Tips for outfielders: throwing technique on baseballs hit in the gap. When that ball is hitting the gap and the outfielder is running after it, I tell the guys to get turn and get their left before they pick their ball up.
It's no doubt that baseball is a game of inches. Runners are called out by inches, strikes are decided by them and fair balls are converted into foul ones at times by them. But as the speed of the game increases, so does the amount of time a baseball fielder is allowed to field a ball. These days, players can really motor around the bases. And any amount of time wasted on any small detail can be the difference between a great play and a great play that almost was.
One way for baseball outfielders to save time is by having the proper technique when fielding and throwing baseballs hit in the gap.
Joe Carbone has been head coach of the Ohio Bobcats for 18 years. And he said that before a baseball outfielder can make an accurate and solid throw on a ball hit in the gap, he must first understand the proper technique to approach the baseball.
"When that ball is hit in the gap and the outfielder is running after it, I tell the guys to get their left shoulder aimed before they pick the ball up," he said. "If their body turns and gets the left shoulder pointed to where the cut off man is, the cut off or relay man is going to line up between them and the base it's thrown to."
According to Carbone, knowing the situation before it happens is also a good way to better prepare the outfielder to make an accurate throw.
"If there is nobody on and the ball is hit in the gap we are going to be lining up with the third base because it's already a double," he said. "If there is a man up on first base, and a ball is hit in the gap we are going be lining up with home. So the outfielder has got to have an idea about where that guy is going to be and also the relay man he is throwing too."
In addition to knowing the situation prior to the ball being hit, it's important for the outfielder to use his bare hand when picking up a ball that has been hit in the gap.
This helps to eliminate possible fumbles with the glove as well as saves time with the throw.
Now, if the ball is still moving at a rapid rate in the gap the outfielder should make a decision on whether or not to glove the ball. But if the ball has completely stopped by the time the outfielder reaches it, there is no question he should grab the baseball with his bare hand. When throwing the baseball, the outfielder should also be aware not to throw three-quarters. According to Carbone, a three quarters throw could cause problems for the infielders.
"The ball could tail on you," he said. "You want vertical spin on the ball, so the ball stays true and straight maybe with a little rise. Once you throw at an angle, it is going to start tailing at that opposite angle. In other words, if you're throwing and you are three-quarter arms, that ball is going to sail to the right a little bit and it is going to move away from the direction you are throwing it."
