I used to agree with this until I saw our 16U team's leftie SS. When I first heard about them doing it, I scoffed. Then I saw her play the position. The top teams they play chuckle before the games, until then watch her. They leave the game with a different attitude.Originally Posted by Sweet Lou
You abide by the ramifications of your decisions.
sister61 (04-19-2012)
My DD is a lefty so this might be a slightly biased opinion. Let them try out for any spot they want. If they win the spot by being better then the righties, let them play there. My dd has played shortstop as old as her first year of 14u. Can she go deep into the hole and throw the ball to first to get the runner, nope but neither can 98% of right handed SS in her age group. She has played every position on the diamond except third base (well she played third for an inning and hated it) Right now on her HS JV team she pitches and plays LF. On her travel team she pitches and plays first base.
In the very recent past there was a left hander playing second for a team in the WCWS.
Lefties obviously have an advantage pitching. I have also seen some pretty good left handed catchers. 1st base is the obvious choice in the infield. I would never play a lefty at 2nd (has to turn 180 degrees to throw to 1st) or 3rd (glove hand toward the foul line). An athletically gifted lefty could play SS. In the outfield I would give preference to CF and LF. RF makes to many running catches towards the foul line on balls spinning away from them - would be a VERY DIFFICULT across the body catch for a lefty.
sister61 (04-19-2012)
It takes a really, really special athlete for a lefty to play those positions. It can be done but even most of the top left handed players have trouble with the backward turn and throw. You really are giving almost half a step to most batters and that's tough to compensate for at the higher levels. I've seen it done in baseball too sometimes but not often.
sister61 (04-19-2012)
What's the disadvantage at 1B? Glove side away from foul line?? that can be made up for by positioning. I think left handed 1B has distinct advantage on two plays. #1 fielding a double play ball (body is aligned correctly for throw to 2B) and #2 Pick off throws to 1B. Also their receiving position catching the ball at 1B doesn't leave them with their back to the infield.
SS is marginal disadvantage and a good athlete can overcome as noted in someones post body angle to throw to first base is about 60 degree rotation for right hander 120 rotation for leftie. That's a difference but not huge. biggest disadvantage for leftie SS is trying to make firm throw to 2B for a double play, but many of those are flips anyway and you can flip backhanded.
3B is larger disadvantage and becomes worse the closer to home plate the ball is fielded. Right handed player is nearly aligned for throw to 1B leftie has to rotate 180 for same throw, same goes for 2B.
For most of the disadvantages on the typical throw to 1B play there are built in advantages for an a-typical play. (SS throwing to third is easier for lefty, same with F4 throwing to 2B).
Some will make the argument that a left handed 2B is an overall advantage because of their superior ability to make the throw on a double play and the assumption that they have plenty of time to turn their body on a play to 1B. I think that's a baseball mentality born of 90ft basepaths personally I don't agree with it at 60'.
Last edited by SnocatzDad; 04-17-2012 at 09:25 AM.
sister61 (04-19-2012)
Primary 1B disadvantage for a lefty is the throw to home after a force at first. The lefties advantage at 1B in BB is moot in SB because there is no leading/pitcher-initiated pick offs. After carefull reconsideration, I'll change 1B to neutral, along w/ CF and P.
Re SS, a lefty is at a distinct disadvantage receiving throws and applying the tag from C on a steal. Much harder and less reach swiping back towards the bag backhanded as a lefty. Following this line of thinking, tags on a 2B steal attempt are an advantage for a lefty 2B, but the turn to first on a potential DP, slow-hit grounder, or ball up the middle are killers IMO.
Re OF, I prefer corner OFs to have glove hand toward the foul line as a ball toward the line will always be hooking or slicing away from fair territory and a forehand attempt is much easier.
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts." -- Atributed to John Wooden by Mike Candrea
sister61 (04-19-2012)
What advantage does a left handed catcher have? I'm new to softball but I caught in baseball my whole life and saw one or two the whole time. There aren't any lefties in mlb. However, I noticed Mississippi St had a lefty and she was pretty good. Seems like throwing to third would be more difficult. I'm guessing there is more emphasis on throwing to first with shorter bases and small ball.
In softball steals of 3rd as well as bunts are much more prevelant. A lefty cacther has a distinct advantage on both plays.
They do have a disadvantage on the pick off at 1st v RHC but that is one of the few disadvantages a lefty has in softball catching.
It seems like a throw to third would be similar to a lefty playing 2B. They have to turn their whole body. Am I thinking about this wrong? I can see how it would be easier to throw behind a rh batter being left handed.
That's pretty much the advantage right there on the throw to 3rd. And I don't think the turn is quite as exaggerated as the 2B example, especially if you have good footwork. But I can see your point on it as you aren't setup as easily as a RHC.
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