First base fundamentals

[dominik]

Hey guys I was already talking about that in my hitting thread but I thought it would be better to start a new thread.

I will likely Play a lot of 1B this season so I Need some help with fundamentals because I have heard conflicting views

here are some questions:

left foot (back foot, I'm a lefty) against bag:
should the side of the foot be against the bag (I was told to do so) or the sole of the foot (seen in a YT vid)?

ready Position at bag:
both heels on the bag or just one (which)?

ball in the dirt directly at you:
I struggle with those. FH or BH?

maybe some more questions will follow:). would be cool to see some Videos or gifs too

[tewks]

Something that is available now:

tewksbaseball.com/2011/11/13/justin-morneau-plays-at-first-base-explained/

[tewks]

Are you a lefty or righty thrower?

[dominik]

lefty thrower.

thanks for the morneau Video, I will watch it in a Moment:)

[dominik]

the Video is great but I wanted to see a normal receiving Play and not a DB or fielding a ball (still very and worth watching of course)

does anyone have such a Clip? MLB never Shows it they will Show the shortstop and then only the ball popping into the glove.

what I want to see is a Player getting to the bag, Setting up and making the stride.

[Brett]

Dom,

While I don't have a video, here are some things to focus on when receiving a throw at first base:

• Square up to whomever you are receiving from.
• Never, ever, stretch for the ball before it is thrown
• Always use your left foot as the anchor to the bag if you are left handed, and vise versa

Don't concern yourself with straddling the bag. You need to have an awareness for the bag with your feet, but you need to square up for the throw in front of the bag.

You want to get as much information on where the ball is going to be before you stretch for the ball. Some think that trying to do the splits out there is a big deal - it is nonsense. Square up to the guy throwing you the ball and only stretch for it when you know where you can catch it. If you stretch too early and there is a wayward throw, chances are you won't be able to adjust to it and you will be in trouble.

Using your left foot as your anchor to the bag will help you ensure that you will get a consistent read on each ball thrown and it will maximize the area you can cover around the bag.

The Morneau clips are good but he is right handed. Since you are a lefty it would be great to get some J.T. Snow clips. He was the best defensive first baseman I have ever seen.

I think people tend to underrate first baseman defensively. Having a great glove at first can prevent dozens of errors from the other infielders throughout a season.

[dominik]

thanks Brett.

what does using the left foot as an anchor mean?

does that mean finding the bag with the left foot (or are you talking the obvious that a lefty strides with the right foot? even in europe we know that:D)?

the not Stretch before throw Thing is definitely important and I used to mess that up. just like in hitting where you should not load before the pitch is in the air:).

[Brett]

Mar 19, 2013 13:06:05 GMT -8 dominik said:

what does using the left foot as an anchor mean?

It means that the left foot is the connection to the bag, that's all.

Another thing to consider:

When picking throws out of the dirt, the smoother you are with you actions the better. Guys tend to want to flail their glove around or snatch it quickly for style points. Read the ball and try to catch it as if it were an egg you didn't want to break.

The softer your hands are the better. Big motions and violent moves lead to tightening up, which creates hard hands.

[mudvnine]

Nice post Brett, as an ol' lefty first baseman, I was nodding in approval as I read along.

One thing that I like to use wrt to the "anchor" foot, awareness for the bag, squaring to the thrower, not stepping/stretching until you know where it is going...and that is the cue of "the dance".

Many new first basemen want to move to the bag, find it, put their foot on it, and then look for that ball/thrower.

I use "the dance" as the movements/footwork that are often times required to move your anchor foot to the side/location of the bag that allows for the greatest distance to be reached for an errant throw, and still remain in contact with the bag.

The little shuffle step(s) to the left or right side of the bag as the ball is in the air, is "the dance" that I'm speaking of.

While the best do it subconsciously, lesser first basemen get all to the other things correct, but always place their foot in the same location (middle) of the bag as they move to the ball, and thus limit their ability to get to some balls that they would have easily.....had they just moved their feet, and gain the width (15") of the bag.

Just a little of what I found beneficial years ago.....

[Cannonball]

When I was in HS, I was coached early in the season by a guy who was playing for the Cubs. He always told 1st basemen to get to the bad fast. Don't cruise. Find the bag with both feet and have soft knees. Do not stretch for the ball until you see the path of the ball in flight. (He said that was the #1 error 1st basemen make.) He said work the corners of the bag with both feet to be "athletic." I still don't know what that totally means but I was told to take my position and he'd say go. I'd sprint there and then he'd hit a ball from around SS with a fungo. I was an OF and never understood why I had to go do this at first. Still, I did what I was told and, to be honest, I think it made me a lot better on those line drive balls in the OF. I can still hear him screaming to be athletic as if I ever was.

Mud's post is really good. I did my best to do the fungo drill with my first basemen. Thank goodness I had athletes.