First Base

[SoCal_Dad]

I like to present it as fielding - start in an athletic stance facing the thrower and the step's foot/direction is dictated by the throw.

The one I noticed this weekend was on a bunt in front of the plate and F3 missed the throw because she straddled the front-inside corner of the bag instead of positioning herself to create a throwing lane.

 

[slingnit]

I know nothing about the position - could you enlighten me? I'd love to teach my rec girls and my MS team the right way.

This is Don Mattingly on playing first. 9 Gold Gloves and if not for injury could have been top 5 all time at first.

 

[smddad]

Basically, you go to the base and put your feet, near the inside corner. I reach back with my right foot and tap the bag, to make sure it is there. Do not put your foot on the bag, until the ball is thrown.

I like to have F3 find the bag with both heels, then step towards the ball while in the air.

 

[slingnit]

Helps to add the video, duh! At 1:58 talks receiving the throw.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

One thing I can add, is if the throw is taking you (the 1st baseman) down the line and your glove arm is going to get hit by the runner - I let the throw go. You probably aren't going to get an out anyway, you don't want a separated shoulder, and you don't want to clothes line the runner.

My right fielder should be in a position to get that throw as it rebounds off the fence.

When the ball is hit up the line and is rolling towards you, I coach to grab it in the glove, smother the ball and tag the runner. If getting knocked on your butt, collapse and sort of roll down. The batter/runner can stop, but she is not allowed to back up.

 

[SBmom8992]

Basically, you go to the base and put your feet, near the inside corner. I reach back with my right foot and tap the bag, to make sure it is there. Do not put your foot on the bag, until the ball is thrown. Many times you can catch and tap the bag and get on with the next play.

If the fielders don't know how to throw you a 4 seam fast ball, many throws are wild.

Your first responsibility is to get the ball, not touch the bag. Sometimes, I would end up with both toes on the bag, in order to get flat on the ground to receive the throw.

As a lefty first baseman all my life, except some little league days when I played SS and third for one season, this advice is right on. Ball first, pop the feet back to the bag second. Sell the play, particularly on a close one. Square up to the thrower, never commit to the bag until you see the throw is on target.

 

[4 girl's dad]

Good thread and confirms what I've been coaching my 1B from info posted on this forum.


Thank you DFP!

 

[TMoney]

I've come close to starting a thread on this issue many times to see if my observations match reality.

I agree that defense lags behind hitting and pitching in college. At the highest levels (SEC, Pac10, etc.), I do see a lot of great defensive plays that come from speed, athleticism (ie, agility) and strong arms. But I also see a lot of routine plays that are botched. Also see more mental errors that I would expect, throwing to the wrong base, etc. I see players that should be playing first who are in the outfield, players who should be playing third playing SS. And at the lower levels of college, you have all that plus less athleticism, so it's even more conspicuous.

My point iisn't to criticize college softball. It's just to ask, is it just me, or do others see that? And if it is the case, why?

Is it that the fields are small, not much as much ground to cover as baseball, so while range is nice, it's something you're willing to compromise just a little to get a good bat in the lineup? Except rarely for a catcher, I've never seen a defensive specialist in college softball. It's pretty much the best 9 hitters.

I will concede this - I do think TV sometimes doesn't do justice to how quick the game is. I'm more impressed when I watch it in person. Hard ground balls and line drives get on fielders very quickly when you actually see it from bat to glove.

I think teams have figured out that if you just hit the crap out of the ball and put 7 runs on the board, you will win most games regardless of your lack of defense. I think you are on to something with the field dimensions and lack of range. I used to get so mad when I would plunk down $50 to go to a MLB game and watch OF's jog to a ball in the gap, I mean how hard is it to run when you're making $16million a year?? Then I realized that a double is a double no matter how hard they run.

I think college coaches have conceded or given up on defense kinda like the MLB OF has given up on hustling to the ball in the gap....

 

[KCM]

I beg to differ completely on the lack of defense for championship driven teams....the ones that want it will go all out to get every out quickly.

My daughter plays 1st base when not pitching and so I will say that it really is the 4th maybe 3rd most important position on the field after pitcher, catcher and SS (even this is questionable). Lot of outs happen at 1st. She has to be quick on her feet, transitioning and mentally. I taught mine to have a neutral athletic stance towards the defender throwing the ball with left heel on inside corner of bag. The feel of the bag and location become almost instinctive with out question. We get a lot of double plays from her when we decide not to go for lead runner on the first out. Some aggressive runners will attempt to get extra base once they realize we are going for the batter and then she will burn them on the over rounding of the one base or attempt to get a second base. So a lot of her throws are directly to 3rd and she has to have them on a lazer low to inside corner of 3rd for them to be able to lay down the tag with a block if necessary. Now the all dramatic stretch only comes into play when the other player has thrown a low or bad throw but directly to her but I teach her to play the one hop also not to commit completely stretched out or unless we trying to get closer to the ball to beat the runner. This wear her quick response has be sharp on how to turn the glove and try not to stab at the ball. On a bad thrown down the line we leave the bag and stay to inside still while not reaching across runner to stop ball. A hurt arm is not worth the risk. Let it go.


My .02 on the position.

 

[Strike2]

When are coaches going to start teaching players how to receive a throw at 1st base?

Being seeing it for years at all levels. Saw it three more times today in the SEC & Big 10 playoffs where F3 plants a foot and the base and leans toward the fielder about to throw the ball and cannot recover in time to stop a throw that is slightly off-line from going past them.

I can understand it at the lower level of youth ball, maybe even MS, but at the college level?

There's a lot of "plug and play" at the youth level, and it's often a place to put someone who is, for whatever reason, not playing their primary position. The position requires work to play well, and I've seen otherwise good teams lose ball games because their 1B couldn't execute.