North Providence - Smithfield Babe Ruth League

 Mental Notes From Coach: A Reminder for the good player, blue print for a coach’s practice, or target for the new player

 

First Base: 

·         On an infield hit, get to bag and stand tall and still. Be a great target.

·         Do not stretch to ball until after it has been thrown.

·         Reach for the ball as it arrives, and look for next play or get it around.

·         Hold a runner by positioning yourself on the home plate side of the bag.  Do not straddle the bag.

·         Once a pitch is delivered move quickly to a fielding position.

·         Once a catcher has the ball move quickly back to the bag for a possible pick off.  Receive the pick off from the catcher while facing foul territory.  Don’t get twisted out of being able to catch the ball.

·         No one on base?  Play deep near the grass unless coach brings you in.

·         Field the ball with two hands, on ground balls think of your glove as a dustpan and your hand as a brush.

·         Be sure bag is covered on all plays.

 

 

Second Base:

·         Play deep near the grass unless coach brings you in

·         Lots of time to stop the ball and throw it so job one is to knock the ball down!

·         Then take your time and set your self for a smooth throw to first.

·         With a runner on, move in slowly to the bag and be ready for an early pitcher pick off.  If not offered upon set the pick off will instead be through the short stop so move back to a good fielding position!

·         Always be certain your bag, and First Base, is covered during all live ball periods

·         Field the ball with two hands, on ground balls think of your glove as a dustpan and your hand as a brush.

  

 

Third Base:

·         Play deep near the grass unless coach brings you in EXCEPT

·         With the #9, 1, or 2 hitters play even with the bag, assuming a speedy runner

·         Hot shot?  Knock the ball down.  Still plenty of time to set and throw.

·         Always be certain your bag is covered during live ball periods.

·         Play off the line and Dive Right.  Knock the ball down.

·         Field the ball with two hands, on ground balls think of your glove as a dustpan and your hand as a brush.

·         Be sure bag is covered

 

 

Shortstop:

·         Play deep near the grass unless coach brings you in

·         Be sure 2^nd and 3^rd bags are covered.

·         Know the pitcher’s sign for a pick-off at 2nd

·         You own the infield, call for the ball or yell who is to get it

·         You own being sure the outfield is set and the pitcher does not set until they are

·         You own positioning the outfield.  Understand your pitcher: fastball pitcher with poor batters mean shifting all fielders accordingly

 

 

Pitcher

·         Putting a ball in play is almost always better than a walk

·         Do whatever it takes to get a strike in the first two pitches

·         Follow your catcher’s lead and throw at his glove

·         Pitcher counts like 1 and 2 or 0 and 2 generally call for a high pitch out of the strike zone but not above the batter’s head

·         Batter counts like 3 and 1 or full call for a strike unless you are working around a good hitter.

·         Know which base to back up on all plays and GET THERE!

·         Cover home plate on all pass balls with runners at 2^nd or 3^rd

·         Cover 1^st base on all 1^st base side infield hits or back up base ahead of lead runner on outfield hits.

 

 

Catcher

·         Master of the Universe:  Act that way!

·         Understand where your pitcher is and how he changes during the game, call for pitches accordingly

·         Make sure the fielders are all ready before setting for the pitch

·         Control the flow of the game; speed up pitches or go out and talk to the pitcher to slow it down

·         Back up plays at first if no one on, or double play ball with no one at 2^nd or 3^rd.

·         Watch for pick off opportunities at all 4 bases and have signals with the fielders.

·         Get a strike on one of the first two pitches.

·         Never walk a batter unless called for by the situation.

·         Respect the Ump, partner with him, eye contact, Yes Sir,

·         Always be ‘Gear Ready’ when in the dugout

·         Call out the play for the infield:  Get One, Four, etc.

 

 

Outfield

·         Involved in EVERY pitch

·         Back up potential pick off situations

·         Ball in air in front of you throw to get lead runner

·         Ball in air going back throw to keep lag runner off 2^nd

·         Ball on ground within 5 feet of you throw to get lead runner

·         Ball on ground more than 5 feet away throw to keep lag runner off 2^nd

·         Shift to adjust to pitcher speed and batter quality.

·         Move in on hitter #8, back on middle order 3 to 7, medium on #9, 1, and 2