Outfielders

My DD rakes on the infield but likes outfield. She has the speed and tracking and loves to throw out girls running to first base from CF.

DD is a solid infielder. So far coaches have not been willing to lose her at SS or 3B to put her in the outfield (we just finished 10U). This year I hope to see her get some time in the OF because I think she'd be great it, I think she'll love it when we go up against strong hitting teams, and she's a pitcher. She's not going to be play left side infield and pitch. From what I can tell at the older ages coaches don't put their pitchers at SS or 3B. Personally I think she'll like OF a whole lot better than 1B so I'd like her to get some time out there. We had a player last season who was a so-so 2B and a freaking beast in the outfield. BEAST. She caught everything, even things you just knew were going to go over her head, and fast as lightning. Her dad was so hung up on her playing infield, he couldn't see what a disservice he was doing not allowing her to focus on her strengths. I don't get it. We're talking last line of defense. Go look on YouTube at all the best MLB plays for various years. It's mostly outfield. They get to run and dive and climb the walls and save the game. What's not to love?

DD has played IF the majority of her SB years and has played every IF position. But has filled in at OF when she was subbing for some teams. She can catch well and has a great arm but I don't think she knows the OF as well. It is def something that has to be taught or practiced to be good at. That's why I do get kind of annoyed in rec that our new players/not-great players are always in OF. In 12U players actually can hit the ball so if a ball gets hit to the OF, it's almost a guaranteed triple or HR

Errors in the Infield cost bases. Errors in the outfield cost runs! Plays in the outfield can be game changers. I don't know how many times I have seen a hard hit ball to the RF that should have been an easy out at 1st if they just tried. Instead they automatically throw it to the cut off at 2nd. or an OF that can't hit the cut off going home. Instead they want to be a hero and the ball goes to the catcher off line(or sails overhead) way after the runner has scored. Meanwhile the runners advance to the next base. Hit your cut off and keep that runner at 1st. A good OF will have situational awareness, hit their cut offs, take the right line to a gapper, set up correctly when fielding the ball at the fence, know how to drop step on the crack of the bat, catch the ball while running through the catch, etc. The list goes on. My DD thinks she can play anywhere, but I know she doesn't have the skills that I mentioned. But I know how valuable a great OF is. Cheers to the Outies!!!

DD has always played infield up until the last two years when she switched to outfield. We were at a showcase tryout and there were probably 4 middle infielders for every 1 outfielder. She has speed, so she decided to go where the need is.

In talking to a college coach about whether to position herself as in IF/OF and continuing to work on both, here's what she had to say....
"Be great at something. I can find players who are average infielders and average outfielders any time. What I need are players who are great at their position. If you want to be an outfielder, commit to it and become great at it."

DD mostly plays IF but we used to practice OF a fair amount on our own. Some of our infielders are a train wreck out there and has cost us games. We have had a really good CF the last few years that has won us games.

Everyone appreciates her. Seems like every game she steals at least 1 hit from opposing team.

For some reason if we have 8 players DD gets 1 of the 2 outfield spots, she does not enjoy that so much. To much running.

(Our primary CF is a lefty who of course likes playing 1st too. We put her at 1st occasionally to keep her happy. She is a good 1st baseperson too but our defense takes a hit because she is a great CF and there is a big drop off)

I love OFers (and not just because my daughter is one...okay, well maybe a little because my daughter is one). Having coached from 12U through 18U, I have seen firsthand games won and lost by the play of the OF. As Orange Socks said, errors in the IF give up a base, errors in the OF give up runs. A great OFer has that critical combination of skill, instinct, and fearlessness. A great OF has all that plus great communication (nothing worse than seeing two OFers collide). I love watching the wind go out of the other team's sails when an OFer makes a great leaping catch at the fence or a full layout diving catch taking away sure extra bases or worse. I love watching outfielders who know immediately what to do and where to go with the ball. I love watching OFers make up more and more elaborate ways to communicate the number of outs to each other.

People...or more specifically Parents...who look down on the position and don't feel their little muffin should be relegated to the outfield simply DO NOT GET IT, and likely never will.

I do have one little pet peeve, however. I cringe a little at the term "outies". I know, it's my issue to get over. maybe someday I will.

Never heard the term outies before, not sure I would allow it to be used. Depends on how it is said I guess.

KPower said:

I totally agree that everyone should be taught the game, rather than a position. DD is lefty. A lot of people automatically decide she's too little to play 1st, and doesn't pitch, so she must be OF. Thankfully her old coach gave her a chance to catch and she was pretty darn good at it. Earning the starting position for 4 years. She decided to change teams for a variety of reasons and her new coach works everyone everywhere. Everyone practices outfield and everyone practices infield. Including DD. Her new coach even commented how she is fast enough on her feet and has quick enough reflexes that even for a lefty he would like to try her at short...She's not thrilled with that idea because she is comfortable playing C or CF (and very OCCASIONALLY 1st), but she was grinning ear to ear to just hear him say it. He does appreciate her speed in the OF though and he makes she sure know it - always commenting on how she's "money" out there.

DD is SO very happy to have a team who appreciates every position on the team.

Click to expand...

As a lefty I can relate. As an AC on our adult rec league team in the Air Force we had this new hot shot kid showed up who insisted on playing SS, after two innings of him making 4 or 5 errors, I was behind him in LF tapped him on the shoulder and said we are switching, he said you are a lefty you can't play SS, I said "first ball I boot or guy that reaches 1B because I don't make the pivot and throw in time you can come back to SS" he played the rest of the game in LF.

To OP though can definitely relate as with other posters I agree poor IF play costs bases and poor OF play costs runs

I absolutely agree that a player should learn all positions! I'm just saying that she isn't as confident in the OF because she doesn't play there much. She'll do it if asked no problem. Sometimes she just overthinks.


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