--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the ball was hit, my first reaction…" description: "\"When the ball was hit, my first reaction as a shortstop was always go in the direction of the ball. You can't do that at first base. You go too far in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/ben-zobrist-5706_direction_when-the-ball-was-hit-my-first-reaction_1680569.jpg" --- # When the ball was hit, my first reaction as a shortstop… ![“When the ball was hit, my first reaction as a shortstop was always go in the direction of the ball. You can't do that at first base. You go too far in that direction, and it's hard to scurry back and be ready to pick the throw.” quote by Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/ben-zobrist-5706_direction_when-the-ball-was-hit-my-first-reaction_1680569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/ben-zobrist-5706_direction_when-the-ball-was-hit-my-first-reaction_1680569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/ben-zobrist-5706_direction_when-the-ball-was-hit-my-first-reaction_1680569.jpg) > “When the ball was hit, my first reaction as a shortstop was always go in the direction of the ball. You can't do that at first base. You go too far in that direction, and it's hard to scurry back and be ready to pick the throw.” [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimal positioning requires adapting to role-specific constraints. **In simple terms:** Play differently based on position. Key Takeaway Adjust tactics to situation. Themes strategy adaptability baseball fundamentals decision‑making Mood analytical practical Type sports educational When to use this quote - shortstop play - first base defense - coaching drills - team communication Key Concepts spatial awareness role specialization Questions to Reflect On - How do you train to recognize positional nuances? - What mental cues aid rapid adjustment? A Different Perspective Complex plays may demand split‑second choices that defy simple rules. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-hit-860743/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hit Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-reaction-953800/) [Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction/) [Reaction Shortstop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction-shortstop-953799/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Shortstop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortstop/) [Shortstop Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortstop-direction-953798/) [Too far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-far/) ## Related quotes > [The key step for an infielder is the first one, to the left or right, but before the ball is hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-key-step-for-an-infielder-is-the-first-one-to-the-left-or-right/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [Everyone thinks it's easy to catch the ball and throw it back in. But there are a lot of situations that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/everyone-thinks-it-s-easy-to-catch-the-ball-and-throw-it-back-in-but/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Casey didn't easily forgive a guy who got doubled up on a hit-and-run play. He didn't see any reason why the runner couldn't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/casey-didn-t-easily-forgive-a-guy-who-got-doubled-up-on-a-hit-and-run/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [To be a good hitter you've got to do one thing - get a good ball to hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/to-be-a-good-hitter-you-ve-got-to-do-one-thing-get-a-good-ball-to-hit/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [One time he (Cool Papa Bell) hit a line drive right past my ear. I turned around and saw the ball hit his ass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satchel-paige/one-time-he-cool-papa-bell-hit-a-line-drive-right-past-my-ear-i/) [Satchel Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satchel-paige/) > [Don't let the ball hit you. Catch it or get out of the way. And if you get out of the way, that's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-machado/don-t-let-the-ball-hit-you-catch-it-or-get-out-of-the-way-and-if-you/) [Manny Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-machado/) > [The key step for an infielder is the first one, but before the ball is hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/the-key-step-for-an-infielder-is-the-first-one-but-before-the-ball-is/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [Coming out of college I thought, I'm pretty good, I guess.' But once you're out there - it's a lot faster. The ball's being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/coming-out-of-college-i-thought-i-m-pretty-good-i-guess-but-once-you/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [On any ball hit to center field, let's just let it roll to see if it might go foul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/on-any-ball-hit-to-center-field-let-s-just-let-it-roll-to-see-if-it/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) > [I always tell myself to bat the full day, and if there is a ball to be hit, just hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/i-always-tell-myself-to-bat-the-full-day-and-if-there-is-a-ball-to-be/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [Of course, in pro ball, they never hit the quarterback in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-namath/of-course-in-pro-ball-they-never-hit-the-quarterback-in-practice/) [Joe Namath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-namath/) > [The first rule of baseball is to get a good ball to hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/the-first-rule-of-baseball-is-to-get-a-good-ball-to-hit/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [Some players just have the natural stroke that you throw them in the lineup and all of the sudden they turn on a ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/some-players-just-have-the-natural-stroke-that-you-throw-them-in-the/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [Find out where the ball is, get there; hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranjitsinhji/find-out-where-the-ball-is-get-there-hit-it/) [Ranjitsinhji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranjitsinhji/) > [See the ball; hit the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/see-the-ball-hit-the-ball/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) ## More by Ben Zobrist > [You want to be comfortable, but it's also good to stay on your toes, especially in the midst of a long season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/you-want-to-be-comfortable-but-it-s-also-good-to-stay-on-your-toes/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [I played a lot of right field with Tampa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-played-a-lot-of-right-field-with-tampa/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [I'm just trying to create a working knowledge of my body. So it knows what to expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-m-just-trying-to-create-a-working-knowledge-of-my-body-so-it-knows/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [When I move to second after playing right field, I feel like my action has gotten too deliberate, and I have to switch back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/when-i-move-to-second-after-playing-right-field-i-feel-like-my-action/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [I'm not the most powerful. I'm not the fastest. I don't have the best arm. I don't have any of that, but put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-m-not-the-most-powerful-i-m-not-the-fastest-i-don-t-have-the-best/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [I just try to focus on one step at a time, what I have to do or what the team has to do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-just-try-to-focus-on-one-step-at-a-time-what-i-have-to-do-or-what/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [You're not going to hit a bunch of three-run homers every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/you-re-not-going-to-hit-a-bunch-of-three-run-homers-every-game/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [I want to try and get better in every facet of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-want-to-try-and-get-better-in-every-facet-of-the-game/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [I grew up in Illinois.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-grew-up-in-illinois/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [You have to catch the breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/you-have-to-catch-the-breaks/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [I was so engrossed in my sport, I wasn't thinking about the future from God's standpoint. I was thinking about just my sporting future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-sport-i-wasn-t-thinking-about-the-future/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [We know that as a Christian athlete, people are watching, and so we want to be the best example we can be and show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/we-know-that-as-a-christian-athlete-people-are-watching-and-so-we/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [You don't get a chance to go to the playoffs and World Series very often, but to be able to experience it with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/you-don-t-get-a-chance-to-go-to-the-playoffs-and-world-series-very/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [You just want the highs to start once the playoffs start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/you-just-want-the-highs-to-start-once-the-playoffs-start/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) > [For me, it's not so much about picking the right position; it's about the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-zobrist/for-me-it-s-not-so-much-about-picking-the-right-position-it-s-about/) [Ben Zobrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) [Explore all 100 Ben Zobrist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-zobrist/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. 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Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. 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