I was watching the Cardinal/ Natinal game last night and it appeared that Washington was moving guys all over the outfield. Harper was playing ridiculously deep in RF on a ball Yadi Molina sliced down the line, which ignited a 2 run flurry. I have no idea why you would play Yadier Molina deep in the right field corner. Later, in the 7th, Werth was playing shallow in left, and of course Heyward lines a go ahead 2-run double over his head.

I'm sure the metrics and charts each team/manager uses is different, and to some extent the casual fan cannot know them. But it's clear to my eye that every franchise does this a little differently. I'm wondering if this is managers prerogative, do certain pitchers dictate the prevalence of this? is it called by a bench coach, or even the catcher? You would think the catcher has enough to worry about. Any baseball genuises here have any thoughts/observations about this?

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Ive heard teams refer to a "defensive coordinator"

Id have to think it comes from the bench coach. The catcher doing it would be problematic for a few reasons.

Dave Martinez handles the defense.

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The Harper thing was off to say the least. He was a few steps from the fence quite often last night. He's fast as hell. Aren't they wasting his speed by playing him that close to the wall?

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I think some outfielders have free reign to freestyle it a bit if they have a great arm and can afford to play a little deeper than most (and still throw someone out at home)

Maybe Harper does it himself


Although Wiliams seems like a control freak

As much as I hate the shift, it obviously works. What I hate more is that the Left Handed batters don't learn to take advantage of it.
The day these clowns take advantage of it is the day it stops.

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I wonder how each player is told where he should be...does one coach move all the fielders between batters? I don't think the players are expected to have the data memorized (especially as that likely changes with game situation). Or are there codes, like A2, 4J, etc. that refer to specific configurations?

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Usually there is an infield coach and a outfield coach, they will be the ones to shift them or tell them what depth to play at.

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2018
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