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By: Kenny Thomas and DJ King Originally Published in: Baseball Steps to Success Provided by: Human Kinetics After the pitch is delivered, the next aspect of the position becomes important - defense. Defending as a pitcher is a vital part of the game. Pitcher's fielding practice, or PFP, is the time for the pitcher to focus on proper technique for fielding the position. A typical PFP focuses on fielding a bunted ball, fielding a batted ball and throwing to a lead base, covering a base, and backing up a base. In this section we look at the main areas that you can work on to become a better defender on and around the mound. Bunt Defense A few guidelines apply to defending against the bunt. These guidelines will help you be in proper position and use proper technique while eliminating room for error. First, you need to know and understand the situation. Each situation determines the positions that the other defenders should be in, so you must know where you should be in case of a bunt. Second, get an out. Errors often occur when the defender rushes the play to get a lead out. Typically, as a pitcher, unless the ball is bunted hard back to you, the only play you will have is to first base. With that being said, you must still be quick in getting to the baseball. Most of the time, you should take the out at first base that the opponent is giving you. After you get to the baseball, the third point is to control your footwork. You should be in an athletic position as you field the ball and shuffle through the throw. Most throwing errors that occur when fielding a bunt stem from improper footwork. Let's look at how it should be done. Batted Balls The same guidelines used for bunt defense fielding are used for fielding a ball off the bat. The difference in the batted ball is the mound that you are standing on. Each mound is different, so you need to move your feet when you throw. Having good footwork will result in fewer throwing mistakes. Covering First Another common responsibility for pitchers is to cover first base on any batted ball toward the right side of the infield. In some scenarios, the first baseman may be in a deep position, or he may go after a ball, taking him away from the first-base bag. The pitcher must be able to get to the base in time to receive the throw for the force-out. In this situation, the pitcher takes a banana-shaped angle, which allows him to get to the base without crossing the path of the base runner. Again, the footwork around the bag is important. From the time of contact, the pitcher should sprint at full speed. As the angle is approached, you need to control your strides so that you can safely step on the bag and continue through while receiving a flip or throw. The strides and feet must be in control so that you can break down at the bag and receive a throw as a first baseman would if you are going to get to the bag early. Backing Up Bases Backing up bases is a must as a pitcher. Backing up is a mental aspect of defending as a pitcher. Young pitchers often stand on the mound and watch a play unfold, especially on batted balls to the outfield. The rule that each pitcher must realize is that he always has a place on the field that he should move to during the course of a ball in play. Proper positioning when backing up will eliminate extra bases given to an offense in the event of a thrown ball getting past an infielder. At the higher levels, pitchers have no excuse for not moving to back up. Here is an overview of the proper positioning for backing up.
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Pitchers: Fielding the Position
