Infield shift

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The Infield Shift is a generic term used in baseball to describe a defensive alignment in which there is an extreme realignment from the standard positions to blanket one side of the field or another. Used almost exclusively against Southpaws, it is designed to protect against extra base hits pulled hard into the gaps between the fielders on the right side. Originally called the "Boudreau" or "Williams" shift, it was originally used during the 1946 World Series between the Red Sox and the Cardinals as a defensive gimic by the N.L. manager to psych out and hopefully contain the feared Sox slugger. It has been employed since then to thwart extreme pull hitters (mostly lefties), such as Barry Bonds or David Ortiz, in an all or nothing way.

The historic alignment: third baseman moves to short/shallow left, shadowed by left fielder, shortstop plays right of second, second baseman plays between first and second, center fielder plays right-center, first baseman/right fielder hug the line).