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Center Field

Requirements:  Speed, and a keen sense of judgment with the ability to act on a split-second decision. 

See the Basics page for general information on fielding and throwing.

     Theoretically the CF is one of the most important players on the field.  You should know you have the speed to track down fly balls in the gaps, so work on your ability to recognize where the ball is hit.  Whenever there is batting practice or any opportunity to stand in your position to watch the ball come off the bat, take it.  The more balls you see from that spot the better you will be able to read trajectory in a game.  Pay attention whenever you're in center field.  Learn to guess where each ball is going.  Use all the info you can: the signals, the wind, the target, the air, the batter's swing.  Learn to see what the swing looks like that sends a curveball foul, over the backstop, or over your head.  Learn every pitch each pitcher throws, and know your pitchers.  Continually test your ability to anticipate, and learn the confidence you need to break for the ball in that split-second before it's too late.  Don't say to yourself that a hit in the gap is a hit in the gap; realize that an outstanding play to rob a hit in the gap is an out for the team.  Don't be afraid to make it.  So what that everyone learns to expect it of you.  An awful lot of incredibly talented legends played your position, and you have the right to expect the best of yourself too.
     You need to develop the instinct for positioning yourself for the moment.  Anticipate where the ball may go by knowing your batters.  Never go onto the field without knowing what part of their order is up.  Certainly watch the dugout for your coach to move you, but learn to know what to do on your own.   When your team is ahead in the late innings you might want to not let any ball get behind you so you play deep.  On the other hand, if you're the home team and you got the top of your order coming to the plate, and you know the odds of this particular batter to hit past you are very low, or if you want to cut off the tying run from 3rd because the bottom of your order is coming up, you might not play so deep.  Learn what experience and knowledge can teach you about your position.  
     Your are the leader of the outfield, but respect the ability of your teammates.  Encourage others with your spirit.  Remember that a short popup is the outfielder's ball until the infielder calls him off, so run to it, but peel off instantly if your infielder calls you off.  If neither of you can get the out, you would likely be in a better position to make a quick throw since you wouldn't have to turn to do it.  Learn when to give up on catching the popup, and how to not let it go by you.  If you ever have a close call with, say, your SS, and you don't think your 3rd did all he could to help you avoid it, mention it.  He may not have learned that part of the game yet, and it would be good to help him be better able to help the team communicate.  The more of us that learn the language, the more we'll all be in the game as a team.
     Run on and off the field.  Never let yourself be the last one to the dugout.  Take pride in your speed, and keep yourself lose and stretched.  

 Baseball builds character; be part of the construction crew.

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Last modified: December 05, 2002