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About John Madden
Expertise
I will try to answer any and all instructional baseball questions to the best of my ability. Questions regarding pitching, hitting, catching, fielding, baserunning, the mental side of the game, strength and conditioning, nutrition, throwing programs, getting college baseball scholarships, playing professional baseball, etc. Please no fan questions only player development and player improvement questions.

Experience
Played from little league baseball to Triple A professional baseball. Instructor, coach, and motivator!

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You Go Pro Baseball

Publications
You Go Pro Baseball

Education/Credentials
Poinciana High School Baseball Seminole Community College Baseball Auburn University Baseball San Diego Padres Baseball New York Mets Baseball

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Sports/Recreation for Kids > Baseball Instruction > Positioning myself on the field

Baseball Instruction - Positioning myself on the field

Expert: John Madden - 10/23/2009

Question
QUESTION: I play firstbase.In what situations would the firstbase man need to back-up homeplate

ANSWER: Really the only time that you would even think about backing up homeplate would be a for sure triple hit to the left side of the leftfield line with a man on first, or an in the park homerun also hit down the left field line. Other than that you would have other responsibilities or priorities. Usually you would be the trailer if it was a double with a man on first (a trailer is when you run behind the runner following him to second in case your team wants to throw behind him). Also if the baseball was hit to right or center you would have to be the cutoff man to home. I think even in the circumstances listed above I would just kind of hang out in between home and first in case the baseball bounces out into the infield. The pitcher should be backing up home in those plays so you might just want to stay in the shallow infield. I hope that helps! Go to www.yougoprobaseball.com for more tips, drills, and videos. Thanks

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I play firstbase, under what circumstances would the firstbase men not hold the runners on and when would they play on the grass or in front of the runner other than when bases are loaded?

Answer
You wouldn't hold the baserunner on if there was a runner on second base or bases loaded. Another time you wouldn't hold them on is if your team is up by a lot of runs or their team is up by a lot of runs. The reason behind this is because it is an unwritten rule in baseball that you don't steal when your team is up by a bunch. Another time you wouldn't is if there was a tremendously slow runner on first and you know for sure he is not going anywhere (FOR SURE).

When you would play on the grass is if you want to get the guy out at home instead of at first. This usually happens when you are tied, up, or down by 1 and late in the ball game. When that run really means something. Another time you may play on the grass is when you think that they guy is going to bunt.

I hope this helped. Good Luck with 1stBase!

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