Mariners relate each position's toughest plays: Seattle defenders discuss some of the most difficult fielding maneuvers in baseball - In Their Own Words

Baseball Digest, Dec, 2003 by David Andriesen

FIRST BASE

John Olerud: I would say it's probably a throw that is an in-between hop. It's not far away enough where you can read the hop and it's not close enough that you can smother it. You're kind of at the mercy of what kind of hop it's going to take. Some guys like to pick the ball forehand, but I like it backhand, so an in-between hop forehand isn't easy.

I just try to keep as much pocket showing as I can, so there's room for error. If it hits the edges, I still have a chance. That's why I like the backhand better, because it seems like I have, more pocket.

A lot of the tough plays at first are the read plays. You've got guys at first and third with one out, and you get a ground ball. Is it hit hard enough to turn two, or should you go home with it? Some of those read plays are tough.

SECOND BASE

Bret Boone: The toughest plays are anything around the bag. Double play with a guy coming into second is the toughest. If it's a slow-hit ball, with the hit-and-run on, the (runner) is already on you. He's on top of you. He's sliding before you even have the ball, and you have to get rid of it and get up into the air before he hits you.

Another tough play is the ball straight up the middle, over the bag. You have to time your throw, and all your weight's going away from (first base).

THIRD BASE

Jeff Cirillo: A ball that is a big swing, but it comes off the bat soft. It's kind of like a changeup swing, with a lot of bat speed. It's kind of like an out-fielder, when he sees a big swing and starts breaking back, then the ball drops in front of them.

You react for the fast play and you're kind of locked down. If you're locked in, all of a sudden you're trying to catch a moving object from a stationary position, which isn't what you want. You need to have your feet moving.

SHORTSTOP

Carlos Guillen: The backhand play is always tough, a ball hit hard to the hole. To field it, you have to be in good position to catch and throw quick, and throw straight. You try to expose as much glove as you can and hope to catch it in the webbing. You also have to maintain your balance.

PITCHER

Jamie Moyer: There's two. One is the slow roller between the mound and first base. You're taught that if you have to reach for the ball, you're never going to beat the guy to the bag. If you can't get it, you go right for the bag. So you've already determined that you can't get it, and the first baseman is going for it, and you've passed him. You've got your momentum going toward first, and you have to turn quick and catch the ball while getting your foot on the bag.

The other one is the swinging bunt, because you don't know how hard it's coming off the bat. You just see a full swing, and you see the ball coming at you. A lot of times it's hard to judge, because sometimes it's slow, but you don't know that. You don't have time to think and read.

On a line drive,it's just self-defense. You're either trying to get out of the way, or trying to get your glove in front of it. On a swinging bunt, you just flinch, and then, whoops, it goes between your legs or something. Your body might be turned at an angle, and afterward you say, geez, I should have had that, but it tough when you can't gauge the speed of the ball.

Gil Meche: Honestly I'd rather see a ball hit straight at my feet than a changeup. When you get something hit right back at you, you try to react fast. In spring training (pitching coach Bryan Price) will hit comebackers at us, some rockets, then all of a sudden he'll drop down and he'll hit a changeup and it catches you off guard. You're expecting the ball to be there and it's not. For me, I'd rather the ball be smoked at me than come in real soft. I know that sounds stupid.

OUTFIELD

Ichiro Suzuki: The "snake ball," a ground ball that moves around, that's tough. With experience, you learn it. Also a ball hit over your head, just right behind you.

Mike Cameron: One hit just over your head, you never know what it's going to do. That's it for me. When it's hit right at you, you don't know what it's going to do, so you don't know where to turn. It's a tough play, but you can make it, you just have to read and react.

Randy Winn: The line drive right at you. You never know--is going to sink, or is it going to take off? Youjust have to freeze for a minute and use your best judgment. If it's coming right at you, it's tough to judge. If it's to the side, you can see more movement and know what it's doing.

CATCHER

Dan Wilson: A play at the plate, when the runner and the ball arrive at the same time. You're concentrating on catching the ball and holding onto it while getting hit at the same time. That's part of catching.

You have to get your feet positioned, and you're watching the ball, because you can't afford to watch the runner. You can tell by the sound of the crowd if the runner's being waved around from third. Yon don't know how far he is or when he's coming, you just know there's impending doom. You just concentrate on the ball, get that first and then worry about the runner.