re: First baseman had wrong foot on the bag restricting his ability to stretch for the throw

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The right handed first baseman should have had his right foot on the bag

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Stopped right there

Who told you that

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The over-zealous call off of Herring and the showboat throw over

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horseshite! Yes, it was Milazzo’s fault. He should have made a better throw. But Milazzo did not have the advantage of watching the replay. He made an aggressive, snap decision and took command. It wasn’t a bad decision as the play proved. He made the play in time and he took the game out of a pitcher’s hands.

The problem was the throw. It was going to be a tough defensive play either way. He had to throw a bullet and he had to throw it fast, without setting up. He didn’t get it done. But to say he was showboating and over-zealous is pussy fan stuff.

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The right handed first baseman should have had his right foot on the bag

This is not true when receiving a ball from home.

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He wasn't receiving a throw from home in the usual sense which would be parallel to the base line with the catcher near the plate. The ball is near the mound and most often coming from the pitcher on a play like that. Milazzo was not showboating as some claim, he recognized a left handed pitcher would have to field and turn toward the base whereas he was facing that way.

Is the runner no longer required to run in the lane?

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It wasn’t a bad decision as the play proved.

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i listened on the radio, and just seeing the play for the 1st time, Milazzo should have never called for that ball. That is an easy play for Herring

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That is a basic fundamental but I see this improper footwork frequently by today's players.

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This is laughably wrong. On a play like that the basic fundamental is to use your left foot so that you give the fielder a square target to throw to.

It’s 50/50, either play is the right play. Just gotta execute it.

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You're saying he should have set up to the outside of the basepath and have the catcher throw directly across the front of the runner? Or your saying if Jones would have lined up to where the catcher was accidentally throwing it, then he would have caught it..

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The position of the runner was irrelevant as he would be behind the interaction between Milazzo and Jones on the throw. Jones should get to the bag and place the right foot against the bag with his glove up about chest high as a target. By doing so he gets about an extra foot to stretch for the throw. If he doesn't set up that way and the runner is very fast he might still beat even a perfect throw because of the extra foot he loses with the wrong foot on the base. He should also be in a slight crouch to lower his hips which allows him to more quickly move to either side id necessary instead of just standing flat footed and expecting an easy play to be made.

As soon as he recognizes the throw was off line he has to determine whether he can stretch and catch it with his foot remaining on the base. If not he leaves the bag and with the extra stretching radius he catches the throw and attempts a sweep tag if possible. If not he just stops the ball from leaving the field.

Its the first baseman's job to always anticipate a bad throw from any position. It doesn't excuse the player making the bad throw. By placing the same side foot as his throwing hand he extends the catching radius and erases the potential error or minimizes its effect.

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Its the first baseman's job to always anticipate a bad throw from any position. It doesn't excuse the player making the bad throw. By placing the same side foot as his throwing hand he extends the catching radius and erases the potential error or minimizes its effect.

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