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The Job of a Third Baseman

In the sport of baseball, a lot of emphasis is placed on the different positions of the players. One of these positions is the third baseman.

The third baseman is responsible for defending the area around the third base, the last one before home plate. He must field fly balls on his side of the field that land in both in the fair and foul zone.

To be a third baseman, you need to have good reflexes. Many right-handed hitters will hit the ball towards left field, so you need good coordination and reaction time in order to get the ball to where it needs to go to prevent a score. Third base is the furthest distance from first base, so you need a strong arm to make the distance. You also have to be able to anticipate if a player is going to bunt, and be able to get in closer on the infield. Generally, this position is played by a right-handed player, as some who throws with his right hand does not need to turn his body before throwing the ball back to first base, allowing the throw to get off that quicker.

In the past, third basemen did not have to be able to hit exceptional well, and were used mainly for defense. As the sport progressed, however, third basemen became expected to do more, and now are expected to bat for a high average of .290 or better.

A third baseman actually has several duties.

A third baseman must know everything that is going on in the game. This includes the score, strike count, ball count, and what inning it is. He should know how to recognize a bunt and when to play in or back. He has to guard the line, know how to charge the bunt, and be able to field ground balls. He must always keep his eyes on the hitter. He has to be able to watch for players trying to steal bases. And this is only the beginning.

There are some general tips for third basemen. A third baseman should knock the ball down. He should get in front of the shortstop and claim as many balls as possible. Run the pitchers and catchers away from using pop flies. Always have a plan of where the ball needs to go once it is in your hands. Keep your hands up so an outfielder has a target to throw for. Keep the pitcher informed if a runner is getting a lead off of third. Back up your throws to the pitcher after a pick-off attempt. Throw from over the top for strength and accuracy. Encourage the pitcher. And always know the strengths of your teammates and the things that they are able to accomplish.

Sometimes the best way to learn you position is to take a good look at the pros. There are several third basemen in the Baseball Hall of Fame, including: Frank Baker, George Brett, Jimmy Collins, George Kell, Freddie Lindstrom, Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, and Pie Traynor. Doing some research into their lives and what they did to earn their Hall of Fame positions may give you some pointers on things you can improve on. Many of these men were also great batters and contributed greatly to their teams’ scoring capabilities, so make sure that you are focusing on your entire game and not just the defensive side.

Third baseman is an important role to play in the game of baseball. Learn your position well, listen to your coach, and remain a team player. That way you will have the greatest success for your baseball career.

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

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