Transcription
Now, this is the last and only shortstop video you're ever gonna have to watch. Now, I've had a ton of requests about making this video, so I'm excited to finally get it done. In this video, I'm going to teach you everything you need to know about playing shortstop, from positioning to cutoffs to double plays and other tips and tricks that are going to help you elevate your game as a shortstop. Whether you're an experienced shortstop or you just started playing shortstop, you're going to find a ton of value in this video, so make sure to stick around.
Now, as a shortstop, you are the leader or the captain out here, so you have to make sure that you're very vocal. You're picking up your pitcher, you're picking up other players, just be a leader out here.
Now, the first thing I want to talk about is your positioning with nobody on. Now, where we're going to play is somewhere deep on the dirt, close to the grass. Now, depending if it's a righty or a lefty, you can cheat a little bit this way, you can cheat a little bit that way, but you want to make sure that you're playing a position where you can make a strong throw over to first base. But if you don't have a strong enough arm to make these plays in the six hole, maybe second base is a better position for you.
If there's a run around first base, we're going to move into double play depth. Now, what that means is we're going to take a few steps in and a few steps towards second base. Now, the reason we do that is we want to make sure we're quick enough to roll a double play. We give up a little bit of the six hole in order to roll that double play. If we were to play back where we would normally play as a shortstop with a runner on first base, whether there's a ball hit to me or the first baseman or the second baseman, there's no way that we're gonna roll a double play. So we take a few steps in and over towards second base to ensure that we're quick enough to make that double play.
So now, let's quickly talk about the footwork when rolling a double play, starting with a ball hit to the first baseman. Now, if he's holding the runner on, if there's a runner only on first base, he'll be holding him on, meaning if he gets a ground ball, he's going to be on the inside of the runner. So in that situation, we want to get to second base, we want to put our left foot on the bag, make sure we're on the inside of the runner, give him a target, and we're just going to transfer, pivot our feet, and throw back on the inside.
Now, if there's runner on first and second base and the balls hit to the first baseman, he's going to be right behind the runner, meaning the throw is going to be on the outside of the runner. So how we're going to do that is there's a couple different ways we can do it. Now, the old school way is we give them a target and we slide our foot on the outside of the bag, kick it, transfer, throw over to first base, make sure we clear the runner. The way I like to do it is I like to get to the base and put my right foot on the base and slide it off. So it looks like this: we're going to give him a target, we're going to step on the base, transfer, slide off, clear the runner, make the throw over to first base.
Now, for a ground ball to the second baseman, same thing. Really important that we give them a target like this: right foot on the bag, step out, clear the runner, transfer, throw over to first base, really making sure that we leave a lot of room for the runner here.
Now, usually if a ball is hit to the pitcher when we're rolling a double play, it's going to be our ball. So we're going to do the same thing. We're going to run to the base, we're gonna give him a target, step on the base, clear the runner, make the throw.
Let's quickly talk about when we're going to play with the infield in and we're going to cut the runner off. Now, if there's a runner on third base, it's late in the game, that runner means a lot. We're going to want to cut that run off, making sure that that guy doesn't score. We're gonna play right on the edge of the grass and when we get a ground ball, we're going to check him, make sure he stays there, and then make the play to first. If he takes off for home, we're gonna make a play at home.
Now, the runners kind of caught in no man's land. We're just gonna run at him, force him to make a decision, and then we're gonna throw ahead of the runner to home plate and then chase him back.
Now, if the bases are loaded, there's a few different ways we can play this as a shortstop, depending on what your coach wants to do and depending on how important that run is. Now, one way we can do it is we can play in and we can go for the double play from home to first. Or what we can do is have the corners play in and as a shortstop and second baseman, we're going to get back into double play depth and roll the ball at the middle. Now, again, this is up to the coach and how he wants to play it, but if that run is super important, it's better to get one out at home rather than try for two up the middle and only get one and that run score.
So let's quickly talk about holding this runner on. Now, obviously, we're not going to hold him on like a first baseman, but what we want to do is we just want to make sure we keep them close by letting them know that we're there. Usually, if it's a righty up, the second baseman is going to hold them close. If there's a lefty, we're gonna hold them close. But all we want to do is kind of get right behind them, make sure that he knows that we're there because he's going to get as much as we give him. So if we're playing way back here where we'd normally play shortstop, he's going to take as much as we give him and he's taking third every time. So we have to make sure that we're right behind them, let them know we're there, give him a couple glove slaps, and then bounce back to our position.
Now, when we want to pick this guy off, there's a few different ways we can play it. Now, the easiest way to play it is to open glove play. Now, what that means is you're going to be keeping them close, keeping them close. Once you break towards second base with your glove open like that, that's a signal to the pitcher to make a pickoff. So we're gonna be bouncing back, holding them close, once we break to second base, open up our glove, he's going to make the throw to the base, and we're gonna get the out.
