Matador defense

Little Leaguers are arguably better now than decades ago. They are bigger and more skilled, well-schooled by sessions in batting cages and on travel-ball teams. Some even have private instructors. Their ability is often quite amazing.

But one lost art among the kids is the ability to block the ball in the infield with the body. Very rarely do you see an infielder go to one knee to make sure a ball doesn't sneak through to the outfield. On hard shots, the glove goes down, but you don't see a player purposely take one off the chest and then pick up the ball and throw out the runner.

Maybe kids aren't taught this stuff anymore, or they don't see the big leaguers doing it. Anybody have a theory?