure 6-13 Circling the Ball
Figure 7-1 (a) Look Over the Shoulder
Figure 7-1 (b) Over the Shoulder, Left
Figure 7-2 Incorrect Backpedal
Figure 7-3 Incorrect Side-Stride
Figure 7-4 (a) Incorrect Inside Turn – 1
Figure 7-4 (b) Incorrect Inside Turn – 2
Figure 7-4 (c) Incorrect Inside Turn – 3
Figure 7-5 (a) Turn Away to Travel – 1
Figure 7-5 (b) Turn Away to Travel – 2
Figure 7-5 (c) Turn Away to Travel – 3
Figure 7-6 Side-Spin Diagram
Figure 7-7 (a) Feel for the Fence, Hand
Figure 7-7 (b) Feel for the Fence, Glove
Figure 7-8 (a) Slide Catch, Front
Figure 7-8 (b) Slide Catch, Side View
Figure 7-9 (a) Ball to Fence – 1
Figure 7-9 (b) Ball to Fence – 2
Figure 7-10 (a) Circle Move – 1
Figure 7-10 (b) Circle Move – 2
Figure 7-11 Tweener Drill
Figure 8-1 Outfielder Back-Up Example
Figure 8-2 (a) Center fielder Routine Back-Up
Figure 8-2 (b) Corner OF Back-Ups
Figure 8-3 RF Back-up 2B
Figure 8-4 Back-Up Angle, OF to OF
Figure 8-5 Fence Carom Back-Up
Figure 8-6 RF Back-Up of 1B
Figure 8-7 RF Back-Up on Double Plays
Figure 8-8 RF Back-Up of 1B, Catcher’s Throw
Figure 8-9 LF Back-Up 3B on Bunts
Figure 8-10 LF Back-Up on Double Plays
Figure 8-11 LF Back-Up 3B, Steals and Right-Side Throws
Figure 8-12 CF Back-Up 2B on Double Plays
Figure 9-1 Outfielder Sunglasses
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