Defense Intensifies, Pitchers Get Work

I think Friday’s practice went pretty well defensively. We weren’t doing the same team situations but the infielders got a lot of work on grounders in different ways. The middle infield was turning double plays, the third basemen were working on charging bunts or softly-hit grounders, and the first basemen were working on making different plays. As catchers, we got more work on blocking the ball. We realize that it is expected that the catchers block everything they’re capable of getting to, so we get all the work in we can. Lateral movement for catchers is huge in helping a pitcher because if they feel they can throw any pitch they want with a man on base and not worry about him advancing on a ball in the dirt, it adds to the pitcher’s confidence tremendously.

Everyone has been getting more and more swings in the cage against a pitching machine. It may seem tedious to be taking swings off the tee or soft toss, but working on top hand and bottom hand swings makes the transition to live pitching that much easier. It’s easier to correct the small mistakes in a swing there than facing live pitching or the machine. Pitchers will start throwing to catchers on Saturday and begin throwing their bullpen sessions and to hitters on Monday. Everyone’s excited to finally see some real situations off actual pitching. I think it’s crucial that everyone continues to work on the little things before getting ahead of ourselves in the next couple of weeks. If we can internalize the mental aspects of offense and defense, the physical parts will come easy.

#17 = Matt Burns