Baseball Defensive Strategies

Front 1

Situation: Single to left: bases empty

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 1

Check that the batter touches first base and then back up the incoming throw to second base

Front 2

Situation: Single to left: bases empty

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 2

Cover second base

Front 3

Situation: Single to left: bases empty

What does the shortstop do?

Back 3

Pursue the ball; then line up between the left fielder and second base to take the cut-off throw

Front 4

Situation: Single to left: bases empty

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 4

Cover third base

Front 5

Situation: Single to left: bases empty

What does the left fielder do?

Back 5

Field the ball and throw it to the cut-off man (the shortstop). If the shortstop is out of position, throw to second base

Front 6

Situation: Single to center: bases empty

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 6

Make sure the batter touches first base, and then cover the base inside.

Front 7

Situation: Single to center: bases empty

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 7

Go to second base to take the throw

Front 8

Situation: Single to center: bases empty

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 8

Cover third base

Front 9

Situation: Single to center: bases empty

What does the shortstop do?

Back 9

Go out to be the cut-off man for second base

Front 10

Situation: Single to center: bases empty

What does the center fielder do?

Back 10

Field the ball and throw it to the cut-off man (the shortstop). If the shortstop is out of position, throw to second base

Front 11

Situation: Single to left: bases empty

What does the right fielder do?

Back 11

Move toward the infield to cover a poor throw from the left fielder to the second baseman

Front 12

Situation: Single to left: bases empty

What does the pitcher do?

Back 12

Stay near the mound and back up any throw to second base

Front 13

Situation: Single to right: bases empty

What does the pitcher do?

Back 13

Follow the flight of the ball and then decide where to back up (usually second base)

Front 14

Situation: Single to right: bases empty

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 14

Check that the batter touches first base and then cover the base inside

Front 15

Situation: Single to right: bases empty

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 15

Pursue the ball; then take the cut-off position between the right fielder and second base

Front 16

Situation: Single to right: bases empty

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 16

Cover third base

Front 17

Situation: Single to right: bases empty

What does the short stop do?

Back 17

Cover second base

Front 18

Situation: Single to right: bases empty

What does the right fielder do?

Back 18

Field the hit and make the cut-off to the second baseman. If the second baseman is out of position, throw it to second base

Front 19

Situation: Single to right: bases empty

What does the Left fielder do?

Back 19

Move toward the infield in case the right fielder makes a bad throw to second base

Front 20

Situation: Single to left: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the pitcher do?

Back 20

Follow the flight of the ball and then decide where to back up (usually third base)

Front 21

Situation: Single to left: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 21

Check that the batter touches first base and then cover the base inside

Front 22

Situation: Single to left: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 22

Cover second base

Front 23

Situation: Single to left: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 23

Back up the shortstop (but also cover third)

Front 24

Situation: Single to left: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the shortstop do?

Back 24

Line up between the left fielder and third base for the cut-off throw

Front 25

Situation: Single to left: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the left fielder do?

Back 25

Field the ball and throw it to the cut-off man (the shortstop). If the shortstop is out of position, throw it to third base

Front 26

Situation: Single to left: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the right fielder do?

Back 26

Move toward the infield to field any bad throws

Front 27

Situation: Single to center: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the pitcher do?

Back 27

Back up the throw to third

Front 28

Situation: Single to center: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 28

Make sure the batter touches first base, and then cover the base inside.

Front 29

Situation: Single to center: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 29

Cover second

Front 30

Situation: Single to center: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 30

Cover third base

Front 31

Situation: Single to center: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the shortstop do?

Back 31

Line up for the cut-off throw between the center fielder and third base

Front 32

Situation: Single to right: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the pitcher do?

Back 32

Back up third base

Front 33

Situation: Single to right: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 33

Line up for the cut-off throw between the right fielder and second base

Front 34

Situation: Single to right: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 34

Cover third base

Front 35

Situation: Single to right: runner on first, or
runners on first & third

What does the shortstop do?

Back 35

Cover second

Front 36

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runner on first

What does the catcher do?

