Baseball Drills (continued)
Drills to develop a pitcher’s accuracy can involve setting up a target, or perhaps a box, within which the pitcher is to deliver the pitch. An example is a drill used by New York Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson during Spring Training, involving a string positioned across the plate at a certain height. The pitcher is required to deliver every throw below the string in order to develop a feel for keeping the ball down in the strike zone.
Particular aspect of pitcher fielding which is often drilled involve the fielding of bunts and the fielding of balls hit to first base which require the pitcher to register the putout at first base. In the former case, drills teach pitchers how to quickly field the bunted ball and throw to first, while in the latter, the focus is on getting to first base as quickly as possible to ensure that the pitcher arrives before the batter running down the first base line.
Baserunning drills teach the proper response of a baserunner to a variety of situations that may come up, including balls hit on the ground, balls hit in the air, and line drives. A certain drill may teach proper advancement by way of sacrifice fly – that is, advancing on a ball hit to the deep outfield. This play requires the runner to tag the base he is departing, and not advance to the next base until the ball has been caught. Baserunning drills may focus on “quickness,” or a fast response time, and successful advancement without making outs on the bases.
Infield practice in general may involve fielding ground balls delivered by coaches. Areas of focus may include getting in front of the ball, keeping the glove down until the ball has been fielded, and proper throwing technique. Outfield practice is often called “shagging flies.” Areas of concern include recognizing the ball coming off the bat, properly identifying where it is headed, getting a good first reaction, and getting to the ball quickly. More specific drills may teach throwing technique, and drill the fielder on what base to throw to in what situation.
The catcher position is distinct in character from any other position on the field, and as such, requires a unique set of drills. Two particular areas of interest for catchers include throwing, and blocking balls in the dirt. Good catching defense involves throwing out runners attempting to steal at a high rate, and preventing balls from getting past him. The catcher’s throwing motion is very short, since the catcher is generally required to get a throw off very quickly when he is required to throw. Throwing drills for catchers instruct in releasing the ball quickly, and in throwing accurately. Proper technique for handling a ball which cannot be caught in the glove involves attempting to get the body in front of the ball so as to let the area of the body block the ball. A properly blocked ball can simply be picked up by the catcher, preventing advancement by any runners.
This is only a brief introduction to the types of baseball drills that exist. As you can see, baseball is a sport of many specialized skills which require practice to keep up. While the life of a ballplayer may seem idyllic, the truth is that the best players have achieved their level of proficiency through hours and hours of practice. One must respect the dedication of one who puts in so much effort to stay on top of his game.
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