Pitcher’s Fielding Practice and why the small stuff matters

Tuesday is the first workout for Royals first pitchers and catchers. Manager Ned Yost doesn’t check with me before making a decision, but the odds are pretty good the workout will include PFPs. It’s how most teams start spring training.

PFP stands for Pitcher’s Fielding Practice, although I have on occasion heard players substitute another F-word for “Fielding.” So here’s what the Royals pitchers will be working on:

A coach will hit a fungo to someone positioned where the first baseman stands and a pitcher will race from the mound to first base. Somewhere along the way, the guy acting as first baseman will throw the ball to the pitcher and the pitcher will catch the ball and then tag first…