The 5-4-3 double play is a kind of play in baseball. First, let’s define what a DP or a double play is. It takes place when two offensive players are taken out of the game within the same ongoing play. The DP is often called the “best friend” of the pitcher because it is two times more helpful to him than any kind of out. There are different ways to do a double play such as doing a ground ball while there’s a runner on first. Here, a ball flies towards the third baseman, is thrown to the baseman on second (4) to get the runner out, and then finally passed on to the first baseman to get the batter out of the game. This first out is noted as the 5-4 out.
Forcing Out Players
The 5-4-3 double play is another ordinary type of double play. It is also known as the “around the horn." Here, the 5 or the third baseman catches a ball and throws it to the 4 or the second baseman. This will effectively stop a runner from moving from first base and proceeding to the second. The second baseman then throws the ball quickly to the 3, or the first baseman. The batter will then be forced out of the play.Doing Drills and Practicing 5-4-3
It’s a given that baseball players should always be practicing their plays; this is also called doing drills. Included in the drills is practicing double plays. One of the DPs that should be practiced is the 5-4-3 double play, and it is rehearsed during the second round of drills.When the basic, short hop drill is finished, infielders are instructed to break into the double-barrel field alignment wherein the players will field ground balls for a quarter of an hour. The first round is the 5-3-6-4-4 round; here the third baseman throws to the first, the second baseman and shortstop fields groundballs, and practice their feeds and improve their footwork to prepare for a double play.
The second round is where the 5-4-3 DP is practiced. The second baseman, on the other hand, works on ending double play and turns throws from third base. Shortstops, in the meantime, should play and throw to home-base like there’s a runner on the move to score.