FLY BALL PRIORITY SYSTEM.

How to avoid giving your opponents four or more outs in an inning 

YOU SEE IT QUITE OFTEN: BASEBALLS HIT high in the air with several fielders in hot pursuit, who, as the ball descends, begin yelling "I got it! I got it!" and then, at the last moment, begin looking around uncertainly as the ball falls to the ground, untouched.

Meanwhile, the hitter has reached second (a scoring base) and any runner in front of him has scored.

How can a simple fly ball create such a disaster? Very simple. A failure to communicate.

Every fielder should have his own turf marked out -- which no other fielder can invade for a fly ball. But it becomes his only after he has signaled for the catch.

If more than one player can make the catch, each should go after the ball until someone makes the call. Note: The fielder calling for the ball must be sure he can catch it. If he isn't sure, he must remain silent.

The verbal sign we use to call off another fielder is "I got it! I got it!" It is yelled three times, very loud, and very authoritatively. The players who are called off must answer "Take it! Take it!" three times, very loudly.

Our priority system is very simple. In the home-plate area, the catcher should make the catch.

If the ball is drifting down the first-base line and the first baseman has the better angle, he should call off the catcher and the pitcher.

If the ball is drifting down the third-base line and the third baseman has the angle, he should call off the pitcher and the catcher.

On pop fly balls in the infield, the second baseman has priority over the first baseman and the shortstop has priority over the third baseman, especially on balls hit beyond the bases.

Since the middle infielders have a better angle on the ball, the first and third baseman should shy away as soon as they perceive that the middle infielders can make the play.

The outfielders have priority over the infielders on pop-ups between them because it is easier coming in on a fly ball than catching one while backpedaling.

If the infielder has positioned himself underneath the ball, the outfielder should not call for the ball unless it starts drifting toward the outfield.

On fly balls into the gaps, the centerfielder has priority over the right and left fielders.

Before the start of regular team practice, I like to divide the team into three groups for individualized attention.

Session #1

Group #1 is made up of the left side of the infield, Group #2 of the right side, and Group #3 of the outfielders.

Group #1: A coach sets up on the third-base side of the pitcher's mound with a tennis racket and tennis balls and hits pop-ups to the third baseman. A tennis ball may not have the same effect as a baseball, but it allows the coach to keep it in the infield. The third baseman and shortstop should practice calling for and catching the pop flies.

Group #2: A coach sets up on the first-base side of the pitcher's mound and hits tennis-ball pop-ups to the first and second basemen. Again, the tennis balls allow him to keep it on the infield, enabling the right side of the infield to practice calling for and catching the pop-ups.

Another coach stands behind second base and hits baseballs into the gaps between the center fielder and right and left fielders.

Session #2

Group #1 is made up of the third baseman, first baseman, catcher, and pitcher. A coach, armed with a tennis racket and tennis balls, hits pop-ups to the catcher behind the plate and down the baselines -- allowing the first baseman and third baseman to practice their communication skills with the catcher.

The pitcher serves as a traffic cop. He helps clear the area and direct the right person to the ball. The coach keeps the pop-ups in the infield.

Group #2 is made up of the shortstop and left fielder. A coach positioned behind the pitcher's mound fungos fly balls between the left fielder and the shortstop -- enabling them to practice their communication skills.

Group #3 is made up of the centerfielder, right-fielder, and second baseman -- enabling them to practice their communication skills.

Session #3

Embraces the entire team, with the head coach fun-going baseballs from homeplate and his assistant coaches fungoing balls from behind the shortstop and second baseman (coach provides enough instructors to correct any mistakes).

Each session lasts about five minutes and can be used during the entire season.

Once the players get a feel for one another and understand their assigned areas, very few mistakes are going to occur and the players are going to begin understanding that good teams are never going to give their opponents four or more outs an inning.

That's the "catch" in this story.