BASEBALL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1923, Page 17

BASEBALL

(By "First Base.")

Last Saturday's practice match had to be postponed on account o! the weather. This makes two successive Saturdays on which the game has had to be " called off " for the same reason.

The practice games that have been played at Miramar so far have been marked by fairly, high scoring, but this is more on account of faulty fielding than good batting or good base-running. Practice would overcome most of the faults and in the ca6e of infieldere a better knowledge of the different positions would reduce the number of runs considerably. In this respect the following points should be beneficial to infielders: One of the best forms of practice is lor the infielders to throw the ball round during the course of the game when no danger is attached to the process. If a runner is retired at first, and no others on bases, pass the ball round the infield briskly. Besides, keeping the infielders familiar with the length of throws between bases, it keeps those players who may have been idle for some time livened up and warmed to their work.

It is very important that infielders should remember how many men down the opposing team are. With less than two men down, the play should always be made to the plate. By doing this, there is not only the chance of putting the runner out, but also of saving a run. When there are two men do\«i, the play should always be the easiest one, so no runs can be scored in a movement that puts the third man—and the side—out. With runners on bases, the baseman's job is to hold the runners to the bags, so the baseman should not move far away from his particular bag. He should never be so far away that a ball thrown from any part of the field will beat him to the base. In this respect the ball should always be thrown to the base to which the runner is advancing, and not to the baseman. It is the baseman's job to be there when the ball arrives. When any of the bases are empty, the basemen covering such bases should field some little distance away, so as to cover as much ground as possibly. The first baseman; when his base is unoccupied, shoftld field about five yards off the bag, and about seven yards behind the first baseline towards right field, unless there is a man on third, and the play is likely to be to the plate! He must be always able to run in and cover the bag in time to receive a thrown ball. A good first baseman never collides with the base-Tunner. His position to receive the ball is with one foot on the .bag and the other inside the diamond. This has the advantage of lessening the distance the ball has to be thrown to him. In jumping for a high throw he should jump so as to land on the bag.

The position of second baseman, .with an occupied base, is a little nearer second than first, and on a level with second base. He must be-always prepared to run away from his base for a batted ball, as short-stop will cover his bag in such an emergency. In fact, shortstop covers second base almost as often as the second baseman does. Second baseman should always back up a throw to first, leaving short-stop to cover his base. With a runner on third, and the score close, he should generally play about three yards inside the baseline, as there is no time to be lost in trying to get a man at the plate on a ground hit to second baseman.

_ The short-stop has a roving commission, but his duties dovetail very closely with those of second baseman. He must always back up throws to second when he is not covering the base himself, and must be prepared to cover third base if necessary.

The third baseman's job is generally considered to be one of the most difficult on a ball field. He has to be able to field ".bunts," fair hits, fly-balls, and cover his base. With all the bases empty ho should stand about three yards inside the diamond from his bag, and just in front of the baseline, but with runncri on bases ho shifts aeeordiiiK Kg "conditions.