THE THREE IN ONE DRILL

PART I – SET II

Part I: Set II – This set covers two critical areas of the defensive game and are practiced simultaneously.

A. The pitcher – third baseman coordination in the first and second bunt situation.
B. Shortstop and second baseman double play pivots.

• Purpose : To teach the pitcher and particularly the third baseman their responsibilities when there are runners on first and second bases and the sacrifice bunt is in order.
• Procedure :
  1. Pitchers on the mound each have a baseball.
  2. Catchers behind home plate.
  3. Coach in batters box with fungo bat and ball.
  4. Third baseman in bunt defense position (runners on first and second bases.)
  5. Pitcher steps on to the mound, stretches and delivers the ball to the catcher.
  6. Coach fungoes a simulated bunted ball toward third base.
  7. The pitcher breaks toward the third base foul line after delivering the pitch and attempts to field the ball.
• Coaching Points : (Also, see Newsletter #32 for a more comprehensive discussion.)
  1. Once the pitch is made, the PITCHER should hold his position for a split second and then run directly toward the third base line. This places him about halfway between home and third base.
  2. As soon as the PITCHER is certain he can field the ball, he yells out “I’ve got it.” This helps the third baseman make his decision to return to third base if he knows the PITCHER can make the play.
     1. Upon fielding the ball, the right-hander turns in a counterclockwise direction toward third base…follows his glove!
     2. When fielding the bunt the PITCHER must be sure to bend his knees and lower his center of gravity, by keeping his “bottom” low to the ground, before attempting to field the ball…do not attempt to field the ball standing up!
     3. Field low and “COME UP THROWING!”
     4. The left-hander would make a quarter turn clockwise toward third base.
     5. The PITCHER should “COME UP THROWING” using a sidearm/three-quarter throw…not come up and then throw, which is slower.
     6. The advantage of the sidearm/three-quarter throw is that the receiver is only fooled on one plane…horizontally, if the throw is errant!
     7. If the third baseman calls for the ball, the PITCHER must allow him to make the play and get out of the way…continue on into foul territory.
• Third Baseman :
  1. With runners on first and second base and the bunt in order, the THIRD BASEMAN is faced with his most difficult defensive situation.
  2. The THIRD BASEMAN assumes a trackman’s stance and a position on the edge of the grass a few feet from the line.
  3. The THIRD BASEMAN has three basic considerations:
     1. The fielding ability of the pitcher.
     2. Where the ball is bunted (location of bunt.)
     3. How hard the ball is bunted.
  4. The THIRD BASEMAN should have the feeling that “he would like to go in but must stay back” and he must be prepared to field any ball that is bunted too hard for the pitcher to field
  5. The THIRD BASEMAN must understand that if he makes a mistake in judgment, it must be in favor of first base and the sure out.
     1. That is, if he is uncertain whether the pitcher can field the bunt;
     2. Or, if he is caught too far out of position, he should not return to third base, but should field the ball himself and retire the runner at first.
     3. He must have a mental picture of the area where the pitcher can’t make the play to third base, or would have difficulty throwing the runner out at first base.
     4. This is the area down the third base line close to the foul line – the third baseman should run the pitcher off and make the play to first base himself if the ball is in this area.
• First Baseman: Covers first base to receive either pitcher or third baseman’s throw if no play is made to third base…this is for drill purposes only. In normal bunt defense, the second baseman covers first base.

1. Purpose :
   1. To have the middle infielder practice their double play feeds and pivots.
   2. To teach middle infielders what type of throw to expect depending upon where the ball is hit.
2. Procedure :
   1. One middle infielder at second base receiving throws and executing double play pivots.
   2. One middle infielder acts as the front man on the double play and makes feeds to second base.
   3. Front man / feeder should practice making throws on balls hit to various positions i.e. directly at him, to his left, to his right, toward second base.
   4. Middle infielder covering second base should practice various double play pivots as the location of feeders throw dictates.
   5. Pivot man executes pivot and makes a medium speed throw to a receiver located approximately half way between first and second bases.
   6. Receiver after making the catch returns the ball to the front man / feeder who bounces the ball to himself and begins the process over again.
   7. After practicing a prescribed number of feeds, the front man / feeder and pivot man should switch roles. The front man / feeder becomes the pivot man and the pivot man becomes the feeder.
   8. Because the second baseman has a greater variety of feeder throws:
      1. Ball hit directly at him, ball hit slightly to his left, ball to his extreme left, ball toward second base and back of baseline and the ball in front of the base line,
      2. It is recommended that the second baseman execute each of these throws two or three times before switching roles with the shortstop and becoming the pivot man.

 

Good Luck!