pet peave

[sfgdood]

One aspect of Belt's defense that really grinds my gears is that he wanders WAY too far off first base for ground balls in the hole. I was reminded of it by two plays in the World Series. In the 4 run 4th inning for KC in Game 4, with two outs and no runs in, Belt charged a weakly hit ball by Hosmer that would have ended the inning and given Vogey a chance to possibly get a win had he covered first base and let Panik make the play. Again in Game 5, he came way off the bag--I forget who the batter was--and he had to sprint back and just did beat the runner and just did avoid injury. It would have been a routine play for Panik. It's amazing to me that he still makes awful misreads like this. It very nearly cost us dearly in Game 4 if we didn't make our big comeback. We would have been doomed down 3 games to 1.

[rxmeister]

By all means, Belt should play first base like he's a big fat David Ortiz or Prince Fielder type and not use the fact that he's more athletic than most to his advantage. I know you're knocking his judgement rather than his athleticism, but players are taught to go for the ball if they think they can get it.

[Rog]

Most athletic first basemen wander too far off the bag on occasion. No doubt Brandon could use better judgment on occasion. No doubt there are other times he makes plays most other first basemen wouldn't make.

Overall, Brandon is a very good first baseman. With refinements such as Randy suggested, perhaps he can become even better.

[sfgdood]

Yes I agree his quickness and length works against him sometimes...although most first basemen with great range learn at some stage to trust the range of his second basemen because if he (the first baseman)ranges too far, he'll be trying to make an off balance and/or hurried throw to a moving target (pitcher covering first) rather than a second baseman making a nice easy throw to a stationary target.

As to the notion of corner infielders being taught to get everything they can reach...that mostly applies to the left corner, 3rd base, because he would be moving towards the play--at 2nd or 1st--while the SS would be ranging away from the play.

[Rog]

Randy -- As to the notion of corner infielders being taught to get everything they can reach...that mostly applies to the left corner, 3rd base,

Rog -- Right with you here. I thought that was the only position to which it usually applied.




Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/2777/pet-peave#ixzz3W503jRBG

[Islandboagie]

I agree, but with the exaggerated shifts, the range of the first baseman plays a larger part against right handed hitters. Besides that, the only time a first baseman should range far off the bag is on bunts, slow rollers to the right side and in rare cases, slow choppers in double play situations where the 2nd baseman couldn't turn two. In Belt's defense, if he fields the ball (which the second baseman could have got to) and they don't make an out, part of the blame is also on the pitcher for not covering. If it's close enough for the first baseman to make the play, the pitcher should automatically break for the bag.

[Rog]

The pitcher breaks for first base on any ball hit to the right side.

It's easy for most righthanders, since their momentum is already doing toward first base. It takes a little more foresight for southpaws, which should easily be accomplished in spring training drills to where the move becomes automatic. The southpaw usually winds up with his momentum going toward the third base line, and his weight is usually more on his right foot anyway. All he has to do is plant his foot and start the angle for his break.

It's almost inexcusable for the pitcher not to be in position to cover first anytime the ball is hit to his left. That's pretty simple, isn't it? As soon as he throws the pitch, the pitcher should be thinking fielding. He should be ready if the ball is hit back to him, and that stance also puts him in a good position to break for the bag.

I doubt anyone remembers when it was posted here that when Tim Lincecum started the 2009 All-Star game, he had at least three plays on which he didn't break to cover the bag. Since he's begun having his troubles, he's gotten a lot better at it. He has plenty of quickness to easily get into position if he is alert.

It may be hard to hit a round ball with a round bat, but anyone can think ahead. I mean, what else does a pitcher have to do right after he throws the pitch?

[Rog]

The reason that a mobile first baseman often gets caught off the bag more is that he has the movement to make a difference, and when he gets caught, he is farther off the base.

A player's first twitch (if he's not already leaning that way) should be toward a batted ball. The first baseman has a particularly difficult choice, since his primary job is to cover first base. In an instant, he has to judge his chances of getting to the ball as well as the chances of the second baseman. On a chopped or softly grounded ball or bunt, he may also have to judge if the pitcher can get to it That's why he should always look ahead to see where the second baseman is positioned when the batter first comes up and be aware of the range of both the second baseman and pitcher.

As we all know, a lot of the game should be played before the pitch is ever thrown.