Technical
Skills Checklist
The Technical skills checklist is adapted from the book Winning Baseball
Drills by Baker & Cole. The technical skills checklist is in outline
form, and there aren't a lot of details or explanation. Most of the topics
are covered more thoroughly in the Baseball Handbook
. If there is anything you would like more information on, just drop
me an e-mail John Saunders.
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us E-Mail
1. Basic Fundamentals
- throwing
- fielding infield ground balls
- catching fly balls in outfield
- fielding outfield ground balls
2. Fundamentals in playing positions
- 4 Magic rules of defense
- catch the ball
- take the easy out - we only need 3 an inning
- get the lead runner when possible
- outfielders don't hold the ball! Hit the cut-off man.
- infielders backing up bases
- outfielders backing up outfielders and bases
- outfield throw 2 bases in front of lead runner on ground balls to outfield
- outfield throw 1 base in front of lead runner on caught fly balls in
the outfield
3. Covering bases and tags
- straddle the bag
- make the tag and get out
- don't stride for the ball at first base until you see it being thrown
4. Double-plays
- make sure of one out
- second baseman tags the bag with with left foot and pivots on his right
foot behind the bag for the throw to first base
5. Infield / outfield fly ball jurisdiction
- infielder keeps going back until he hears the outfielder call him off
- shortstop has best angle on flare hit over the third baseman's head
- second baseman has best angle on flare hit over the first baseman's
head
6. Cut-offs / relays
- shortstop is cut-off for left field and left center field for second
and third base
- second baseman is cut-off for right field and right center field for
second and third base
- outfield throws are toward the glove side of the cut-off man
- infielders turn toward the glove side when they make their throws
7. Pitching responsibilities
- Pitching technique
- rocker step
- pivot
- lift and load - knee up to about waist level with foot under knee
- stride toward home plate (don't open up too soon)
- follow through with arm across stride leg
- pitcher becomes the "fifth infielder" after delivering the
ball
- pitcher moves to first base on any ball hit to the right side
- pitcher covers home on past balls / wild pitches with runner on third
8. Catching technique
- catcher's stance
- how to give signals so the other team doesn't steal them
- meat hand behind back with no runners on base
- framing pitches for strikes
- blocking balls in the dirt
- catching pop fouls
- fielding bunts
- steal attempts
- force at home
- tag at the plate
- passed balls / wild pitches
9. Hitting technique
- bat selection
- depth and distance from home plate
- stance and balance
- grip - "door knocking" knuckles line up on the bat
- box and bat angle - bat angle at 45 degrees
- inward turn / load to explode
- stride
- short stride
- land on big toe
- step on thin ice
- swing
- focus on the release point
- slap the hands down
- Ike to Mike
- follow -through
- situational hitting
- two strike hitting
- 3-0 hitting
- runner on third and less than 2 outs
- drills
- 1,2,3,4 drill
- bat behind the back drill
- spin - hit drill
10. Bunts
11. Baserunning
- ground ball on the infield: run through first base, touch the front
part of the bag, chop down, look for the overthrow
- single to the outfield - making a turn: hit the inside portion of the
bag, finish going toward second base, always follow the ball on your way
back to the base
- double to the outfield -going to second: do NOT go via right field,
pick up your third base coach early
- must avoid catcher at home plate. Go around or slide. If you run into
him, you're out at the plate.
- shuffle - shuffle off the base on each pitch as it crosses home plate
- go to second / third on passed balls and wild pitches
- don't get doubled off on a line drive. Make line drives go through
the infield. Freeze and pick up the ball.
- runner on first base with fly ball to RF: Turn your body so you can
see if the RF makes the catch. Go approx. 1/3 of the way to second base.
- runner on first base with fly ball to CF: Go approx. 1/2 way to second
base (depending on your foot speed). You need to go far enough so that
you can make it to second base if the CF doesn't catch the ball. But you
can't go so far that you can't get back to first base if the CF catches
the ball.
- runner on first base with fly ball to LF: Go approx 2/3 of the way
to second base (depending on your foot speed). You need to go far enough
so that you can make it to second base if the LF doesn't catch the ball.
But you can't go so far that you can't get back to first base if the LF
catches the ball.
- ground ball to left side with runner on second base: don't run into
a tag, make the ball go through, may be able to go onto third after infielder
makes throw to first base.
- tag up from 3rd base on fly ball to outfield with less than two outs
- go back to third in fair territory so the catcher's throw will hit
you in the back and kick into foul territory.
12. Sliding
- figure of 4 slide
- cardboard sliding drill
13. Bunt defense
- with nobody on base: first and third baseman charge. Second baseman
covers first, shortstop covers second. RF backs up 1B. CF backs up 2B.
- with runner on first: first and third baseman charge. Second baseman
covers first, shortstop covers second. RF backs up 1B. CF backs up 2B.
Either catcher or third baseman will have to hurry back to cover third
if the runner tries to go from first to third.
- with runner on second base: you can play it one of two ways:
- third baseman charges and shortstop covers third
- pitcher covers down the line and third baseman stays at third for the
force.
14. 1st and 3rd double steal situations
- four plays for the defense on 1st and 3rd
- catcher throws the ball back hard to the pitcher and a quick throw
to third if the runner is off too far
- catcher throws through to second base (usually done with two outs and
a slow runner at first base)
- catcher gives a good pump-fake to second and hopes to catch the runner
on third leaning and pick him off with a quick throw to third base.
- catcher makes a firm throw to the shortstop who is cutting in and expects
the runner at third to break for the plate.
15. Pick-offs
- I'll give the signal if I want a catcher to try to pick a runner off
a base.
16. Run Downs
- try to run the runner back to the base he came from
- get him out in the fewest throws possible
- takes four people to be ready to be involved in a rundown
- practice rundowns between 1st & 2nd, 2nd & 3rd, and 3rd &
home.
17. Pre-game Warm-up
- be at the games a minimum of 30 minutes before it's supposed to start
18. Conditioning
- 3-3-2-1 drill
- tag team relay
19. Signals
- indicator key
- steal
- bunt
- take
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