Infielders Move Up, outfielders take knee in new “Cipola Shift”

By Tom Jalana
for TJSN.com

Published: May 1, 2009

Infielders Move Up, outfielders take knee in new “Cipola Shift” thumbnail

Evergreen Park—As the 2009 baseball season progresses, SSWBL managers are defending against D-Backs utility man Joe Cipola by employing what they call the “Cipola Shift,” a defensive maneuver in which infielders move up past the pitcher’s mound and outfielders take a knee and relax. “It’s very effective,” Seadogs manager Douc Hebag told reporters. “If Joe makes contact with the ball, which is rare in itself, he usually hits slow dribblers that catch infielders by surprise because of how weak they’re hit. So, by moving the infielders up, and having the pitcher rush home plate after the pitch has been thrown, Cipola has virtually no chance of reaching base. If runners are on when he comes up, we may have the outfielders cover first, second, and third to ensure a double or triple play.” Douc Hebag added that it doesn’t matter if Cipola somehow hits one over the head of the fielders because “he is so f-ing slow anyhow.”

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Tagged with: Evergreen Park Diamondbacks, Joe Cipola, SSWBL

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Infielders Move Up, outfielders take knee in new “Cipola Shift”

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