Fielding Your Position - By Chris Rojas
PBD
If you have a glove on your hand when you're on the diamond, than you
should be ready to field the ball. With that being said once a pitcher
delivers a pitch he should be ready to "field his position". Your job
as a pitcher isn't limited to just throwing a baseball. A pitcher who
can field his position is an asset to any and every team.
Here are some helpful tips:
-Square yourself up once you deliver the ball
-this is so that you're ready for a ball hit back at you
-keep in mind that this is also for your own protection (proper finish
should be worked out in your mechanics)
-Step and throw once you do field the ball
-when a ball is hit back to the pitcher he generally has enough time to
set his feet
before he throws the ball
-this will minimize errant throws
-Know the situation and what you're are going to do before you make a
pitch
-too many times a game is lost because of someone not knowing the
situation or what to do in the situation
-this is especially prevalent in covering bases and throwing to the
proper base when there are runners on
-know your teams bunt defenses and your coverage as a pitcher in each
play
-including 1st and 3rd situations
-Work on PFP's (Pitchers Fielding Practice) during practice time
-PFP's is the practice of various routine plays by a pitcher during
the course of a game
-here are just a couple of examples as to what PFP's are
-comebackers: remember to be in a position to field the ball once you
deliver the pitch
-covering 1st: on a ball hit to the right side of the infield a pitcher
should always be prepared to cover 1st base. must also know the proper
route to take when covering 1st base as to stay out of the runners way.
Remember the key to knowing your responsibilities defensively is
through practice. These situations and scenarios should be gone over
before game time.