subject: Fielding - A Mental Point of View [print this page] Getting a jump on the ball is often characterized as a physical skill, but if a player is in the right frame of mind before every pitch (a mental skill), then he sets himself up for more success in this area. Some players seem to know where the ball is going before it gets there. They are said to be instinctive. What is their trick? Their planning is usually very good and so is their ability to take in information around them. They know the pitch that is going to be thrown; the batter's tendencies, (his stance might suggest some of these) his speed, and they pay attention to detail (like maybe he was late on the that last fastball). Most good infielders can be seen moving on balls that are fouled off or that are swung on and missed. This is because the fielder sees the bat angle and uses all the other above cues to anticipate the event before and as it occurs.
