What Makes A Good Fielder Great?

We are on the precipice of the next generation of defensive analysis. UZR and the +/- system are becoming more mainstream thanks to the saber community, and one-by-one, general managers are starting to see the immense value in defense as a profitable skill set.

The next great hope on the horizon is field f/x and their incredible use of GPS technology to track the movements of every single player on the field. Right now however, we pin most of our analysis on the eyes of our scouts and tools like UZR.

But when you hear that Elvis Andrus had a 10.7 UZR in 2009, how does he get there? Range and zones reveal much about a players defensive abilities, but how does a professional player maximize his defensive abilities?

While some players can make fielding or catching a ball seem effortless, in reality, a player must sync his mind and body together to create the most efficient route in seconds time. The brain works as a geometric database that needs to recall past plays, write equations for the current play, and adjust accordingly on the way to the ball. It may look natural, but years and years of training and muscle memory are the reasons why.

Here are some tips infielders will use to increase their range and efficiency…

1. Knowing the pitch, pitch location, and movement of the pitches

Assuming the pitcher can hit his spots, a player can adjust where he is positioned on the field accordingly. One step in a certain direction can make all the difference in getting to a ball.

Let’s say a righty is throwing sinkers down and in to a right-handed hitter. A shortstop would then position himself more in the hole to take away the chopping grounder. However, if the infielder is too obvious with his positioning, a hitter, or the coaching staff will pick up on it and anticipate the pitch location. This is a chess match that goes unnoticed on TV.

2. Knowing the type of swing the hitter has, and his tendencies.

This may seem obvious, but through scouting reports and video, you know where players tend to hit the ball. However, if the pitcher is trying to take advantage of a hole in the batters swing path, then the fielders will be able to adjust accordingly and plan for the expected rather then just react. Positioning can never be overlooked.

3. Moving before the pitch is thrown.

This is a skill that separates the good defenders from the great. As the pitch is about to be struck, a fielder will start moving in the direction he feels the ball will be hit. By reading the rhythm of the hitter, his swing path, pitch location/movement, and the whole “feel” of the pitch, some infielders will take an educated guess as to the result.

Instead of reacting to the ball, the greats will anticipate and get a head start.

4. Opening the hips up.

Depending on the inside or outside location of the pitch, the fielder slightly opens his hips in either direction before the pitch. The fielder will be able to get a better jump on the ball because he has opened up before the hitter even makes contact.

5. Working in angles.

An infielder must approach every ball at the most efficient angle to cut down the distance from fielding to get in line to first base. Most of this comes from having proper footwork and proper speed.

6. Figuring out the speed of the ball right off the bat.

Once you know how hard the ball is hit, you’ll be able to get your body to it at the best angle. Because it happens so quickly, there are some keys to figuring this out.

You need to listen to the sound of the bat at the point of contact, recognizing the difference between solid and weak contact.

You can see if a hitter was fooled on a pitch, meaning the hitter’s bat speed is a little slower than normal, reducing the speed of the ball off the bat.

Also, it’s important to pay attention to where the ball first makes contact with the ground. If it hits the dirt around home plate first, you can expect it to be more of a chopper, so the infielders must crash right away. If it makes it beyond the cut of the grass, you’ll have more time to set the proper angle.

7. Knowing where every single player is on the field at all times.

From batter-to-batter and even pitch-to-pitch, fielders will alter their positioning. It is important that each player knows where the other is. Let’s say their is a flair over the second baseman’s head, and he has no idea where the RF is positioned. He will then be lost as to how aggressively he should pursue the ball.

A good fielder will create his “range” before every pitch. He will set up his maximum boundary for all possible plays so that he’s ready for anything.

The best type of fielder is one who visualizes the field as a collection of geometric angles. Excellent defense is a mixture of athleticism, anticipation, muscle memory, and efficiency.

Most of these things can be seen by good scouts as it takes a well trained eye to be able to see defensive intangibles. It’s also why we need to continue to use both our own eyes, advanced defensive metrics, and when the time comes, field f/x.