shagging (baseball)
{{Short description|To catch fly balls in baseball outside a game}}
In baseball, shagging is the act of catching fly balls in the outfield outside the context of an actual baseball game.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=neA9AAAAIAAJ&q=shagging+baseball&pg=PA15|title=Bernstein's reverse dictionary|publisher=Routledge|date=1976|last1=Bernstein|first1=Theodore M.|last2=Wagner|first2=Jane|pages=15|isbn=9780710083678|access-date=April 19, 2013}} This is most commonly done by pitchers during batting practice before a game,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nxAKvF4bqmEC&q=shagging+baseball&pg=PA88|title=That Was Part of Baseball Then: Interviews With 24 Former Major League Baseball Players, Coaches and Managers|publisher=McFarland|date=May 1, 2002|last=Debs|first=Vic|pages=88|isbn=9780786483303|access-date=April 19, 2013}} where they assist their hitting teammates by catching or picking up their batted baseballs and throwing them back to the pitching area in the infield. Batboys also help shagging, and it is reportedly considered a great honor among batboys to be asked to do this.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3eLrLp-N_swC&q=shagging+baseball&pg=PA149|title=Batboys and the World of Baseball|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|date=April 1, 1995|last=Isaacs|first=Neil D.|pages=149|isbn=9780878057726|access-date=April 19, 2013}} This pre-game activity is widely disliked by pitchers,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhIwWgw7cWMC&q=shagging+baseball&pg=PA171|title=The Mental Game Of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance|publisher=Taylor Trade Publications|date=June 1, 2002|last1=Dorfman|first1=H. A.|last2=Kuehl|first2=Karl|pages=171|isbn=9781888698541|access-date=April 19, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Randy Messenger continues to pursue baseball career in Japan|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/mariners/2014733002_messenger10.html|date=April 9, 2011|access-date=April 19, 2013|first=Brad|last=Lefton|newspaper=The Seattle Times}} who argue that it does not benefit them at all, since it drains their energy and actually increases the risk of stiffness in the lower back and leg as a result of prolonged standing.{{cite news|title=Cherished Tradition or a Colossal Waste of Time?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/sports/baseball/batting-practice-cherished-tradition-or-colossal-waste-of-time.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2013|first=David|last=Waldstein|newspaper=The New York Times}} In response to these claims, several teams have exempted pitchers from having to shag. In the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, teams pay groups specifically assembled to shag fly balls in place of pitchers, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim recruit local firefighters in Arizona to do the job when the team plays in the Cactus League during spring training.
Dangers
File:Mariano Rivera allison 7 29 07.jpg leader Mariano Rivera suffered a season-ending injury in 2012 while shagging a fly ball at Kauffman Stadium.|alt=A right-handed Hispanic baseball pitcher, wearing a grey uniform with the lettering "NEW YORK" across it, with his body facing the right as he prepares to throw a baseball.]]
Although shagging is not considered to be dangerous,{{cite web|title=Royals don't blame Mo for shagging flies|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120504&content_id=30388700¬ebook_id=30388704&vkey=notebook_kc&c_id=kc|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2013|first1=Vinnie|last1=Duber|first2=Dick|last2=Kaegel|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}{{cite news|title=Rivera Felled by Pre-Game Pastime: Shagging Flies|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/05/04/mariano-rivera-injury-an-injury-mars-a-favorite-routine/|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2013|first=Daniel|last=Barbarisi|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}} several freak injuries have occurred as a result of engaging in it. In 1943, just one season after collecting his 3,000th hit, Paul Waner accidentally gashed his foot while shagging a fly ball in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, his former team.{{cite news|title=Paul Waner Joins Baseball Immortals With 3000th Hit|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NLBWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4887,6571751&dq=shagging+baseball&hl=en|date=May 31, 1943|access-date=April 19, 2013|first=Collie|last=Small|newspaper=The Eugene Register-Guard|agency=United Press International}} This was probably due to Waner being nearsighted and his refusal to wear glasses;{{cite web|url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/9d598ab8|title=Paul Waner|first=Joseph|last=Wancho|work=The Baseball Biography Project|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=April 19, 2013}} thus, he "played the outfield by ear." Nearly four decades later, Jerry Reuss was handed the honor of pitching on Opening Day in 1981, but suffered an injury to his calf while shagging for his teammates. He was replaced by unheralded rookie Fernando Valenzuela, who went on to win his next 8 consecutive decisions.{{cite news|title=Collier: Fernando was baseball at its best|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/gene-collier/collier-fernando-was-baseball-at-its-best-429374/|date=April 9, 2006|access-date=April 19, 2013|first=Gene|last=Collier|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}
