Only the pitcher's and catcher's locations are fixed, and then only at
the beginning of each pitch. Thus, the players on the field move around
as needed to defend against scoring a run. Many variations of this are
possible, as location depends upon the situation. Circumstances such as
the number of outs, the count (balls and strikes) on the batter, the
number and speed of runners, the ability of the fielders, the ability of
the pitcher, the type of pitch thrown, the tendencies of the hitter,
and the inning cause the fielders to move to more strategic locations on
the field. Common defensive strategies include: playing for the bunt,
trying to prevent a stolen base, moving to a shallow position to throw out a runner at home, playing at "double play depth", and moving fielders to locations where hitters are most likely to hit the ball.