Essay Sample on Baseball: Unwritten Rules for Successful Performance

Introduction

Every sport in the world has both written and unwritten rules that players should heed to keenly. In baseball, and softball the explosive power, dexterity, and speed are significant elements of a player's success (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018). Some of the unwritten rules found in the baseball game include; if a pitcher hits a teammate, hit one of theirs, do not like a home run, and you do not need to run hard to first base. It is also fundamental that baseball players train on basic tactics and strategies such as a hit and run, bunting for a hit, sacrifice bunt, and sacrifice fly (Acquavella, 2018). In baseball game the batting team is called the offensive, and the fielding team is known as the defensive team (Anonymous, n,d). The paper will accentuate on the pros and cons of not hustling when making the first base.

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Running to first base on a base hit is an unwritten running rule in baseball. In this rule there are two things plays should not do, and it includes; "Players should never make the first or third out of an inning at third base (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018). Secondly, they should never make the first out of an inning at the plate" (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018). When running hard to first base on a base hit has five, baseball players are given five rules to follow. First, at approximately two-thirds of the path, circle out so that you can round the bag. Then, a player should bat the inside of the bag (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018). Thirdly, players should always round the bag hard, with the motive of going for a double. A player should then go if the outfield does not contend for the ball (Anonymous, n,d). The first base coach will only send you to seconds on ball and hit down the third-base line through waving his or her arm (Go) or raising the arm (Round It). In this situation one must take caution of the speed, condition of the game, and outfielder's Arm strength (Anonymous, n,d). Finally, a player should hit the base towards the right side of the field, hit the bad, and shuffle towards the second base.

If a batter hits the ball, and it has not been caught in the air by a fielder, and it lands fair, and you are compelled to run at that point the player will be considered as a batter-runner. It will, however, change once he or she reaches the first base to being regarded as a baserunner (Anonymous, n,d). A player cannot become a base runner unless he or she reaches the first base. This explains why players run hard to reach the first base and capitalize on defensive errors made by the opposition team, and score marks to their advantage. A base runner is never safe provided he or she does not touch a base. In the context of over-running first base, a batter-runner does not have to stop completely on first base, the rule allows them to make contact with the base, and then run beyond it in a straight line (Anonymous, n,d). An instance of a dead ball position is when the batter thumps and hits the ball into a foul treating when running to make the first base (Anonymous, n,d). The ball is regarded as dead, and no play can go on. Another situation of a dead ball instance is when a batter overthrows the ball errantly, and then the ball falls in a dead ball territory (Anonymous, n,d).

In last year's playoff between Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers, Manny Machado was castigated by many for his aggressiveness while running to first base and was also praised by others (Acquavella, 2018). In that game, both Manny Machado and Jesus Aguilar were involved in an altercation following a play at first base where Machado tousled up with Aguilar's leg. When running to fast base on a base hit Machado came into contact with the back of Aguilar's foot (Acquavella, 2018). In-game 2, he failed to run out a grounder in what developed to be a one-run game.

In the defensive perspective, players possessing greater speed, and reactive agility are able to cover greater distances hence will not need to hustle hard to first base on base hit (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018). The players who have brilliant fielding range have the benefit of recovering a hit ball more quickly, and possibly take away potential hits, and scoring chances from the opposing team. These players will not have to run hard to first base, but they will accrue defensive strategies hence limit the scoring chances for the rival team. Given the proportions of the baseball, and the positioning of players several shreds of evidence proposes that a player may be needed to cover more than twelve to thirteen meters in a single play (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018). For a player to be successful when running hard to first base, the defensive player must be able to swiftly, and precisely determine the trajectory of the ball off the bat. This will help the player to properly position themselves in the most effective way to catch the ball and make the necessary play (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018). Hence a player must have good reactive agility, exceptional defensive skills, decision-making techniques, and body mechanics to enjoy the benefits of running to first base on a base hit in the defensive perspective (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018).

From an offensive stance, a baseball player must possess excellent footwork, and body mechanics when batting to reach first base as swiftly as possible after coming into contact with a pitched ball. Szymanski and Fredrick indicate that a player should be able to reach the first base between 4.0 and 4.4 seconds after batting (Szymanski & Fredrick 2001). The benefits of running hard to first base in the offensive standpoint are to create chances to increase the chances of scoring a run for your team (Szymanski & Fredrick 2001). Further to be a successful runner at first base a player must be able to accurately detect the spin of a throw, be cognizant of any other teammates on the base paths (Szymanski & Fredrick 2001). The player should know where, and how the rival team defensive players are positioned, and detect gestures from the coaching staff, and other team-mates. Finally, possessing a good responsive dexterity will assist a player to read, and react better to specific game situations, and capitalize on defensive errors made by the rival team (Magrini, Dawes, Spaniol & Roberts, 2018).

Baseball players and coaches are constantly implementing training methods to improve playing performance. These techniques delve on how a player can base run, and base steals with the view of capitalizing on the defensive mistakes, and become ruthless in the offensive phase (McEvoy & Newton, 1998). Ballistic resistance training is a key training session that helps to improve the speed, reactive agility such that a player will not have to run hard to make first base during matches (McEvoy & Newton, 1998). Also, the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) helps the player gain explosive power output in activities such as running to first base and throwing (McEvoy & Newton, 1998).

Defensively, baseball needs players to respond to external stimuli such as a batted or thrown ball. In order to make sure a player does not need to run hard to first base, the coaches should consider implementing baseball-specific agility to increase the quickness and acceleration of the player when batting (McEvoy & Newton, 1998). In the offensive phase, once a player hits a ball into fair play, the player must be able to powerful hasten when trying to beat hit on the ground ball for a base hit (McEvoy & Newton, 1998).

Conclusion

In conclusion, baseball and softball sports requires a player to possess greater speed, and reactive agility so that the player will not have to run hard to first base. The main advantage of this unwritten rule is that players with greater speed, reactive agility, exceptional defensive skills, decision-making techniques, and body mechanics will be able to capitalize on defensive errors of the opposite teams and be ruthless more on the offensive face. The only challenge is that a player who runs hard to first base is viewed as aggressive, and dirty, and the coaches need to implement on acceleration, and agility drills in order help them not struggle when running to hit the first base.

References

Acquavella, K. (2018). Dodgers vs. Brewers: Benches clear after Manny Machado steps on Jesus Aguillar's Foot at the First Base. Retrieved from: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/dodgers-vs-brewers-benches-clear-after-manny-machado-steps-on-jesus-aguilars-foot-at-first-base/

Anonymous. A Beginner's Guide to Baseball Final Changes. Retrieved from: http://www.baseballsoftballuk.com/uploads/_documents/Files/Rules/Beginners_Guide_Baseball.pdf

Magrini, M., Dawes, J. J., Spaniol, F. J., & Roberts, A. (2018). Speed and agility training for baseball/softball. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 40(1), 68-74. Retrieved from: file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/Speed_and_Agility_Training_for_BaseballSoftball.pdf

McEvoy, K. P., & Newton, R. U. (1998). Baseball throwing speed and base running speed: The effects of ballistic resistance training. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 12(4), 216-221. Retrieved from: file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/Baseball_throwing_speed_and_base_running_speed_The.pdf

Szymanski, D. J., & Fredrick, G. A. (2001). Baseball (part II): A periodized speed program. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 23(2), 44.