Other players who have suffered serious injuries due to shagging include Mark Fidrych and Brendan Donnelly. Fidrych suffered a left knee injury after tearing cartilage in 1977 spring training,{{cite news|title=In baseball: 'Bird' caged, Boog axed|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ENFSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6835,8122539&dq=shagging+baseball&hl=en|date=March 31, 1977|access-date=April 19, 2013|first=Fred|last=Lief|newspaper=The Deseret News|agency=United Press International}} starting a downward spiral in his career.{{cite news |date=October 6, 1981 |title=Tigers waive bye-bye to Fidrych |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zZ9IAAAAIBAJ&pg=3410,6163909&dq=shagging+baseball&hl=en |access-date=April 19, 2013 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |page=4C |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}} Donnelly ended up breaking his nose while shagging, resulting in him losing half of his blood and necessitating three operations.{{cite news|title=Baseball|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7i5ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=2733,2026902&dq=shagging+baseball&hl=en|date=June 17, 2004|access-date=April 19, 2013|newspaper=The Union Democrat|agency=Associated Press}}
Mariano Rivera, the all-time leader in saves, suffered arguably the most well-known injury from shagging on May 3, 2012. While helping out in pre-game batting practice, Rivera attempted to catch a fly ball from Jayson Nix when he twisted his knee on the warning track of Kauffman Stadium and fell to the ground. An MRI scan revealed he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and part of his meniscus.{{cite web|title=Mariano tears ACL shagging fly balls|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120503&content_id=30328258&vkey=news|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2013|first=Bryan|last=Hoch|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} This prematurely ended his season{{cite web |last=Hoch |first=Bryan |date=February 13, 2013 |title=Rivera plans to continue shagging fly balls |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rivera-plans-to-continue-shagging-fly-balls/c-41608872 |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=MLB.com}} and led to fears that this could potentially be a career-ending injury.{{cite news |last=Skretta |first=Dave |date=May 4, 2012 |title=Mariano Rivera injury puts future in question |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-mariano-riveras-career-over-after-tearing-acl/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |newspaper=CBS News |agency=Associated Press}} Rivera was able to come back and pitch for the 2013 season, his final season in the major leagues before retiring.{{cite news|title=Mariano Rivera returns, earns save|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|work=ESPN|first=Matt|last=Ehalt|date=April 5, 2013|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9135990/mariano-rivera-new-york-yankees-records-first-save-acl-tear|access-date=April 19, 2013}}
Despite the seriousness of Rivera's injuries, pitchers from across Major League Baseball (MLB) who engaged in shagging flies during batting practice said they would not drop the activity or modify their training routine. These included James Shields{{cite web|title=Rivera injury won't deter Rays from routine|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120504&content_id=30378808¬ebook_id=30381358&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=April 20, 2013|first=Bill|last=Chastain|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} and J. J. Putz,{{cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Steve |date=May 4, 2012 |title=Shagging fly balls part of routine for D-backs |url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120504&content_id=30377698¬ebook_id=30382246&c_id=ari |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135831/http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/30382246 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |work=MLB.com}} along with 2012 Cy Young Award winners{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mvp_cya.shtml|title=Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=April 20, 2013}} R. A. Dickey{{cite news |last=McCarron |first=Anthony |date=May 4, 2012 |title=Despite freak injury to Yankees' Mariano Rivera, NY Mets' R. A. Dickey and others say 'power shagging' is here to stay |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2012/05/04/despite-freak-injury-to-yankees-mariano-rivera-ny-mets-ra-dickey-and-others-say-power-shagging-is-here-to-stay/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |newspaper=New York Daily News}} and David Price. Furthermore, several MLB managers at the time—namely Dale Sveum,{{cite web |last=Kruth |first=Cash |date=May 4, 2012 |title=Sveum: No issue with hurlers shagging fly balls |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120504&content_id=30373396¬ebook_id=30373402&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530195346/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120504&content_id=30373396¬ebook_id=30373402&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc |archive-date=2012-05-30 |work=MLB.com}} Joe Maddon, Jim Leyland and Terry Collins—confirmed they would not order their pitchers to stop shagging.
See also
{{Portal|Baseball}}