body position for Position B and C

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

Well lets see, last time I checked Jim Evans worked more than one base, and it would be my guess just a game or two more than you. Oh and lets not forget a couple World Series, an ALCS or two. Oh yearh and them there All Star games, yeah I paid the guy, damn proud of it also. He says your wrong, PBUC says your wrong, but thats OK.. IMHO

I paid him too, and I'll gladly do it again. I remember Jim describing it as 1 year of experience 30 times.

BTW, NOT taking a peek at R2 will get you dinged on your NCAA eval.

[SanDiegoSteve]

The peekers are right. The non-peekers are wrong. I think everyone is being a peeker head about the whole thing.

[SanDiegoSteve]

The proper way to stand in B and C is facing the plate w/shoulders perpendicular to the plate. Just draw that line from the plate through right around the edge area of the mound, depending on the mound circumference and straddle it facing the plate. Then turn your head to watch the pitcher. It's just that easy. None of this "squared up with the foul line" nonsense. You should be ready to make an athletic movement in either direction when the ball is hit, and that's awfully hard to do if your body is misaligned.

[CO ump]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The proper way to stand in B and C is facing the plate w/shoulders perpendicular to the plate. Just draw that line from the plate through right around the edge area of the mound, depending on the mound circumference and straddle it facing the plate. Then turn your head to watch the pitcher. It's just that easy. None of this "squared up with the foul line" nonsense.

I didn't read anyone saying to square up to the foul line. I must have missed it, but totally agree that that would be a difficult alignment.
Edit: I did miss it in the OP. Glad I wasn't more sarcastic. At least the crow isn't quite as tough.

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

You should be ready to make an athletic movement in either direction when the ball is hit, and that's awfully hard to do if your body is misaligned.

By misaligned do you mean some contorted 'twister' position?
If so, I agree, difficult to make an athletic move.
If you are saying that someone in the typical athletic stance that is, say at a 45 deg. angle to the plate can't make an athletic move when the ball is hit, then I disagree.

Relative to B position, R1 only.
Can you explain why square to the plate is ..."the proper way to stand"...
I've explained my advantage by taking a 45 deg. stance.
What disadvantages am I opening myself up to with this stance?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by CO ump

Relative to B position, R1 only.
Can you explain why square to the plate is ..."the proper way to stand"...

1) When the ball is hit, you might have to move right or left. It's harder to move to the right when you're already facing 1/2way left.

2) Perception.

[CO ump]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

1) When the ball is hit, you might have to move right or left. It's harder to move to the right when you're already facing 1/2way left.

I agree, you lose maybe a half step.
How often is that crucial, relative to the steady stable look you get on all 1b pick off moves?

Realistically speaking
There are many, many umps with bad knees that don't move far or fast but are very good umps. I could spot most of those guys a full 1 or 2 steps and still beat them to a spot.
So taking a stance that gives you an advantage on pickoffs and puts you a 1/2 step behind when you need to move to the right is only an issue if you are not athletically able to recover that 1/2 step.
Does that make sense?

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

2) Perception.

Can't argue with that.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by CO ump

I agree, you lose maybe a half step.
How often is that crucial, relative to the steady stable look you get on all 1b pick off moves?

Realistically speaking
There are many, many umps with bad knees that don't move far or fast but are very good umps. I could spot most of those guys a full 1 or 2 steps and still beat them to a spot.
So taking a stance that gives you an advantage on pickoffs and puts you a 1/2 step behind when you need to move to the right is only an issue if you are not athletically able to recover that 1/2 step.

I was merely explaining the way it was/is taught. When you are in B, the proper first move on R1 stealing is to take a drop step with your right leg. Then you cross over step with the left leg as you take the ball over your left shoulder area and you end up in the cutout set for the play. How are you going to execute that crucial 1st step if you are at a 45 degree angle to the foul line. It's not a matter of "I can beat so-and-so to my position." It's a matter of I can get to the cutout in several steps less than you and probably much quicker. On pickoffs, I take a full step up and pivot on my left foot as I was taught by the pros. Perfect positioning to see the play. There is no need to cheat towards the 1st base line in my stance. It is not an advantage to be turned sideways to the plate. Being able to react quickly to any situation is far more of an advantage.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The peekers are right. The non-peekers are wrong. I think everyone is being a peeker head about the whole thing.

At what point in the pitchers peek do I take the time to pick a peek at the baserunner before I return my peekers to the plate?

[RPatrino]

Holy Cow!! I never realized there were so many different ways to stand in B and C!! And I must confess, I'm a peeker (in C only!!) Should we start 'peeker's anonymous' (sp?)?