a little help

[purdueman216]

hey guys. i have played all my life and at 2nd base and ss. but this year (sophomore in high school) i have been moved to 3rd a little for when the regular player pitches. when at 2nd and short i watch the ball all the way from the pitchers and to when the batter hits it. but at third this is very different. i learned very quickly, the 2nd batter i that i saw hitting while i was at third, that you have to watch the batter and his bat rather tahn the ball. are there any other hints and tips from 3rd basemen like this that could help me out. thanks

[Ry9770]

All i try do is get ready. Depending on the batter. If he likes to pull the ball i play a little deeper and closer to the line. If im not sure i just play straight up. From what i know, just be ready. Its alot easier if the hitter is a lefty though. You just have to be able to react quickly.

[yuniesky4prez]

You know what? That is the exact situation im in. Im a second baseman and i play 3rd now. Except im only a freshman.

Heres what you do.


Anticipate Every play
Watch the angle of the bat and watch how he warms up.
play decently deep so everythings in front of you.
But when a ball is questionable for you or the SS, take it.

[Ursa Major]

It's a fair question, because the ball comes off the bat differently to reach you and it's tougher to anticipate, because often righty hitters will seem to swing late on an outside pitch but catch the outside of the ball, and all of a sudden the ball "impossibly" is yanked down the 3B line at you.

In short, you can't try to anticipate the path of the batted ball the way you can in the middle infield. So, don't try. Assume everything will be hit to you, stay low and loose, and be ready to go either way (or charge).