Play shallow意思

"Play shallow" is a term used in baseball and softball that refers to a defensive strategy where outfielders position themselves closer to the infield than usual. This is typically done to reduce the amount of time it takes for the outfielders to reach the ball, which can be beneficial for making plays on balls hit near the outfield fence or for preventing runners from advancing extra bases.

Shallow positioning can be used in situations where the opposing team has a tendency to hit balls into the gaps between outfielders or when there are runners on base and the defense wants to prevent long hits that could score multiple runs. However, playing shallow also carries the risk of allowing more hits, especially if the outfielders are unable to quickly back up each other's positions or if they misjudge the flight of the ball.