When practicing defense against the stopwatch I've heard folks use 4.2 or so for a time to beat.

PG: according to your data what are average and above average times from home to first from left and right handed hitters (if you would be so kind to share)

thank you

I understand that 4.3 from the right side is Major League Average. If you figure 4.2 you should be in great shape unless you have a speedy runner that gets out of the box well.

That is a good idea to time the infielders to see how quick they can turn a play. I think I will go get a stop watch again.

I could get our guys to find the average h-1 times that we have compiled. Problem is it would probably be misleading. This is because we record every time including the 5+s when a runner slows down.

I think the very fastest times we have recorded, excluding bunts, would be more useful for practice on defense.

Until we get that information... Very fast h-1 times would be 4 flat from the left side and 4.1-4.2 from the right side. I know we have seen some 3.9s from left and 4 flats from right.

Hate to state the obvious, but defense against the fast guy is different than defense against the slower guy or even the average guy.

A good drill for practice is to time from contact on various plays. If the ball is received at 1B at 4.2 or less on routine plays without extreme rush, that should be a minimum requirement. Otherwise there is no chance against the fastest guys. Then practice groundballs for fastest possible times. In otherwords against the guys who can really run fast. Footwork is usually the big difference maker for infielders.

Not to drill down too far and not discounting raw speed, but footwork and speed are very different things aren't they? It would be great to posess both in the "plus" column.

Would you agree that very good footwork can offset average speed?

In other words some are blessed with a 6.4 60 speed, some closer to 6.7+. One can work on and develop footwork maybe with more success than getting their 60 time down.

Do you think that working on footwork may produce better results as opposed to trying to knock the next tenth off a 60 time?

I don't mean comparing a 6.4 runner with a 7.3, more along the lines of a 6.9 to a 6.6.

floridafan,

Work on both! Both are very important! Both contain a certain amount of natural ability! Both require technique! Both can be improved!

PG: thanks. yes I kmnow the nmumbers are skewed because when a kid hits a pop up you get a much different time than a grounder in the hole. So I'll stick with my 4.2 and be pretty happy with anything in the low fours.