What are the many jobs of a second baseman?

Question

I play baseball (14 y.o) and I'm going to play second base. I need a list of all the jobs and situations so that i can know the spot

Answer 1

field grounders

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 2

be good at grounders

Answer 3

I played second base in slow pitch softball, so I'm sure the basic jobs and situations are  close to being the same! First of all, your biggest job is, obviously, to cover second base.  You need to be able to catch grounders and pop-ups that come your way. Any grounders that come between the pitcher and the first basemen are your balls. If the ball is grounded to first, you should be at your bag to cover it and be ready to catch the ball from the first basemen. Especially if the play is on second. If the ball is grounded to shortstop, you need to be at your bag to cover it, and to catch the ball if needed. If the ball is grounded straight to you, the shortstop will most likely be at second waiting for you to toss it to him. If you're to far away from second to tag the base yourself, than you should toss the ball to the shortstop. If there is a runner on first and the ball is thrown to you at second, you only need to tag the base and the runner is out. If the batter hits a double and the ball is being thrown to you, you need to tag the runner himself to get him out.

Second, you can also be responsible for covering for the first basemen if need be. Usually the pitcher does that, but sometimes the second basemen may be needed to cover. You are also responsible for cutting off the ball when it is hit to a certain spot in the outfield. If the ball is hit into right field, it's your responsibility to be cut off. The shortstop will cover second for you. If the ball is hit anywhere from left field to center field, it is the shortstop's responsibility to be cut off, and you must cover second. When you are catching balls from the infield, your right foot should be on the inside corner of the base. When you're catching balls being thrown from the outfield, your right foot should be on any of the three outside corners, depending on the direction that the ball is coming in. Basically, just make sure you're not in the way of the baserunner! If the runner slides into second, you have to tag him. Try to get your glove (with the ball in it) between the runner's foot and the base.

Remember to be alert and stay on your toes!!!

Answer 4

Check out http://www.youthbaseballinfo.com/view_ar... for a pretty nice article on this.  Basically, you'll be fielding grounders (and the occasional fly ball), covering second base on balls hit to the left side of the infield, serving as a cutoff man on balls hit into the outfield, backing up the first baseman, and backing up the shortstop (or covering the bag if he can't get there) on stolen base attempts.  Of course, then there's hitting.

Speed helps, great fielding skills are essential.  Arm strength is not a concern.

Answer 5

If the ball is hit on the ground at you, field it and get the force out at first.  If there is a guy on first and you get a grounder, throw it to second base and your shortstop there should turn a double play.  On fly balls to right, you are the cutoff man.  You are the shortstop  need to communicate on flies to the centerfielder, make sure one of you is covering the bag and one is getting the ball.  If the first basemen gets a grounder and is about to turn two, you need to cover first.