Receiving ball from outfield at 2nd base

How do you teach your middle infielders to set-up to receive a throw from the outfield to make a tag on a runner heading into the base? Do you have them set-up north of the base, outfield side, and do a sweep tag, or do you have them hover over the base for a drop down tag? Or other?

You are asking for trouble if they hog the base.

Like them, like you stated, North side and sweep or place their glove down.

I believe Kobata teaches to never have your back to the runner. Balls hit to RF or CRF would have fielder set up with right foot on 3b side of bag and let the ball come in to the glove. For LF and LCF, just reverse things. I believe letting the ball come to the glove is faster than catching the ball and coming back to the tag. Don't forget your backups. I'm always interested in what others might do.

It depends on the angle of the throw coming from the outfield. Obviously you can not set up on the first base side of the bag that the runner will be sliding into.

What I recommend is straddling two corners of the bag giving the runner only half the bag either inside or outside but not both. Nothing annoys me more as a coach than watching fielders take perfectly throw balls throw from the outfield at catching them out in front of the bag and reaching back for the tag, your goal should be to let the ball come as deep into the bag as possible. So if you are getting a ball from left field straddle outside of the bag giving the runner the inside half. A ball coming from RF is a little harder since you might be throwing the ball into the runners back you have to make a judgement call based on where the fielder is and how wide the runner made the turn you might have to again give the inside of the bag and make a back hand catch and tag, from CF I'm OK with taking the whole back and sides and just giving the runner the front of the base, as the throw comes in be smart if it off course just go get the ball and don't stand there and get plowed into, if the throw is coming in and its going to be close I can't reiterate enough let the ball get as close to the bag as possible.

and NEVER position yourself in front of the bag reaching out for the throw unless your are trying to get a force out, otherwise get close to the bag and stay there until you can see its a bad throw with no play.

Thanks for the advice. I've always been a catch and sweep tag player, rather than the catch and drop the glove down for the tag. I will focus on waiting for the ball to come to the glove, catch and drop down for the tag.

CV: On a throw from LF, are you saying your back should be towards right center, with the left foot near the first base side of the bag?

Lickety Split said:

Thanks for the advice. I've always been a catch and sweep tag player, rather than the catch and drop the glove down for the tag. I will focus on waiting for the ball to come to the glove, catch and drop down for the tag.

CV: On a throw from LF, are you saying your back should be towards right center, with the left foot near the first base side of the bag?

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Pretty much like this just rotate yourself depending on the angle. On a bad throw you might have to reach out and sweep tag but the point is on a good throw you should let the ball come to the bag.

just like that, locate the fielder, quick peek at the runner, and focus on the catch. top pic, SS taking the throw, 2b cutoff, LF backing, reverse for bottom pic - 2b, SS, LF.