Infield and Outfield Play

Infields play in, at double-play or halfway depth, or back.

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Back gives the most range to turn grounders into outs.

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Closer to the plate, infielders have less time to reach hard grounders.

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Halfway lets them throw home on a slow ball but still reach harder ones.

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Charging bunts requires a head start.

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The corner infielders move in, often for a bunt, while the middle stays back.

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Coaches move fielders with hand signals based on the situation.

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In, halfway, then back at normal depth.

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The winning run on third calls for the infield in.

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With the winning run on third, the infield comes in.

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Power hitters hit the ball farther.

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Weak hitters often loop balls just over the infield.

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Late with a lead, teams give up singles but stop extra-base hits.

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Keeping the tying run off second base matters most late.

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A shallow outfield has a shorter throw to cut down the runner.

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Playing in invites balls hit over the outfielders.

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Spray charts show where hitters usually hit.

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Shallow to throw home, normal, deep to stop extra-base hits.

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Giving up a single is fine if the tying run cannot reach scoring position.

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Guarding the lines and playing deep prevents doubles.

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The first baseman lines up between the outfielder and home.

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From left field, the third baseman lines up for the cut.

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The catcher shouts directions so the cut-off man is on line.

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From there he can cut the throw or let it go through.

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'Cut two' sends the cut-off throw to second for the trailing runner.

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The catcher wants the throw itself.

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Cutting the throw can keep the batter-runner at first.

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The catcher decides whether the throw goes through.

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Outfielder, cut-off, catcher.

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On throws home from right, the first baseman is usually the cut-off.

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Home is the costliest base for a throw to get by, so the pitcher stands well behind it.

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The pitcher reads where the throw is going and backs up that base.

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The centre fielder is straight behind second.

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Until the throw is made he cannot know which base needs him, so he waits in between.

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The left fielder moves in behind third base.

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Players who back up turn errors into minor mistakes.

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Too close and the ball gets past both fielders.

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Read, move, back up the base the throw goes to.

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Grounders to first come most often in a game.

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The pitcher backs up home on throws from the outfield.

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The second baseman goes out as cut-off, so the shortstop covers second.

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When the shortstop heads into left as the relay, his partner at second keeps the bag.

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The shortstop rotates over to cover third.

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The pitcher sprints in to cover the plate.

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A covered mouth with a closed or open signal says who covers.

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The pitcher breaks to first on balls hit to his left.

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An uncovered base is an open door for runners.

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Charging fielders leave bases that others must cover.

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The first baseman covers most; others cover when he is drawn away.

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Someone must keep the bag while his partner is out in short right field.

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Spray charts show a hitter's tendencies.

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Small moves put fielders where balls are likely to go.

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Fielders shade towards where a hitter tends to hit.

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MLB limited the shift: two infielders each side of second, all on the infield dirt.

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The shift had taken away many ground-ball singles.

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Ahead in the count, hitters swing harder and pull; behind, they go the other way more.

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Knowing an off-speed pitch is coming, they expect more pulled balls.

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The chart guides each fielder's move.

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Ahead in the count hitters pull more; with two strikes they shorten up.

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A map of batted balls is a spray chart.

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Infielders coming over usually take pop-ups from catchers.

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Pitchers point and let an infielder take it.

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A loud call claims the ball.

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He gives way and moves behind in case it drops.

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Outfielders coming in have priority over infielders going out.

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Wind can push a pop-up several feet as it falls.

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Pointing helps others find the ball in the sky.

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Centre fielder first, then corner outfielders, then infielders; the pitcher gives way to all.

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The outfielder coming in takes it.

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Knowing the outs decides the play before the ball is hit.

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Players signal the outs to each other.

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Infield chatter makes sure everyone knows the plan.

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He tells fielders who charges and who covers.

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It warns a team-mate that a throw would be useless or risky.

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An early call leaves time for others to peel off.

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Crowd noise makes hand signals and loud calls important.

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Outs, coverage, bunt plan, then ready.

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Fly-ball calls first; 'cut' and 'let it go' are relay calls.

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Fielders show the number of outs with their fingers.

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The second baseman covers first, so the shortstop covers second.

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Landing towards the plate puts him near short bunts.

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With the whole play in front of him, he directs the throw.

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Throwing across the diamond from the line is long and the runner is in the lane.

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The batter gives himself up; take the out he offers.

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A hard bunt to a charging fielder can beat the runner to second.

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The bench or the catcher signals which bunt play is on.

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The catcher's call sends the throw to first.

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Two outs is best; nobody out is worst.

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The catcher directs the throw on bunts.

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A ground ball could end the inning with two outs.

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Any ground ball to first ends the inning.

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Any grounder can be thrown home for a force.

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With two outs, a steal matters less than covering the hole.

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Moving behind the runner makes him think about a pickoff.

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With the winning run on third, teams sometimes bring an outfielder in.

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Only two outfielders cover the whole outfield.

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Back for the out at first, double-play depth, then in for the force at home.

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With the winning run on third, the five-man infield tries to cut it off.

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Bringing an outfielder in gives five infielders.

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