Baseball in bad weather

When a game is played in less than ideal conditions it is imperative that the defense understands to get the basic outs. Too many times teams attempt to get more than what they are capable of doing and in the process give up the big inning.

Here are some examples.

1) Don't try for a double play. In ideal conditions it is sometimes difficult to turn a double play. Thinking that a double play is a legitimate option when you can't feel your fingers probably isn't a great idea.

2) Bring the infield in when outs are at a premium. The infield in is designed to field the ball, throw home and apply a tag. All of these variables require perfect execution in ideal conditions, let alone inclement weather. It's probably a better idea to stay back and record as many outs as possible when the weather is bad.

3) Throwing to cutoff men on singles to the outfield. When the weather is bad, the outfielders can't feel their hands either. So, when the ball is hit to them, the chances of coming up and throwing to a cutoff man is improbable. Rather than attempting the throw to the cut man, simply throw it to 2B and keep the double play in order. This allows infielders to make short throws rather than making the long throw across the diamond.

Often times it is the team that makes the least amount of mistakes in bad weather that wins the game. Understanding certain guidelines that could mitigate these mistakes is crucial for a head coach.