# Positions and Roles · Baseball Level 3: Pre-Intermediate

Baseball · Level 3: Pre-Intermediate · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/level-3/positions-and-roles/)

Starters and relievers, the catcher, the four infield spots, the three outfield spots, and the designated hitter and utility players.

## Test 1: Starters and relievers

- A starter tries to go six innings or more and keep his team in the game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Most major league teams use a five-man rotation. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Rest between starts lets the arm recover. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A long man comes in early when a starter is knocked out. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The set-up man usually pitches the eighth inning ahead of the closer. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some teams start a game with a reliever for an inning, then bring in the bulk pitcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Specialists come in to face one or two tough left-handed batters. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Starters face twenty or more; a specialist may face just one or two. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Starters pitch far more innings than any reliever. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The closer is usually saved for the ninth inning of a close game. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: The catcher's role

- Facing the whole field, the catcher calls pitches and directs the fielders. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The catcher is position 2. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Calling pitches and setting the defence teaches strategy. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Each pitcher's pitches behave differently, so the catcher studies them. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Crouching for hundreds of pitches a game is hard on the body. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The catcher runs down the line behind first in case of an overthrow. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Teams carry a second catcher to rest the starter and in case of injury. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Preparation leads to the plan, the warm-up and then the game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Signs come every pitch; throws to second are rare. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catchers remind fielders of outs, depth and coverage. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: The first baseman

- A tall first baseman with a long reach saves wide throws. (Source: General baseball reference)
- First base asks the least range, so it suits power bats with less speed. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Facing the infield, a lefty's throws to second and home are more natural. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He stays on the bag, ready for a pickoff throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He makes sure the batter-runner touches the bag, and can take a throw behind him. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Most ground-ball outs end with a throw to first. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Shifting the feet lets him stretch the right way for each throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Get to the bag, set up, read, stretch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Shortstop asks the most range; first base the least. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Standing at the bag keeps the runner close for a pickoff. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: The second baseman

- Middle infielders decide coverage by the hitter and pitch, often signalling with a covered mouth. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From second base the throw to first is short. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He often goes out to take the relay from the right fielder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He takes the feed at second and throws to first. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The second baseman covers the right side of the infield, between first and second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Second baseman and shortstop work together round second base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Turning two requires quick footwork with the runner bearing down. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Coverage is decided before the pitch, then executed. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The relay home from right field is his longest throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He lines up to take the throw from the right fielder. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: The shortstop

- Shortstop needs range, hands and a strong arm. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From deep at short the throw across to first is among the longest in the infield. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Shortstops roam into short left field for pop-ups. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A left-handed hitter tends to pull the ball towards second baseman's side, so the shortstop covers. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He covers second while the outfielder fields the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From the middle, the shortstop calls coverages and positioning. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The long throw on the move away from first is the toughest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Cover the bag and hold the runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The deep throw from the hole is the longest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Infielders give way to the shortstop on pop-ups he can reach; outfielders coming in still have priority. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: The third baseman

- Right-handed pull hitters smash balls to third. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Guarding the line prevents doubles in the corner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He crashes in to field bunts on his side. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The throw across the diamond is one of the longest in the infield. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He stays at the bag for the catcher's throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Playing in shortens the distance to a bunt. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Third base is nicknamed the hot corner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Charge, field, throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He moves in for bunts and back for power hitters. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Protecting the line stops a double into the corner. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: The left fielder

- From left field the throw to third base is the shortest outfield throw to it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Right-handed hitters pull the ball to left. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Outfielders move to back up throws in case the ball gets away. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He backs up third in case the throw gets past. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fenway's Green Monster stands in left field. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Opposite-field hits from left-handers often slice towards the left field line. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A strong throw home can cut down the runner trying to score. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Charge, field, crow hop, throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The right fielder's throw to third is the longest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Every infield throw needs someone behind it, and that is the outfielders' job. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: The centre fielder

- Centre fielders run down balls in both gaps. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The centre fielder is the outfield's captain. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From the middle he sees both sides and positions the others. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He moves in behind second in case the catcher's throw gets past. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From centre he can see the catcher's location and get a jump. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A centre fielder plays shallow to catch bloopers when the hitter lacks power. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Range lets a centre fielder take away hits in both gaps. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Read, angle, call, catch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Centre needs the most range; left field often the least. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The centre fielder has priority and takes charge. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: The right fielder

- The long throw from right field to third needs the best arm. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners try to go first to third on balls to right, so his throw usually goes there. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A strong throw from right that gets a runner is a highlight. (Source: General baseball reference)
- He backs up the throw to first. (Source: General baseball reference)
- On a hard single right at a shallow right fielder, a quick throw can beat a slow runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Depending on the park's direction, one corner outfielder faces the sun. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Stopping runners going from first to third is a key right-field job. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Charge, field, crow hop, throw on a low hop. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Backing up happens constantly; outfield assists are rare. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A strong throw from right field can catch a runner going first to third. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: The designated hitter and utility players

- The DH bats in the pitcher's place and does not field. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The universal DH came to the National League in 2022. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Teams use the DH spot for a good bat without a glove. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Super utility players can fill in almost anywhere. (Source: General baseball reference)
- One player who can fill many spots saves roster space. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Ohtani starred as both a starting pitcher and a DH; Ruth pitched and hit before the DH existed. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A two-way player is both a regular pitcher and a regular hitter. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The DH fields no position at all. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The AL adopted the DH in 1973, interleague play began in 1997 and the NL adopted the DH in 2022. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The DH bats but does not take the field. (Source: General baseball reference)

Sources: General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

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