"Forcing" a runner

What do I mean by "forcing" a runner?


When you step on the base (and the ball is in your hand or glove) before the runner gets there, the runner is out. This is called "forcing the runner" or a "force out" or a "force play" That is why you guys are trying so hard to throw it to first base before the runner gets there.

However, the force play only works when a runner is "forced" to run.

How do you know when a runner is "forced" to run?

Think about base runners like marbles in a tube. Each marble you put in the tube forces the other marbles to move forward, right? Same with base runners. As long as there is a baserunner on every base behind the runner, they will be forced to run to the next base.

I will give you examples of when a runner is "forced" to run. Pretend you are a baserunner.

1) a batter is ALWAYS forced to run to first base.

2) if you are on first base, and the batter hits a ground ball, then you are forced to run to second base

3) if you are on second base, and there is a another runner on first, and the batter hits a ground ball, then you must run to third base

4) if you are on third base, and there are runners on second and first base, then you must try to run home if the batter hits a ground ball.


Confused? don't be. It's easy. So as long as there are runners on all of the bases behind you, you will be forced to run on any ball hit on the ground.

If there is an empty base behind you on either first or second, then you are NOT forced to run. In this situation, you CAN run but you don't HAVE to. You are not "Forced"

Why do we keep talking about having to run on "ground balls?" Because, if a ball is hit in the air, and it is caught, then the baserunners can't advance to the next base. We'll cover that in "Base-running"

How do I get a batter out?

There are four ways to get a batter out,

1) Strike them out (three misses)
2) On a ground ball, throw the ball to first before they get there
3) Tag the batter out with the ball
4) Force them out at a base (see "forcing" a runner)

Outfield

Where do I stand, coach?

Depending on which outfield position you play, you stand in one of four spots in the outfield, positions 7, 8, 9, or 10 above.

My job is to field ground balls that get through the infield, and also to catch fly balls. At my beginner level, few batters are strong enough to hit the ball into the outfield on the fly, but I must be ready to catch them just in case.

What do I do when I get the ball? Field it as quickly as I can and throw it back into the infied.

Where do I throw it? Throw it back to the pitcher. When the ball is back to the pitcher, the runners can not advance to the next base, they have to stop.

Sometimes, if I see that a runner is trying to run from first to second base, and I think I can throw it to second base in time, I will try to throw that runner out at second.

At my beginner level, however, I can't go wrong if I always throw it to the pitcher.

REMEMBER: THROW THE BALL, don't run with it. You can throw it back to the pitcher faster than you can run with it. As long as you are running, the baserunners are running too. Throw it back to the pitcher.

Third Base

I stand three or four steps away from third base, towards second base. Because most batters are right handed, most of the ground balls are going to be hit to my side of the infield (along with the shortstop position). Also, the balls that are going to be hit to me, are going to be hit the hardest, and that's why they sometimes call third base the "HOT CORNER!"

It is very important that I am always paying attention and watching the ball, because my base is close to home plate (the batter), and the balls are going to be hit very hard to me.

The third baseman has to be three things.

1) vigilant
2) fearless
3) GREEDY

I need to be a ball hog! Any ball hit to my side of the infield is MINE!!!! I must try my best to get EVERY ground ball hit to my side of the field.

Why. Isn't that RUDE? Won't I hurt the shortstop's feelings if I steal the ball away from her? NO!!! It's my JOB! Why.

1) Because I am closer to homeplate, it will take me less time to get to the ball than the shortstop who is playing a little further back.

2) By running to my left to field a ground ball, my momentum is carrying me towards first place, and I can make a throw easier than the shortstop who will be running to her right (away from first base).

shortstop fielding grounders

Shortstop

When I play shortstop, I stand just about half way between second and third base (a little bit closer to second). Most batters are right handed. This means that most of the balls hit on the ground are going to come towards my side of the infield. I have to be extremely quick on my feet to get into position to get the ball. I need to get it quickly and throw to first base as fast as I can, because I have a long throw from my side of the field. In baseball, shortstops are frequently the best athletes on the team because so much is asked of them.

Shortstops have many jobs. We talked about fielding balls hit to them. But sometimes they also need to be ready to take a throw at second base if the ball is hit to the first or second base side of the field. We'll cover that in "forcing runners."

Sometimes, shortstops will also need to be ready to take a throw at third base. For example, if the batter hits a slow roller that the third-baseman has to get, the shortstop needs to run to the third base bag to take a throw if needed to get a runner out. (again, see "forcing runners")

second base

When I play second base. I stand three or four steps away from second base towards first base. I am in charge of any ball hit to my side of the infield. My job is to field the ball as fast as I can and throw it to first base before the runner gets there.

Sometimes I can get runners out at second base too.

1) If there is a runner on first base and the batter hits a ground ball to me, I can throw the ball to second base (the shortstop should be covering the base) and get the runner out at second.

2) If there is a runner on first base, and the batter hits a ground ball to third base side of the infield, I will want to run to second and put my foot on the base and recieve the throw from the shortstop or third baseman. If I catch the ball and put my foot on the bag before the runner gets to second, she will be out. If I have time, I can then quickly turn and throw the ball to first base. If I get the ball to first base in time, that will be another out. We call that a double play.

Here is a coach showing his players how to do this. Watch how the second baseman covers her bag to get the throw from the third baseman. Then see how she is able to quickly throw to first to try to get two outs.




Watch this great double play: the batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop, he throws to the second baseman who steps on second and throws the ball to first