Rule of thumb for 3B

[Sonny]

My son plays 3b on our local middle school team. In a recent game, he attempted to field a ball thrown from our first baseman as a runner was advancing from second base. He positioned himself on the back corner of 3B (closest to the outfield) and the runner crossed in front of the ball obstructing him from fielding the throw. The ball deflected off of the runner and down the left field line far enough for the runner to advance home. As a rule of thumb, shouldn't he have been on the inside corner of 3b (closest to the pitcher's mound) to field the ball coming from anywhere to the first base side of 2b? Isn't it also true that he should position himself to the outfield side of the bag to field throws coming from the SS side of 2b, or CF and LF?

Thanks.

[jamesh23]

he should have stradled the bag with his glove up and ready to receive from 1st so he can tag fast.

[Jake Patterson]

My son plays 3b on our local middle school team. In a recent game, he attempted to field a ball thrown from our first baseman as a runner was advancing from second base. He positioned himself on the back corner of 3B (closest to the outfield) and the runner crossed in front of the ball obstructing him from fielding the throw. The ball deflected off of the runner and down the left field line far enough for the runner to advance home. As a rule of thumb, shouldn't he have been on the inside corner of 3b (closest to the pitcher's mound) to field the ball coming from anywhere to the first base side of 2b? Isn't it also true that he should position himself to the outfield side of the bag to field throws coming from the SS side of 2b, or CF and LF?

Thanks.

Yes - in slightly opened position so the continuation of the ball results in a natural swipe of the glove. Why would you straddle the bag? This positions the player on or in back of the bag giving the advantage to the runner.

[SimiBaseball]

Debatable

The problem with positioning in front of the bag is that any throw for which the 3B must reach to his right will pull him out of position to make the tag. This is common for SS covering 2B on throw from C also. 3B should be in position to hook OF side of bag with his left foot which he can then use for leverage to make the tag. He should be in position to catch ball in front of the baseline if necessary. This is a much debated issue among coaches. I'll go with Ron Polk on this one as I've seen too many fielders out of position to make a tag.

[Jake Patterson]

The problem with positioning in front of the bag is that any throw for which the 3B must reach to his right will pull him out of position to make the tag.

How does straddling the bag help a bad throw to the right??

[jamesh23]

How does straddling the bag help a bad throw to the right??

oh I didnt read it right, my bad. sorry about that.

[BallCoach06]

Yes - in slightly opened position so the continuation of the ball results in a natural swipe of the glove. Why would you straddle the bag? This positions the player on or in back of the bag giving the advantage to the runner.

I agree. I had the opportunity to work with a Double A infielder over the past month to get him ready for spring training. This was a topic (among many) that I asked him about. He said he has never straddled. The reason is it to hard to react to a bad ball with a runner bearing down on you.

Just like Jake stated. For a throw from 1st, square up to the throw on the front inside of the bag. After reading a good throw, open up slightly like Jake mentioned and let the ball travel deep to your left side. Do not catch out front and try to swipe back. Too much time is lost. The ball travels much quicker than your glove can. Once the balls travels deep to the left side, just catch and tag downward to apply the tag. Then come up looking for any other plays.

This same process would be used from throws to second from the catcher.

[SimiBaseball]

Again, this is debatable

Do not catch out front and try to swipe back. Too much time is lost. The ball travels much quicker than your glove can.

I think everyone can agree with this statement. The question is, how does one do this if the throw is directly to the bag and the fielder is positioned in front of it? The fielder has no choice but to catch the ball out in front then swipe. The runner will be sliding to the back of the bag and will usually be safe on any close play. A ball thrown to the right of the bag has no chance of a play on the runner.

It is recommended that the 2B/SS hook their left foot on the ground on the back corner of second base on throws from the catcher and have their right foot in front of the base as they field the throw. The same type of footwork should be used by the 3B so that he has complete control over the back of 3B (left field side of the bag). If the infielder reads the throw will be low, he will need to reach out with his glove to the ball in order to field the ball at the best angle. If the ball is going to short hop at 3B, the 3Bman should move forward and keep the ball in front of him. By controlling the back part of the base, the infielder can easily reach out left or right for the ball thrown near the base, and have control of the base at the same time. If he reads the throw is going to be in the air and near the base, he merely straddles the base as he awaits the ball. If he sees the ball is a little off target, he can keep contact with the base with his left foot and step toward the ball with his right foot. If he sees that the ball will be quite wide of the base, he can move quickly toward the ball in order to prevent the ball from going to the OF.

At a 14u tournament last week, in one game I saw three base stealers safe at second on throws that easily had them beat because of the SS/2B being positioned in front of the bag on throws that were directly to the bag. By the way, the second paragraph from this post is written by Ron Polk from the Baseball Playbook, pretty much my Bible. Again, this subject is debatable.

[BallCoach06]

I think everyone can agree with this statement. The question is, how does one do this if the throw is directly to the bag and the fielder is positioned in front of it? The fielder has no choice but to catch the ball out in front then swipe. The runner will be sliding to the back of the bag and will usually be safe on any close play.

The key is where you catch the ball. Once the player reads the ball and turns the body to catch it (body now facing 1st base), the player must let the ball travel and catch it deep (about a foot left of the left knee is my reference). The player will then catch the ball over the backside of the bag and still have himself in front of the bag to avoid the oncoming runner. At that point, it is simply putting the tag down on the runner. No swiping involved.

[dw8man]

I think everyone can agree with this statement. The question is, how does one do this if the throw is directly to the bag and the fielder is positioned in front of it? The fielder has no choice but to catch the ball out in front then swipe. The runner will be sliding to the back of the bag and will usually be safe on any close play. A ball thrown to the right of the bag has no chance of a play on the runner.

It is recommended that the 2B/SS hook their left foot on the ground on the back corner of second base on throws from the catcher and have their right foot in front of the base as they field the throw. The same type of footwork should be used by the 3B so that he has complete control over the back of 3B (left field side of the bag). If the infielder reads the throw will be low, he will need to reach out with his glove to the ball in order to field the ball at the best angle. If the ball is going to short hop at 3B, the 3Bman should move forward and keep the ball in front of him. By controlling the back part of the base, the infielder can easily reach out left or right for the ball thrown near the base, and have control of the base at the same time. If he reads the throw is going to be in the air and near the base, he merely straddles the base as he awaits the ball. If he sees the ball is a little off target, he can keep contact with the base with his left foot and step toward the ball with his right foot. If he sees that the ball will be quite wide of the base, he can move quickly toward the ball in order to prevent the ball from going to the OF.

At a 14u tournament last week, in one game I saw three base stealers safe at second on throws that easily had them beat because of the SS/2B being positioned in front of the bag on throws that were directly to the bag. By the way, the second paragraph from this post is written by Ron Polk from the Baseball Playbook, pretty much my Bible. Again, this subject is debatable.

How did this go from 3rd base to 2nd base? Please reread the original question and see if your statement is what they are asking about.

I am now very confussed. *** I just told my son to just stand on top of the bag and knock the fire out of the runner with his glove and don't worry about catching the ball!!

***That was just a joke and do not recommend it to anyone.

[SimiBaseball]

It goes for both bases

By controlling the outfield side of 3B on a throw from 1B, there will be a chance of an out on a throw 3 feet to the right of the bag. If standing in front of the bag, there is little chance of making a play unless the throw beats the runner by three steps.