5 Outfield Play

(Bryan Henderson, U.Washington; transcribed from notes by BC)

With the slow pitch of the softball, players will likely ``pull" the ball (i.e., hit to the side of the field closest to them). Thus, right-handed batters (red feet in figure 1) will on average hit to left field. Outfielders should shift to their right (red arrows in figure 1): LF guards against hits down the left-field line, CF cheats towards the left-center power alley, and RF moves over into right-center. For left-handed batters (green feet in figure 1), simply reverse the positioning adjustments above.

When facing a power hitter, remeber that a ball that lands in front of you is much less damaging than one that sails over your head. Thus play back. Give yourself a small enough cushion so that you have enough time to reach any ball outside of a home run. When facing a contact hitter, you can move in more because of the increased likelihood of shorter hits, maybe 1/3 of the way to the infield (& almost never more than halfway). In principle, what you're trying to minimize is the weighted integral of balls landing in front/behind you over the batter's PDF for hit-length, where $w_{\rm bhnd} \gg w_{\rm frnt}$. Specific game situations may alter these weights, of course.

When positioning yourself to catch a fly, always take your first step back. It is easier to correct a misgauged ball by running forward than it is by running back(ward). As you gauge the flight of the ball, it is optimal to allow a slight offset between you and your estimated point of interception with the ball. Why? So you can have the ability to have your weight (& hence your momentum) going towards the direction you'll wish to throw (i.e., the infield). This makes your relay throw easier. Fielding a ground ball in the outfield uses the same techniques as described in §4 for infielders, only here you are the last line of defence. Sacrifice your body if you have to!-- just don't let the ball get by you since that is when the batter can make serious advances around the basepath.

Relaying a throw to the infield:

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