Defensive Alignment

Signals From The Dugout

Infielders and Outfielders should get in the habit of looking into the dugout for the coach (or coaches) that are responsible for helping position them for each hitter.  The following will be used by coaches as hand signals to move specific infielders or outfielders, or groups of infielders or outfielders:

• Hand touches top of hat = top of the opponent batting order

• Hand moves up and down behind hat = move back/deeper

• Hands in front of body, pulling towards chest = move in/closer to plate

• Arm extended and pointing to the left or right = move to the direction being pointed

• Both hands extended over the head = Positioning is good (no movement needed)

• Both hands in front of body, simulating a bunt = be aware of a possible bunt

• Fingers make a "running motion" in front of body = hitter at plate has good speed

Infield Alignment

It is very important for our infielders to be aligned on the field properly for each pitch of each game.  Below you will see some guidelines for alignment of infielders.  However, keep in mind that the more that you can make adjustments to your positioning based upon what you see and experience, the better.  This will be a good starting point for us.

The shortstop is the "general" of the infield defense.  He has the added responsibility of ensuring that the remaining infielders are aligned sufficiently and no large gaps exist within our positioning.  In general, if one infielder shifts, the other infielders should also shift in the same direction.

For infielders, we have 4 standard alignments or depths:

• 1 Depth (Standard)

  • Situations used: bases empty, 2 outs, no bunt expected

  • We want to give ourselves range to keep balls in the infield and make plays to first base.

• 2 Depth (Double play depth)

  • Situations used: Less than 2 outs, runner on 1B, runners on 1B & 2B, runners on 1B & 3B

  • Middle infielders slightly pinch middle of field and slightly shallower to more easily turn a double play

• 3 Depth (Halfway)

  • Situations used: Less than 2 outs, bases loaded, tie score or trailing late in game with runner on 3B

  • Middle infielders slightly pinch middle, SS/2B/3B slightly in to make throw to plate if needed

• 4 Depth (Infield In/"On the Grass")

  • Situations used: Less than 2 outs, bases loaded, winning run on 3B

  • All infielders must be near or on grass where they're able to field and throw to plate to beat the runner.

Additional Adjustments for Infield Positioning

Once infielders are in their initial positioning for the batter (i.e. 1, 2, 3 or 4 depth), it may be necessary to make additional adjustments based on a variety of factors:

• Scouting report

  • Is the hitter at the plate a bunting threat?  If so, 3B and 1B should play a bit shallower and the 2B should be in a spot in which he can make it to 1B to cover the base. 

  • Does the hitter tend to pull the ball or go the other way with the ball?  Adjust a few steps towards his tendency, if he has one.

  • Does the hitter hit line drives and hard ground balls, or soft flares and soft ground balls?  Adjust your depth accordingly.

• Pitch type

  • If an offspeed pitch is being thrown next, adjust a few steps to the pull side since the hitter will likely be in front of the pitch

  • If there's a harder throwing pitcher on the mound that hitters have trouble catching up with, adjust a few steps to the opposite field side.  If a softer pitcher, adjust a few steps to the pull side

• Pitch location

  • If a pitch is being thrown away to a hitter, most hitters try to hit that pitch up the middle or to the opposite field.  Adjust a few steps that way if an outside pitch is being thrown

  • If a pitch is being thrown inside to a hitter, most hitters try to pull the pitch.  Adjust a few steps that way if an inside pitch is being thrown

• Bunt Coverage and Steal Coverage

  • May you need to move to cover an area or a base for a bunt or steal?  Make sure your positioning allows you to get to your responsibility for bunts and steals.

Outfield Alignment

It is very important for our outfielders to be aligned on the field properly for each pitch of each game.  Below you will see some guidelines for alignment of outfielders.  However, keep in mind that the more that you can make adjustments to your positioning based upon what you see and experience, the better.  This will be a good starting point for us.

The centerfielder is the "general" of the outfield.  He has the added responsibility for ensuring that there are no gaps between the positioning of the outfielders.  In general, if one outfielder adjusts, the remaining outfielders should adjust in the same manner.

For outfielders, we have 9 standard alignments.  The alignments are arranged in a "phone pad" design as shown below.

• 5 (Standard)

  • CF is aligned with the plate, pitcher's mound and second base

  • LF is a few steps off of a line drawn from 1B to 2B and into the outfield

  • RF is a few steps off of a line drawn from 3B to 2B and into the outfield

• Positions 4 and 6

  • No adjustment of depth needed, simply adjust left or right if the hitter has pull or opposite field tendencies

• Positions 7, 8 and 9

  • Adjusting for a hitter's tendency to hit the ball shallower (position 8), or shallower and to the pull or opposite field side (position 7 and 9)

• Positions 1, 2 and 3

  • Adjusting for a hitter's tendency to hit the ball deeper (position 2), or deeper and to the pull or opposite field side (position 1 or 3)

Additional Adjustments for Outfield Positioning

Once outfielders are in their initial positioning for the batter (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 depth), it may be necessary to make additional adjustments based on a variety of factors:

• Scouting report

  • Does the hitter tend to pull the ball or go the other way with the ball?  Adjust a few steps towards his tendency, if he has one.  If adjusting to the opposite field side, come in a few steps.  Hitters typically don't have as much power to the opposite field.

  • Does the hitter hit line drives, soft fly balls, hard ground balls, or soft flares and soft ground balls?  Adjust your depth accordingly.

• Pitch type

  • If an offspeed pitch is being thrown next, adjust a few steps to the pull side since the hitter will likely be in front of the pitch

  • If there's a harder throwing pitcher on the mound that hitters have trouble catching up with, adjust a few steps to the opposite field side.  If a softer pitcher, adjust a few steps to the pull side

• Pitch location

  • If a pitch is being thrown away to a hitter, most hitters try to hit that pitch up the middle or to the opposite field.  Adjust a few steps that way if an outside pitch is being thrown

  • If a pitch is being thrown inside to a hitter, most hitters try to pull the pitch.  Adjust a few steps that way if an inside pitch is being thrown

• Two strike count

  • With two strikes on a hitter, most will see the baseball deeper in the zone and swing later at the pitch, resulting in an opposite field hit.  Most hitters also "shorten up" with two strikes by choking up, shortening their stride, etc., which results in less power.

  • In all two-strike counts, outfielders should get in the habit of adjusting to a 7 or 9 position (7 for a left-handed hitter, 9 for a right-handed hitter).