Baseball Pitching Tips--How To Back Up Bases Properly Saves Ball Games!
Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
by Larry Cicchiello
Larwenty Online Enterprises Inc
I know, I know. Backing up bases is one of those "little things." Sometimes "little things" have a "big" influence on the outcome of a baseball game. When the go ahead run scores late in a game because a pitcher was NOT backing up a base, this just went quickly from a very little thing to something huge!
Too often backing up bases becomes very confusing for a pitcher. Let's end the confusion so your team doesn't lose a game because of an overthrown baseball and your pitcher was not backing up the proper base or was backing up a base improperly. It's one of the so called little things that aren't so little at all. Way too often this gets very confusing for a pitcher and it should not be. An errant throw can often determine the outcome of a ball game. Baseball pitching tips should include teaching pitchers which base they should back up and how to properly back up the base. The following shows which base to back up if you are the pitcher and there's a hit to the outfield:
Runner On First Base: You back up third base.
Runner On Second Base: You back up home plate.
Runners On First and Second Base: You have to think quickly and move very quickly on this one. Quickly get into a position between third base and home, standing about ten feet in foul territory. You have to watch the play unfold, anticipate and make a very quick judgment. You either dash toward home and backup the throw there or backup the throw to third base. Watching the play itself unfold is the only way to know which base you have to back up. Smart teammates should pay you a mound visit to give you a breather after this one because you may be sprinting all over the field.
Bases Loaded: Same exact thing as runners on first and second base mentioned above. You must move quickly and watch the play unfold.
Runners On First and Third Base: You back up third base.
Things to Remember About Backing Up Bases:
1. First of all, a pitcher must know where the runners are beforehand ! A pitcher can not simply wait and sort this out after the ball is hit. Impossible.
2. When backing up a throw from the outfield, avoid making the very common mistake of being too close to the base. Try to get about ten steps or so behind the base and line up yourself so that there is an imaginary line going from the player throwing the ball, the base and to you. Way too often pitchers back up the base and the throw gets by the infielder and gets by them also. By being about ten steps behind the base, you will have much better range to your left and to your right. The chance of the ball getting by both the infielder and you also will be very small.
3. Baseball pitching tips involve alot more than simply pitching the ball. Remember that once the ball is hit, the pitcher becomes a defensive player just like everybody else. It is a shame to have a game decided because a pitcher failed to back up a base due to a lack of focus or because he didn't know which base to back up. You don't want to lose a game in that manner. Ouch!
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Very good article, Larry...I never got to pitch. I always had to play 1st base (I'm a lefty) or catch (had the only catchers mit for years). Thanks.
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