Show Cleveland Star Shows How F r SS S' S u Hal Ifal Trosky Indian star reaches for or a short throw to nip runner TIPS ON BASEBALL BASEBALL- First Baseman Needs Needs' STRETCH Most 5 S By B HAL TROSKY Cleveland Indians Indians' Star S S SIf If you can reach out and spear em you have a good start toward being a first baseman Good hands and strong legs are areS two two big requisites requisites- and nd if youre you're left handed and and can boast S three or four extra inches in height that's all al velvet For be believe be- be lieve me me y you u h have e to t s-t-r-e-t-c-h and keep on stretching when you play that first sack S Here are a few tew other things you should have or start develop developing ng if it ity y youre you're ure considering being a first baseman You ou must remember that youre you're to always set set setup up up a a target arget for the infielders ders Learn where that bag bagIs bagIs' bagIs Is Is' Is and develop a feel for it You'll find that with practice you'll be beable beable beable able to stab a throw on either side of f the bag and in the same motion stick out a foot and Sand hit the bag There will be times when a throw is so wild you have to sacrifice the putout to to get it but it-but but get it whatever happens Get Baseline Bunts To field first properly you yoush sh should uld combine a knowledge kno of the relative position of each Infielder infielder infielder in- in fielder and a fairly accurate line lineon lineon lineon on the batter You team up with the pitcher on many plays toss prays toss tossing ing him the b ball ll about shoulder height as he comes Into the bag after youve you've been beers pulled off to tofield tofield tofield field the hit Bunts down the baseline are yours to o field You also team up with him on handling handling han han- dung base runners Its It's your job to hoI hold the runner runne close to the bag by standing just in front of it left foot near the foul line A quick throw low and hard may catch many napping runners Now about signals You must clearly understand when hen the pitcher is Ls going to toss a pitch- pitch I out to to the catcher On such plays I often fake as s if to go in for a bunt whirl and dart back to the bag in time for a hard throw from the catcher Many a base runner is caught of off first with this man ma ma- mane n ne ver One of ot your tasks is to act as cut oil man on all throws to the plate except those made after hard singles to the left field side of second base Another responsibility responsibility y of yours your is acting as back back- upper er-upper to second base on all throws from the left side of ot sec see second second ond when the bases are pied Southpaws Have Advantage Now the reason for those good hands and strong legs You need good hands because you must n necessarily be a good ball han han- Legs are important because they take a lot of punishment shifting around first base And being is obviously obviously an an advantage because you youcan youcan youcan can m make ke throws throw to the left side of the infield without v n g to to todo do a pivot to get into the proper throwing position Its It's a tough job all right One requiring iring headwork teamwork and a keen sense of fundamental But I like it and I think you will |