Baseball Strategies: Your Guide to the Game Within the Game was written in 2003 by college baseball coaches to give the reader insight and knowledge. This guide compilation was edited by Jack Stallings and Bob Bennett. The book teaches 17 chapters of knowledge on diverse topics written by college baseball coaches. It is most applicable to baseball managers, at any level, who want to bone up on their strategy. They can learn a lot. Are you interested in new baseball strategy?
What Baseball Strategies Offers
There are 17 chapters in Baseball Strategies: Your Guide to the Game Within the Game all written by college baseball coaches. The chapters cover a great deal of topics, here they are listed here to provide the reader with a good idea of what is in the book.
- Chapter 1: Determining the Lineup and Batting by Richard “Rich” Jones (University of Illinois)
- Chapter 2: Scouting and Studying the Opposition by Chuck Hartman (Virginia Tech)
- Chapter 3: Using Signals for Hitting and Baserunning by Mike Gillespie (University of Southern California)
- Chapter 4: Hitting Strategy by Mark Johnson (Texas A&M)
- Chapter 5: Base-Running Strategy by Danny Hall (Georgia Institute of Technology)
- Chapter 6: Decision-Making in Specific Offensive Situations by Jack Stallings (Florida State University, Wake Forrest University. Georgia Southern University)
- Chapter 7: Shutting Down Hitters by Keith Madison (University of Kentucky)
- Chapter 8: Stopping Baserunners by Bob Bennett (Fresno State University)
- Chapter 9: Fielding the Position by Geoff Zahn (University of Michigan)
- Chapter 10: Working a Game by John Winkin (Maine University)
- Chapter 11: Handling Pitchers by Steve Hertz (Gonzaga University)
- Chapter 12: Setting the Lineup: Position 2 Through 9 by Jim Morris (University of Miami)
- Chapter 13: Defensive Positioning by George Horton (Cal State Fullerton)
- Chapter 14: Defensive Tactics by Bob Morgan (Indiana University)
- Chapter 15: Adjusting for Different Levels of Competition by John Herbold (Long Beach Poly)
- Chapter 16: Adapting the Gameplan for Different Situations by Dick Birmingham (Hillcrest High School, Hillcrest American Legion, USA Junior Olympic Team)
- Chapter 17: Playing the Game the Right Way by Bobo Brayton (Washington State University)
Example Guide: How to Set a Lineup
Chapter 12, written by Jim Morris is about the all-important concept of defensive positioning. This is very important to baseball strategy. So, by position. The Catcher is the most important defensive player on the field. They are like a coach on the field and have a great many responsibilities. Those responsibilities include calling all the pitches making sure all on the team are baseball-ready on every pitch and calling first and third plays and bunt plays.
The first baseman should be a left-handed player so that the glove is to the field side. In terms of technique, when holding a baserunner on first base the first baseman should put their foot on the front corner of first base and pull straight down with the tag. The Second Baseman must be a good fielder but can have a weaker arm because the throw to first from where the Second Baseman plays unusually is not far at all.
They call third base the hot corner for good reason. Most hitters are right-handed, are most hitters pull the baseball. It is possible line drives get hit to third base and the Third Baseman should be vigilant against line drives. This vigilance should lead the third baseman to catch line drives that are hit to get – quick reflexes.
The shortstop should be the best fielder on the team. This is because the most likely batter outcome is a pulled groundball, that is, to the shortstop. There is a reason why a 6-3 is the most common outcome in scoring baseball. When playing at normal depth on a crisply hit ground ball, with a good throw, the Shortstop will get the runner by step. The same general principles applying to the second baseman apply to the Shortstop. Field the ball out in front, at the top of the triangle on a ball hit directly to you.
Outfield strategy is important for baseball strategies. The left-fielder should catch baseballs that are hit to them in the air. They should always take a step back with the foot to the side where the ball is hit. The Leftfielder does have backup responsibilities, primarily at third base.
The centerfielder. Like the other outfielders, the Centerfielder needs to hit the cut-off guys in the head, on a line, with the throw. The main backup responsibility of the Right fielder is first base. When a ground ball is hit hard to the Right fielder, they can throw a batter-turned-baserunner out at first base. When the ball is hit to the other outfielders the Right fielder must back up the Centerfielder.
Baseball Strategies’ Verdict
Baseball Strategies: Your Guide to the Game Within the Game is written for those hoping to coach or manage a baseball team and want to improve their strategic approach to the game. It should be welcome to get advice from experienced college coaches. This is a great book for that.
