These links are all great baseball sites.

But remember your way back to learningbaseball.com

PopUp Quiz with Quips 'n' Quotes from this site.

Below is a link for my convenience, but you're welcome to visit, of course:

_______________

Left Field

Requirements: Quickness and a good throwing arm.  

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

     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 left 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.  
     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.  
     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.  
     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.  

See what the LF does in Base Coverage and Rundown situations.

 Baseball builds character; be part of the construction crew.

If you'd like to use a banner for linking to Learning Baseball, how 'bout this:

If anyone notices a flaw in the strategies put forth on these pages, or if you just want to share a constructive opinion for their development, please email the martyATlearningbaseball.com 
You'll have to change the AT to @ to prove you're human.

[ Up ] [ Pitcher ] [ Catcher ] [ First Base ] [ Second Base ] [ Third Base ] [ Short Stop ] [ Left Field ] [ Center Field ] [ Right Field ] [ Defensive Bench ] [ Batter ] [ Base Running ] [ On Deck ] [ Offensive Bench ]

Send mail to martyATlearningbaseball.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1999-2005 LearningBaseball.com
Last modified: December 05, 2002