How did the FM-150 Perform vs a Coach?

The Team One Baseball Regional Showcases evaluated position players at their primary positions using the FM-150 to place balls using the same routine to each player at the event.  The following defensive workout schedule was conducted at the Team One South Regional (Atlanta, GA), the Team One West Regional (Long Beach, CA), and the Team One Midwest Regional (Crestwood, IL – 30 miles from Chicago). 

Outfielders (starting point is 240 feet from home plate in straight away right field. Players must hustle back to starting point before next ball is fired)
1. Fly Ball Direct – Throw to 3B
2. Base Hit down the RF Line – Throw to 3B
3. Fly Ball in Right Center Gap – Throw to 3B
4. Fly Ball Direct – Throw to Home Plate
5. Sinking Line Drive – Throw to Home Plate
6. Base hit direct – Throw to Home Plate

Third Basemen (starting point is 20 feet off the 3b line at the edge of the grass.  Players must hustle back to starting point before next ball is fired)
1. Regular Ground Ball Direct – Throw to 1B
2. Regular Ground Ball Direct – Throw to 1B
3. Regular Ground Ball Backhand – Throw to 1b
4. Regular Ground Ball Backhand – Throw to 1b
5. Regular Ground Ball Glove Side- Throw to 1b
6. Regular Ground Ball Glove Side – Throw to 1b
7. Double Play Ground Ball Glove Side – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth)
8. Double Play Ground Ball Backhand – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth)
9. Slow roller direct – Throw to 1b on the run.

Middle Infielders (starting point is 23 degree angle from the 3b line at the edge of the grass – Normal Shortstop Position.  Players must hustle back to starting point before next ball is fired)
1. Regular Ground Ball Direct – Throw to 1B
2. Regular Ground Ball Direct – Throw to 1B
3. Regular Ground Ball Backhand – Throw to 1b
4. Regular Ground Ball Backhand – Throw to 1b
5. Regular Ground Ball Glove Side- Throw to 1b
6. Regular Ground Ball Glove Side – Throw to 1b
7. Double Play Ground Ball Glove Side – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth)
8. Double Play Ground Ball Backhand – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth)
9. Slow roller direct – Throw to 1b on the run.

First Basemen (starting point is 20 feet off the 1b line at the edge of the grass.  Players must hustle back to starting point before next ball is fired)
1. Regular Ground Ball Direct – Throw to 3B
2. Regular Ground Ball Direct – Throw to 3B
3. Double Play Ground Ball – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth – behind the runner)
4. Double Play Ground Ball – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth – behind the runner)
5. Double Play Ground Ball – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth – behind the runner)
6. Double Play Ground Ball – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth – hold the runner, then release when first light on machine blinks)
7. Double Play Ground Ball – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth – hold the runner, then release when first light on machine blinks)
8. Double Play Ground Ball – Throw to 2b for double play (start at double play depth – hold the runner, then release when first light on machine blinks)
9. Slow roller direct – Throw to 3b on the run. (start 15 feet off the first base line, on the front edge of the infield grass)

36 of the 50 players at the event participated in the survey. Players were asked to check one of the following boxes for each question:

___ Worse ___ Same ___ Better ___ Far Better

The following six questions were polled:

1. Fairness of balls hit to each player:

2. Accuracy of balls:

3. Your ability to react to the ball:

4. Game like conditions of balls:

5. The FM-150 vs Fungos from your High School Coach:

6. High School Practice with a FM-150:

The results:

Comments:

“This machine is a great innovation for baseball. It will allow for more efficient use of coaches time and gives more chances for the fielders. I think this makes the evaluations better than most because of the more consistent plays each player makes. I’m not sure what could make it much better than the FM-150.”
Mike
Elburn, IL

“Very accurate, gives fair balls to each player,”
Jimmy
St. Louis, MO

“Great!”
Rob
Grandview, MO

“I liked it very much.  I thought it was fair and pretty accurate.”
Chris
Kalama, WA

“Great Accuracy!”
Richie
Clarendon Hills, IL

“Great Machine”
Derek
West Harrison, IN

“It was really nice using the FM-150. It limited the bad hops and had a consistancy that you can’t get from getting live hits.”
Austin
Elburn, IL

“It’s a lot better.”
Bryson
Bright, IN

“I liked FungoMan for outfield drills and balls down the line.”
Brad
Vernon Hills, IL

“I really liked the stability of the machine. It throws out hard, crisp balls which is very good. Honestly, the defensive workout was great.  Everyone that used the machine got the exact same balls as the other participants.”
Kale
Stillwater, OK

“It is better in my opinion than regular fungos…”
Blake
Bloomington, IL

“I like the bounces of the ball.  Not crazy.  Consistency is nice.”
Nick
Piedmont, OK