Passed Ball Mechanics

[waltjp]

If he's watching the ball he'll never see the touch of the plate.

[jwwashburn]

Is it a proper and common mechanic to turn your back on the baseball on a passed ball, kneel down and just wait for the ball to appear from behind you? It is pretty easy to see the touch of home without kneeling and staring, isn't it?

[waltjp]

What would you do?

[APG]

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | PIT@DET: Miggy comes home on Barajas' passed ball - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by waltjp

What would you do?

• Find out where the ball is

• Stay out of the throwing lane

• Watch the ball until it is released and on a trajectory toward the plate

• Be set (not on my knee) with a good angle/look at the play

• Watch the play happen until all playing action ceases, moving if necessary

• Make a ruling on the play

Now that I have seen the video, what was wrong with what he did? He was nowhere near the throwing lane and he was in perfect position. He can go to a knee if he wants to, a matter of preference. If I were to kneel, the catcher would have to help me up!

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

• Find out where the ball is

• Stay out of the throwing lane

• Watch the ball until it is released and on a trajectory toward the plate

• Be set (not on my knee) with a good angle/look at the play

• Watch the play happen until all playing action ceases, moving if necessary

• Make a ruling on the play

Sounds right to me.

I would add, this guy on one knee is a lot more likely to get hit by a ball bouncing away from the potential play at the plate.

[jwwashburn]

I found the video.

This is the first time I have seen the replay. Maybe, he had already guessed there would be no play? But, why the kneel, then?

All Top Plays | PIT@DET: Miggy comes home on Barajas' passed ball - Video | tigers.com: Multimedia

PS Oh, now I see it was already found :-D

[kylejt]

One thing that I do is watch the pitcher's eyes as he's coming in towards the plate. They will tell you where the ball is, if it's being thrown to him, and where the throw it going. On oddly shaped backstops, sometimes the ball takes a turn when hits it. And yeah, sometimes the ball is at your back, and you have kneel down. I've done it.

Reading the defensive players eyes is very overlooked, and not often taught. Yet, it's very beneficial.