Mod Squad on the Horizon

Our next challenge is upon us this afternoon. The Mod Squad have a very good team and we'll have to play well to beat them. Don't think we can just show up and come away with a win. We had two good practice sessions this week so we should be well prepared. Still, I have some food for thought.

1. We are going to make errors. Don't let them get you down. The best ballplayers in the world drop the ball and make bad throws sometimes. So will we. We just have to put our errors behind us and prepare ourselves for the next play. If we dwell on our mistakes, we can get distracted. We've made all of the plays at practice numerous times so we know we can make them in the games.

2. Resist the urge to make a long throw. When our opponents get a hit, we must try to bring the ball in quickly to Lawrence, our cutoff man. Holding the runner at first base and keeping the potential force out at second base is vital. Making long throws from the outfield to third base or home plate seldom succeed. They usually result in all of the runners advancing an extra base. We lose the force out opportunity and it opens the door for our opponents to score several runs. We want to make them to get three hits to score a run. (Of course, we would be overjoyed to see the other teams make long throws so we can take the extra bases and score lots of runs.)

3. Be aggressive on the bases. That doesn't mean run with reckless abandon. It means when the ball is hit, we should be running until the other team forces us to stop. We shouldn't be thinking only of reaching the next base. We could have scored at least three more runs in our last game if we had run the bases well. On plays when the ball was rolling loose in the outfield, some of our runners were stopping, content to advance only one base. Why? Pay attention to the base coach and run hard until he orders you to stop.

I also have some reminders about the rules:

1. A baserunner who touches home plate will be called out. You must run to the "finish line" that extends from the batters box to the backstop.

2. All plays at home plate require the defense to touch the plate while possessing the ball to get you out. They can't tag you out.

3. There are two bases at first base. The double base is there to prevent the runners and first basemen from colliding and getting hurt. If you get a clean hit, you can run to the bag on the fair side of the line and make your turn toward second base. If you hit a ball on the infield and the defense has a play on you at first base, you must touch the bag on the foul side of the line. If you touch the bag on the fair side of the line, you will be called out.

4. You can overrun first base safely without risk of being tagged out unless you make an effort toward second base. The moment you make an effort to reach second base, you're at risk and the defense can tag you out after you pass first base. To avoid bad calls from umpires who don't understand the rules, it's best to turn to your right after you overrun first base. (Some of the umpires incorrectly assume that any turn to your left is an effort toward second base even though the rule book instructs them otherwise.)

5. If you are on first base and the batter hits an infield grounder for a potential double play, you cannot bowl over the infielder trying to force you out at second. You must slide, stop, or veer out of the way. If you go to the base standing up and collide with the fielder, the umpire has the discretion to charge you with interference and give the defense a double play. You will be out and so will the batter.

Any questions?