A left hander cannot reliably make the throw to third base needed to gun down a potential steal.
Yes, as we've seen a few really strong guns do when winging it down to first right handed, it's possible. But that's more of a move to catch a runner leaning the wrong way. If a guy gets a jump and is diving, very hard - especially if we add in a right handed batter in the box.
Yes, as we've seen a few really strong guns do when winging it down to first right handed, it's possible. But that's more of a move to catch a runner leaning the wrong way. If a guy gets a jump and is diving, very hard - especially if we add in a right handed batter in the box.
A LH playing an infield position other than 1B is an utterly emergency move due to lack of other choices late in a game and an infielder is unable to go out due to injury.
A LH cannot reliably make the throw to 1B because he's nearly always set up or moving in the wrong direction.
CLEMENTS, JACK
TROTT, SAM
TATE, POP
SUTCLIFFE, SY
HARBIDGE, BILL
HINES, MIKE
HUMPHRIES, JOHN
TENNEY, FRED
TWINEHAM, ART
BAKER, PHIL
DONAHUE, JIGGS
OLDFIELD, DAVE
HOUSEHOLDER, CHARLIE
MALONE, FERGY
McMAHON, JACK
KREHMEYER, CHARLIE
WALL, JOE
FOSTER. ELMER
DISTEFANO, BENNY
HILLEBRAND, HOMER
EGAN, JIM
SQUIRES, MIKE
LONG, DALE
EDEN CHARLIE
CASSIDY, JOHN
MULLEN, JOHN
SHORTEN, CHICK
MARR, LEFTY
SHORT, CHRIS
SHIRLEY, MULE
WRIGHT, JOE
POWELL, MARTIN
REDMOND, BILLY
TROTT, SAM
TATE, POP
SUTCLIFFE, SY
HARBIDGE, BILL
HINES, MIKE
HUMPHRIES, JOHN
TENNEY, FRED
TWINEHAM, ART
BAKER, PHIL
DONAHUE, JIGGS
OLDFIELD, DAVE
HOUSEHOLDER, CHARLIE
MALONE, FERGY
McMAHON, JACK
KREHMEYER, CHARLIE
WALL, JOE
FOSTER. ELMER
DISTEFANO, BENNY
HILLEBRAND, HOMER
EGAN, JIM
SQUIRES, MIKE
LONG, DALE
EDEN CHARLIE
CASSIDY, JOHN
MULLEN, JOHN
SHORTEN, CHICK
MARR, LEFTY
SHORT, CHRIS
SHIRLEY, MULE
WRIGHT, JOE
POWELL, MARTIN
REDMOND, BILLY
It's not that a LH cannot throw to third. It's that he can't do it with as much power as a RH.
He has to take a full step to the side so that he can throw down and across his body (just as a RH catcher must do if trying to pick a runner off first (or field a ball in front of the plate and throw to first)
That step takes long enough that runners going to third would have a significant advantage.
Somewhat akin to the reason why a LHP will have a quicker move to 1B than does a RHP. Making that physical turn to throw costs a 1/2 second or more.
heh...thanks for the greatest list of obscure catchers ever. Been following The Great Game with a passion since 1969 and I recognize only three of those names. One of them - Chris Short - was actually a pitcher, who I presume makes the list due to some wierdo injury for the Phillies back in the day.
In a game of inches and seconds every second is critical and can cost you runs and/or the game.
Think about it. A righty catcher wears a glove on his left hand. He is positioned behind the plate so that he can step with his lead foot and shoulder and fire down without any adjustments.
However, a lefty would be making this natural throw to 1st base only. For them to throw to 3rd they have to step across their whole body and pivot towards the base forcing them to make an awkward throw that takes longer and will be done with less power.
Also, on groundballs in front of the plate catchers chase the ball while it rolls away rather then a normal fielder playing it with the ball rolling towards them. This means that when a righty catcher runs he pivots around the ball allowing him to pick up the ball and be in an ideal throwing position to give a nice strong, accurate, quick throw to 1st. A lefty catcher has to grab the ball as it rolls away which is hard to do in a game situation or they can also go for the pivot but it will take twice as long its the same scenario with a righty throwing to 3rd. This is why catchers will rarely throw to 3rd on a chopper in front of the plate.
It is ideal to have a lefty firstbasemen because mainly on pickoff plays its a much easier tag for the lefty to make as well as on a double play they dont have to spin and throw to 2nd they are already in a throwing position to 2nd.
It's hard for some people who have never done it or played baseball past little league to comprehend.
Think about it. A righty catcher wears a glove on his left hand. He is positioned behind the plate so that he can step with his lead foot and shoulder and fire down without any adjustments.
However, a lefty would be making this natural throw to 1st base only. For them to throw to 3rd they have to step across their whole body and pivot towards the base forcing them to make an awkward throw that takes longer and will be done with less power.
Also, on groundballs in front of the plate catchers chase the ball while it rolls away rather then a normal fielder playing it with the ball rolling towards them. This means that when a righty catcher runs he pivots around the ball allowing him to pick up the ball and be in an ideal throwing position to give a nice strong, accurate, quick throw to 1st. A lefty catcher has to grab the ball as it rolls away which is hard to do in a game situation or they can also go for the pivot but it will take twice as long its the same scenario with a righty throwing to 3rd. This is why catchers will rarely throw to 3rd on a chopper in front of the plate.
It is ideal to have a lefty firstbasemen because mainly on pickoff plays its a much easier tag for the lefty to make as well as on a double play they dont have to spin and throw to 2nd they are already in a throwing position to 2nd.
It's hard for some people who have never done it or played baseball past little league to comprehend.
