Backing Up Bases

When backing up third and home, get as far back behind the base as possible and then turn to see the play unfold in front of you. If there's a dugout, make sure you stop the ball whatever way you can from going out of play. If the ball goes out of play or gets by you, it's an automatic run and could mean the game!

4 Essential Fielding Tips For Baseball Pitchers

Here are some common fielding situations that you may find yourself in as a baseball pitcher. Knowing what to do ahead of time can really make a difference.

1. Covering 1B - Run to line and run up line with glove up, receive throw and step on bag with right foot.

2. Fielding a come backer - Know who has bag, turn and throw to bag, on plays to first field ball and step and make a good sharp throw- no lobs or soft throws.

3. Covering home plate - If pitch is in the dirt charge home right away, do not wait to see if runner is going look at 3rd while charging, field throw and swipe the tag.

4. Backing up bases - Runner on 1B back up third on base hit, no runners on back up 2B on base hit to outfield.

How To Develop Better Control For Baseball Pitching

One way to develop better control is to spot pitch every time you warm up. After you feel good and loose, begin the move around your pitches, as if you were pitching to a batter. Learn to use your catcher’s shoulders and knees as targets.

When Facing Hitters With Long Swings And Slow Bat Speed, Don't Throw This Pitch!

I'm talking about the change up.

Don't throw change ups to bad hitters who've got slow bats or long swings. That's the only pitch that they can hit. The change up is a pitch that you only want to throw to good aggressive hitters.

It's better for right handed pitchers to throw the change up to left handed hitters. And vice versa.

If you're going to throw the change up to right handed hitters, you've got to start it outside of the strike zone because it's going to back up into the hitter. That's a tough pitch to do!