The shortstop, a combination of infielder and outfielder, is normally the best all-around infielder on the club. To do his job well, he needs good hands, a powerful arm and sprinter's legs. Like the second baseman, he has to be agile and quick. And he has to know how to make the double play!

The shortstop doesn't have as much trouble making the DP as the second baseman because he's traveling in the general direction he has to throw and he has the fielder, the runner and 1st base in front of him. Still, he ought to have a combination of shortstop steps that permit him to tag the base and effectively fire the ball to 1st.

The simplest way for the shortstop to start the DP is for him to put his right foot on the sack, hop to the right field side of the base, pivoting the body right at the same time. He should land on his right foot for the throw. Follow these shortstop instructions and you'll get the idea:

Stand on the right [foot only. Hop on it. Hop forward on it. Now, hop forward on it and turn the body a quarter to the right.

This time, step forward left, step forward right, hop, make the pivot right, land light and throw.

A shortstop crossing the base at fair running speed can put himself completely out of the baseline with this move and make a strong, fast throw.

A variation, called the "drag" step (used by most professionals) will also take the shortstop out of the baseline nicely. A boy can surely learn it by the time he's 13 or 14. Here's the way it works:

Stand facing 1st with the centerfield corner of 2nd between the feet. Raise the right foot slightly and with a dragging motion, touch the side of the base. Keep the right foot moving and place it behind the left. Step left with the left foot and throw.

To make this move while running is tricky, so try it while walking at first. Time the steps so that the left foot comes down in back of the base, but slightly to the right field side. As the right foot is brought in contact with the base and passes behind the left, pivot the body sharply to the right. To make the pivot, the shortstop hops off his left foot and brings his right foot up to replace it.

Fig. 35	Fig. 36
The hop-turn right shown above is common step for shortstop to use when starting DP. But, like second baseman, he must also learn to go "inside" to avoid runner.

So, it's step over or in back of the base with the left; drag the right foot against the bag; pivot-hop with the left, land right and throw.

The shortstop usually uses the two moves described when the ball is fielded deep by the second or first basemen. If the ball is fielded on the infield grass, he may want to make his throw from the 3rd base side of 2nd. To do this, he should place his left foot against the 3rd base side of the bag, push the body right, land right and throw.

As indicated earlier, the throw to the man covering 2nd to start the DP is extremely important. The shortstop's throw is to the glove shoulder of the second baseman. If this seems too tough a requirement for the very young player say the nine-year old-the manager still should insist that the ball be thrown at the chest. The shortstop should be more concerned with being sure of the first out in the DP situation than the second.

Like the second baseman, the shortstop has a specific assignment on every kind of a base hit. With no one on and a single to the right, he covers 2nd. With no one on and a single to left, he goes out 10 or 15 feet to get the throw from the outfielder. On extra base hits to right, he covers 2nd and directs the second baseman's throw. On extra base hits to left, he hustles out for the relay. He works with the second baseman in holding a runner on 2nd. He protects 2nd against steals if he and the second baseman agree that the batter is likely to hit the ball to right. He does all of these shortstop things. With the same methods described for 2nd base play.

There are some items, however, that are unique. With a runner on 1st in a bunt situation, the shortstop covers 2nd. (He does not leave his position, however, until he's positive a bunt attempt will be made.) With runners on 1st and 2nd and a bunt developing, the shortstop has another duty: he must hold the lead runner as close to 2nd as possible and still protect his normal position in the event the batter is not bunting but hitting away. Since the second baseman has to cover 1st on the bunt, the shortstop cannot get any help from him in holding the runner, which is very important in this particular situation. It's the objective of the defense, you see, to try to get a force-out at third, then go to 1st to get the man who bunted the ball. Since this bunt situation usually comes up with none out, the defense, if successful, will have a runner on 2nd with two out after the play. If they cannot get the runner going to 3rd, they generally wind up with a runner on 2nd and 3rd and one out. This means that a good single will score two runs. To get back to the shortstop.

He wants the lead runner to travel the full distance to 3rd. Up to high school age level, it's a good idea to have the shortstop play on the base or directly in back of the base in this situation before the ball is pitched. As soon as the shortstop is certain the ball will be pitched, he races to his shortstop normal position to protect against a hit. After the ball is in the catcher's hands, he again goes back to 2nd to hold the runner.

The shortstop has still another assignment-that of a cut-off man. With a runner on 1st he moves quickly to the cut-off spot whenever the batter hits a single to any part of the diamond. (See Chapter 15.) If the ball is hit to right and gets by the outfielder, he should leave the cut-off spot immediately and go to 2nd base. If the single gets by an outfielder in left, he leaves the cut-off spot and races out for a possible relay.

When there's a runner on 1st and 2nd and the batter hits a single, the shortstop, obviously, will not be sure whether the outfielder will throw to 3rd or home. If the throw goes to the plate, he should leave the cut-off spot, and run to the back-up position behind 2nd base. All of these moves will become routine for the shortstop if the manager drills the outfield and infield properly.

If you recall, we said the second baseman covers 1st on all bunts. The shortstop covers 2nd on all bunts but one-the squeeze bunt. On the squeeze, he has to cover 3rd in the event the ball is popped into the air by the batter-which gives the defense a chance for a double play-or in case the runner gets close to the plate, stops and decides to return to 3rd.

The shortstop, too, has definite back-up assignments. Here's a list of most of them.

Back up almost all throws to the second baseman as he covers 2nd.

Back up almost all throws to the third baseman as he covers 3rd.

Back up almost all hits to the third baseman.

We use the word "almost" because the shortstop may somehow be involved in another part of the play. The "must" back up plays, however, become obvious during the infield and outfield drills.

The shortstop is also responsible for any fly ball that is falling in the area of his general position, in back of the third baseman, in short left and left center.