What's up guys, Coach Madden, YouGoProBaseball.com and I'm here with Nick Shaw from The Baseball
Box.
If you don't know about The Baseball Box check down below.
I'll put a link down there for you.
And he's going to talk about making throws on the run.
You know we hear all the time "you've got to set your feet to make the throw" but guess
what, there are a few plays where we can't really set our feet, we've got to get rid
of the ball quick and Nick's got some great tips for us.
What do you got?
That's right.
Almost one time a game, at least one time a game you're going to see a chopper in the
infield where the infielder has to come in and throw on the run.
In a perfect world we want to set our feet, make a good throw but sometimes the ball doesn't
dictate that.
So we're going to talk about that a little bit.
First things first, speed of the hop, or speed of the ball, if there's a big hop I want to
come get it if it's above my waist, two hand catch, making my throw.
If it's below my waist, one hand catch, bringing it in together, and then making the throw.
We're determining that on our approach to the ball.
If I have the ability to get my right shoulder around the ball and get my momentum starting
to head towards first base, I want to do that.
Again, that's dictated by the ball.
What I mean by that is, instead of charging the ball with my shoulders square to the plate,
I want to try to get around the ball and catch it this way to get my right shoulder headed
towards first base, create my momentum that way.
Because remember, every time I have the ball and I'm on the run, the ball is moving, the
ball is moving with me.
So the ball is moving away from first base if I take that ball straight on, it's moving
this way.
If I can create my momentum and have the ball with me, the ball is now moving in a direction
towards first base.
That's important because as soon as I go to throw this ball, not only am I moving, but
the ball is moving as well, which means my throw is going to go that way.
It's going to tail up the line.
Which brings me to where we are aiming.
If I'm throwing on the run, I've got to keep that in mind, the ball is going to tail with
me so my target is outside of my first baseman, to the left of my first baseman.
I used to aim about five feet to the left of the first baseman when I'm throwing on
the run.
So on approach, trying to get my shoulders around the ball, make my one handed or two
handed catch, staying compact, that's the next step, with my front shoulder.
I don't want to fly open because now I'm losing velocity, this isn't a strong position and
the ball is going to run and sink with me.
So getting around the ball, making my proper catch, keeping tight with my front shoulder,
bringing my glove to my chest, making a throw.
We're not throwing off of our left, we're throwing off of our right foot here.
So glove to the chest, making our throw off of our right foot, keeping in mind that we
are running and we don't have the ability to throw over the top anymore.
But we don't want to get under 90 degrees, we don't want to get under 90 degrees.
We want to keep our arm about 90 degrees, throwing this way to our target, keeping in
mind the ball is going to run with us, to hit my first baseman in the chest.
Now, one question, when you're coming through, let's say you can't get fully around that
ball which sometimes happens and you're not creating that momentum towards first base,
or maybe you are, what is the after throw like?
Do you peel off away from where you're throwing or do you try to go towards where you're throwing,
are you continuing your momentum through the ball where you fielded it?
How does that work?
Or is it different?
So I always wanted to keep my my momentum towards first or as close as I can.
I don't want to fall off my throw because the ball is going to move with me.
If I don't stay through that throw, I fall off the throw, my velocity is decreasing,
and the ball is now going to run more.
If I can't get my right shoulder around the ball for a short stop, say there's a chopper
between you and the third baseman, sometimes I can't get around that ball, but you have
to keep in mind that I'm going to have less velocity and the ball is going to run even
more.
So now instead of five feet, maybe I'm aiming out ten feet and the ball is going to sink
with you on this because I don't have much velocity so I'm aiming a little bit higher
that way the ball is going to run right to my first baseman.
Now, let me ask you this, when you are fielding that ball and you come to go throw are you,
your footsteps as you go to throw, are you going to have a little bit of a, almost like
a mini jump in there as you do it?
Or is it going to just be a continued step?
Or how does that work?
At the very end you're going to have a little tiny hop that way you can time it right.
Based on your footwork coming to the ball and how the ball is bouncing, maybe that hop
gets a little bigger but the last step on to your right leg is going to be a little
adjusted that way you're on time with your arm and your body.
Awesome.
Awesome stuff.
Thank you so much.
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Thanks guys.
Thank you Nick.