Back 36

Tell the infielders where to throw the ball (which base)

Front 37

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runner on first

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 37

After holding the runner on first base, charge and cover the right side of the infield. If you field
the ball, listen for catcher's instructions, and then throw to the appropriate base

Front 38

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runner on first

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 38

Cover first base

Front 39

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runner on first

What does the shortstop do?

Back 39

Cover second base

Front 40

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runner on first

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 40

Charge toward home plate and cover the left side of the infield. (Be prepared to retreat quickly to third base to prevent the runner from advancing there.) If you field the ball, listen for catcher's instructions, and then throw to the appropriate base

Front 41

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and second, the infield goes for the out at first

What does the pitcher do?

Back 41

Cover the third base line. If you field the ball, listen to the catcher's instructions, and then throw to the appropriate base

Front 42

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and second, the infield goes for the out at first

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 42

Cover the right side of the infield. If you field the ball, listen for catcher's instructions, and then
throw to the appropriate base

Front 43

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and second, the infield goes for the out at first

What does the catcher do?

Back 43

Tell the infielders where to throw the ball (which base)

Front 44

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and second, the infield goes for the out at first

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 44

Charge toward home plate and cover the left side of the infield. If you field the ball, listen for
the catcher's instructions, and then throw to the appropriate base

Front 45

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and second, the infield goes for the out at first

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 45

Cover first base

Front 46

Situation: Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and second, the infield goes for the out at first

What does the shortstop do?

Back 46

Cover second base

Front 47

Situation: Pop fly to shallow right field

What does the pitcher do?

Back 47

Call for a fielder if the ball is in the infield; if not, cover first

Front 48

Situation: Pop fly to shallow right field

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 48

Call for a catch if you feel you can make the play; however, you must back off if the right fielder or the second baseman calls for the ball

Front 49

Situation: Pop fly to shallow right field

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 49

Call for a catch, but back off if the right fielder calls you off

Front 50

Situation: Pop fly to shallow right field

What does the shortstop do?

Back 50

Cover second base

Front 51

Situation: Pop fly to shallow right field

What does the right fielder do?

Back 51

Call for the catch if you feel you can make the play. All fielders must yield to you!

Front 52

Situation: Pop fly to shallow left field

What does the left fielder do?

Back 52

Call for the ball if you think you can make the play. All other fielders must yield to you!

Front 53

Situation: Pop fly to shallow left field

What does the pitcher do?

Back 53

Call a fielder if the ball is close to the infield; if not, cover third base

Front 54

Situation: Pop fly to shallow left field

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 54

Cover second base

Front 55

Situation: Pop fly to shallow left field

What does the shortstop do?

Back 55

Call for the catch if you think you can make the play. Give way if the left fielder calls for it

Front 56

Situation: Pop fly to shallow left field

What does the 3rd baseman do?

Back 56

Call for a catch if you think you can make the play. However, you must back off if the shortstop or left fielder calls you off

Front 57

Situation: Pop fly to shallow center field

What does the pitcher do?

Back 57

Direct the infielders. If the shortstop and second baseman both go for the ball, cover second base if the first baseman is unable to do so

Front 58

Situation: Pop fly to shallow center field

What does the 1st baseman do?

Back 58

Cover first base unless the shortstop and second baseman both go for the ball. Then you must cover second

Front 59

Situation: Pop fly to shallow center field

What does the 2nd baseman do?

Back 59

Call for the ball if you think you can make the play. Back off if either the center fielder calls for it or if the shortstop calls for it before you do. Either you or the shortstop must retreat to cover second base

Front 60

Situation: Pop fly to shallow center field

What does the shortstop do?

Back 60

Call for the ball if you think you can make the play. Give way if the center fielder calls for it or if the second baseman calls for it before you do. Either you or the second baseman must retreat to cover second base

Front 61

Situation: Pop fly to shallow center field

What does the center fielder do?

Back 61

Call for the ball if you think you can make the play. All other fielders must yield to you!