Ninety percent of all injuries in baseball are a direct result of poor field conditions. With over seventy percent of the action occurring in the infield, naturally that is where most of those injuries transpire. Grounds keeping over the last ten years has truly become an art, and although groundskeepers around the world take different approaches to building and maintaining their baseball and softball fields, their overall goal is the same: Creating a safe, playable field surface no matter what!
Top-dressing is probably the quickest and easiest way this is achieved. Most of these groundskeepers utilize two ways of top-dressing their infields, also called the skinned area, which include the pitchers mound, baselines and home plate area. The most common is to top-dress the playing surface with a quality infield conditioner. This method includes mixing the conditioner into the top two to three inches of their existing soil to create a pliant or yielding surface.
Finish off the top-dressing by placing a thin top layer of the conditioner on the top layer of the surface to act as a blanket over the soil. This will significantly reduce injuries caused by hard compacted surfaces.
Finish off the top-dressing by placing a thin top layer of the conditioner on the top layer of the surface to act as a blanket over the soil. This method is usually recommended for poorly graded or slow-draining infields and hard, over-compacted playing surfaces. The second and most convenient method is to just spread the conditioner over the top over the existing soil. This method usually requires that the field already have a good sub-surface mix of sand and clay. Again this will create a blanket effect for the field. Either way it is best to work with experienced professional groundskeepers for best application techniques for your particular field.
Maintaining your skinned infields
Over 90 percent of the game is played on the infield dirt. With 7 of the 10 players occupying the skinned area, it takes a pounding and develops problems without regular maintenance. After every game:
1. Remove the bases to avoid creating any low or high spots.
2. Screen drag the infield to keep it level. Stay at least 1 foot away from the edge of the grass to avoid “lip” build-ups.
3. Water regularly to maintain a moisture level on the skinned area. This will improve the workability of the field.
4. If the field becomes too firm, use water or a nail drag to loosen it up. Nail dragging should be done at least once a week, sometimes more, depending on the weather and conditions of your field.
5. Apply a good infield mix and infield conditioner like the Pro’s Choice mixes as soon as needed. Avoid letting problem spots grow larger and become safety issues.
Infield conditioners eliminate much of the maintenance that would be required on the infield, so be sure the conditioners are in place before rain comes. After a long or heavy rain, it is important to:
1. Stay off the infield. Let the conditioner and Mother Nature do the work for you. More damage is usually done to an infield by walking/working on it too soon after a rain.
2. Take a good look at your infield to see whether you have high and low areas that need to be leveled. Depending on the area and the depth of a problem spot, a deeper, larger area usually requires adding infield mixes, or if the area is not too deep, simply add some more conditioner.
3. In good weather conditions, if the sun is out and/or the wind is blowing and it’s before a game or practice, let the field dry naturally for as long as possible.
4. In poor weather conditions, do not nail drag. If there is still a chance of rain, you will make matters worse.
5. Add infield conditioner. Give yourself just enough time before the game or practice to top-dress the field or, if needed, add drying agents.
6. Finish drag (screen or mat the infield).
Following these simple techniques can save you both time and money!