Now, another way we can do this is a timing play with the pitcher. Now, obviously, we have to have this set up beforehand, but what's going to happen is once the signal is on, whether it's a hat tip, pull your belt, your shirt, whatever it is, once the signal is on, we're going to count down to whatever you guys decide you're going to count down to. Now, if the count is to Mississippi, once the pitcher comes set, once he gets completely set, you're going to count it down. Then from there, you're gonna break to the bag, he's going to turn and pick off right of the bag. Now, again, this is something that you have to have set up already, this is something that you have to practice, but it can be a very effective pickoff move.
Now, let's quickly talk about bunt defense. Now, this has a lot of different ways that you can play a bunt, but basically anytime the third baseman crashes, we're gonna go cover third base. If the first baseman is crashing, the second baseman is going to cover first, we're going to cover second base.
Now, before we get into what to do when the balls hit to the Outfield, if there is ever a fly ball on the infield, you are in charge, you have priority over everybody. So if it's a play that you can make, you call everybody off.
Now, if there's a fly ball hit in between the infield and the Outfield, the outfielder has priority over you because they're coming in, it's a much easier play for them to come in than it is for you to go back. So anytime you're at shortstop or anywhere in the infield and you're running back for a ball, as soon as an outfielder calls you off, you get out of the way.
So anytime there's a base hit to the Outfield, we're always going to assume that that runner's going for second base. So on a single to left field, we're going to line ourselves up in between the outfielder and second base the best we can. We're going to put our hands up like this and we're going to listen to the second baseman. So we're going to give the outfielder a target. If the second baseman says nothing, we're just going to let that ball go. If he says relay, that means that there's going to be a play at second base, but the throw is off. So it's our job to pick it up and relay it to second base to get the out. If he just says cut, cut, hold, whatever, we're just going to cut it and there's no play, we're just going to run it in and give it to the pitcher.
In that same situation, applies that the ball sit to the left side of the center fielder, it's a little bit in the left center gap and this runner might be going to second base. We're going to line ourselves up in between the ball and second base and listen for the second baseman.
Now, if the balls hit the right or right center, we're going to line up the second baseman with the base and the outfielder and we're going to be the ones giving the command. So if we say nothing, we want the player to let the ball go and we're going to make the tag at second base. If we say relay, that means the throw is off and he's going to relay the plate to second base for the out. If there's no play, we're just going to say cut or cut hold and the second baseman's gonna grab the ball and run it in, give it back to the pitcher.
Now, when we go for the tag at second base, do not make the mistake of going to catch the ball out here and then coming down for the tag like that because when the ball is thrown in, it's going to get to the base a lot faster by letting the ball travel and coming down with the tag like that, then going out, getting it, and then coming back for the tag like that. Let the ball get as close as you can and just come down with the tag. Now, obviously, if the throw is off, we're gonna have to go out and get it and then bring it down, but if it's online, let it go as far as you can and come down with the tag.
So now let's talk about what we're going to do if the batter hits a for sure double into the gap. We know it's going to be a double and he's probably going for three. I mean, there's gonna be no play at second base. So we're gonna line ourselves up with third base. This is where we have to know our fielder's arm, we have to know our arm, and we're going to line ourselves up in between third base and the fielder somewhere where we can make a strong throw. Now, again, we're going to listen to our third baseman. Most likely, he's not going to air mail it from the left center gap all the way to third base. So we're going to cut it. Either way, we're going to put our arms up like this, catch the ball. As we catch the ball, we're going to turn, make a strong throw right to third base. It's very important that we move while we're making the cutoff. Okay, so we're going to give them a target. As the ball is coming in, we're going to start to move our feet so that when we get the ball, we're just from here over to third base. We don't want to be like this, catch it, and then turn, and then square, and then rotate and throw. We want to do it on the fly. So it looks like this: boom, we're already moving, all one quick transition.
Now let's talk about a double to the right field gap. Now, the second baseman is going to go out there for the cutoff man. Now, what we're going to do is we're not going to go for a double cut, but what we're going to do is we're going to come about 10, 15, 20 feet behind the second baseman. That way, if the right fielder misses this cutoff man, we're gonna be right behind them to finish the relay. Now, a lot of players make the mistake of just hanging out at second base, but there isn't going to be a play there. And as you get a little bit older, you're going to learn that the first baseman is going to go cover that base, but we want to make sure that we're out here behind the second baseman just in case that fielder misses the cutoff man, we can be right behind them to finish the relay.
Now, if there's a runner on first base and there's a base hit to right field, we're going to assume that that runner is going to go right for third. So now we're the cutoff man between the right fielder and the third base. So we're gonna stand right around the edge of the grass in between the right fielder and the third base and we're going to be the cutoff man. Second baseman is going to go cover second base, but basically, we just want to read the play and get somewhere in this position.
Now, if there's a runner on first base and there's a double to the gap, we know that that runner on first base has third for sure, he's probably going home. So again, we're gonna get out here, we got to know our arm, we got to know our fielder's arm, and we're gonna get out into a position to make the throw, a strong throw from here to home.
Now, if there's a runner on second and there's a single to left field, that runner is most likely going for home. The third baseman is going to be the cutoff man. We're gonna go over to third base and cover third base in case there's a play there.
Thank you guys so much for watching. If you guys like the video, please give it a thumbs up and share it with somebody who you think would find some value in it, and make sure to subscribe for new videos every week.
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