Fielding Techniques

The pitchers are the key to success in baseball games and their pitch selection plays a crucial role. Pitchers can throw a fastball, a changeup, a curveball and a slider. The catcher works in tandem with the pitcher, giving him clues on the pitch to throw and the pitcher may or may not follow the catcher's lead.

If a runner is on base, the pitcher may throw to a fielder covering that base in an attempt to pickoff a runner or bring about a tag out. In such cases, a pitcher may throw wide with the catcher catching it and throwing it to that base. Knowing the techniques of the batter helps the fielding side to place their fielders, shifting them to one side favored by the batter, known as a shift. If there is a runner on the third base, infielders play in closer to the home plate so that they have a chance to throw the runner out on a ground ball.

Important positions are the infielders comprising the first baseman, the second baseman and the third baseman. The first baseman, while fielding, keeps a foot on the base and when the ball is thrown to him, he should be able to catch it perfectly and have the runner out. The second baseman serves as a backup to the first, fielding in the area close to the first base side of the second base. The third baseman or the shortstop covers the gap between the third and second base and he usually throws the ball to the first baseman.