The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-07-11
THE ~THIRD-BAsE MAN.

The third base man usually begins his
season by very slow playing. He finds
that from third base to first is a consider
able distance, and that he has to make an
effort in order to get the ball over. AS a
result of this feeling, 1t takes him longer
than it should, and any ball batted sharp
ly and rather close to his base is a safe HIT
because, even if be stop it, the runner will
reach the base before the baseman can field
1t. The first coaching, then, for the third
base man should be with the object of ae-
quiring a sharp, strong throw. He must
therefore practice steadily the shoft-arm
throw described in a previous article-the
hand being brought back and close to the
car, and nearly level with it, instead of
swinging at arms length, away from the
body. For some time it will perhaps seem
almost impossible to get the ball over to
first by means of this throw, but in a
weeks practice that result is achieved sat
isfactorily, and thenceforth the third base
man will be little troubled about his throw
ing. His speed and accuracy will be in
creased by every day of his practice, and
he will seldom disgrace himself by any
thing like a wild throw.
OF all the in -fielders, it especially be
longs to this player to throw swiftly, and
also to get the ball away quickly. To
acquire this latter skill should not be near
ly so difficult as most amateurs find il.
The rfacnn Cor Their AZ 90 n,l+, IL. =. II
fact that the ordinary player does not
analyze the play sufficiently IN his own
mine to discover in just what part of it he
is deficient. The result is, that the entire
play becomes hurried and inaccurate. and
once careless, instead Of improving, the
player is likely to retrograde.
just to illustrate this, let us anaIyze the
play: Suppose a ball to be batted parallel
to the third base line two feet inside that
line. The ordinary amateur third base
man., by failing TO make a sharp start. is
obliged TO take such a bali just as it goes
by the bag, and as a result he is turned
partially away from first base, and is run
nirg from that point as well. This makes
1t necessary for him first to stop his run
and then to turn about, SO as to face the
base before throw ing. All this prepare
ton takes so much time that there is sell
dom much use in throwing the ball over at
all; but as he is too hurried to realize this,
over it goes not infrequently with a wild
throw, into the bargain.
Now let us watch a good professional, |
and note the difference. | remember see
ing Denny, now of the New York nine,
execute this play once on a scoring
drive just inside the line. The instant
the bat hit the ball, | saw Denny jump for
the third-base line. So quick was the
spring and so clever the intuition by
which, from the direction of the stroke. be
realized where the ball was coming. that
be and the ball met in front of third base;
and Denny was actually throwing the ball
to first before the runner had taken a half
dozen steps. OF course, all third base
men are not SO quick and clever as Denny,
but every amateur who fills tina position
can by an instant start, instead of a slow
oHNJ ~ nv ih"JoAi VI Odtltd bdlic De-
fore they can go SO far past him as to turn
him away from first. To turn away from
first is the great fault, and to its correction
the coach must direct his labor. Jump
in front OF the ball. is the best coaching
order that can be given any in fielder, but
it is particularly good for the third base
man.
Pick up the ball is the next step of the
play. Ii possible it should be taken
cleanly in the hands, of course; but that is
not of nearly so much moment as to get in
front of it early and thus stop it. Ifs
third base man gets a sharp hit anywhere
in front o: the line from second to third.
and BIO is swift thrower, he can stop the
ball by letting it strike him, and, picking
it up, get it to first base before the runner.
But if the fielder takes the ball a few feet
behind that line and while running toward
foul ground. the best handling will seldom
enable him to catch the runner.
Finally comes the execution of the throw
itself. He should use the short-arm throw
and lean toward first. The latter sugges-
tion is an important one, and should be
continually in the players mint during
his daily pra stice. Whenever he gets the
ball he should recover speedily, and with
what becomes almost a second nature,
should lean toward the point to which he
is to throw. The entire action in detail,
then, should be: instantly jump in front of
the ball; while picking it up, recover a
steady position, and leaning toward first,
throw as nearly on a line as possible. OF
these, the particular part of the play which
can be hurried to least advantage, and vet
the part which the inexperienced fielder
oftenest endeavors to hurry, is picking up
the ball. Ii is never good policy to snatch
at the ball instead Of picking it up.
The tenor of this advice is applicable as
well IN oil tho in 6aldars hut fla third |