Discussion of LH Catchers

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Jul 25, 2015
148
0
I got drug into a conversation concerning lefty catchers over the weekend... The conversation did not center around softball but baseball and to be honest up front, I never played baseball and I never coached baseball... Also, just to frame the discussion, my friends that drug me into the discussion never had daughters and have not logged much if any considerable bleacher time watching softball... They assumed the usual softball = baseball in all aspects of the game, which meant since I coached softball, have two DD's that play/played softball extensively, and have a son sandwiched between the DD's that plays baseball (who happens to be a lefty) my opinion of the utility of a lefty catcher in baseball must certainly be valid... :rolleyes:

The argument was the usual "a lefty cannot catch" vs the usual "why can't a lefty catch" as it relates to baseball... I listened and attempted to stay out of it but the inevitable "what do you think" came around... I told them that in my opinion, the argument that a lefty could not catch did not hold water when it comes to softball and that I had coached two outstanding lefty catchers through the years but that I honestly could not answer the question as it related to baseball... The very next question was "Why? If a catcher can catch in softball why can't a catcher catch in baseball?" I told them I did not know exactly but that softball is not identical to baseball - more bunting, different lead off, shorter distance between bases, slapping, etc. Needless to say, the issue was never resolved and I imagine it never will be all over the world...

Being the dad of a lefty baseball player, it got me to thinking more about it and reliving some of my son's progression in baseball... He plays CF now but many times he was one of the more talented kids on the team when he was younger which meant he has played SS, 3B, 2B, 1B, and P (which I am happy he gave up - want to see someone try to ride your kid like a horse? Get yourself a lefty baseball pitcher that is pretty good.)... Now, I know the baseball stigma and have heard it often "the only place for a lefty on the baseball field is 1B, P, or OF" and I actually agree with it but I do not know if I agree that catcher is not a position for a lefty in baseball because it is valid or because it is what I have heard for so many years?

Does anyone have any insight on this issue? I realize this is a fastpitch site, so I apologize but I am not on any baseball sites to ask the question and figured with the experience here someone surely has some baseball catching experience... TIA...
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
I don't have any answers, but as the Mom of a lefty DD catcher, I'm paying attention to this. I've sometimes wondered whether it is worth putting all this time, effort, and money into molding her into a catcher if some coach down the line is going to tell her that lefties can't play catcher.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
Found these two articles:

Baseball Mystery Files: Left Handed Catchers | Call to the Bullpen

The New England Catching Camp» Blog Archive » Lefty Catcher….It just ain’t right!

The second article probably nails it with: 1) the comparison of the size of the diamond in baseball vs softball, and 2) softball players can't leave base until ball is released.

I'm glad to read that NECC isn't anti-lefty or catchers b/c we just signed up for the Winter Vacation camp in Sarasota!
 
Jul 25, 2015
148
0
I don't have any answers, but as the Mom of a lefty DD catcher, I'm paying attention to this. I've sometimes wondered whether it is worth putting all this time, effort, and money into molding her into a catcher if some coach down the line is going to tell her that lefties can't play catcher.

I do not believe you are wasting your time and I doubt you will find a good softball coach that will evaluate your DD simply based on which hand she throws with... Notice I said "good coach"... If your DD has the skills, arm, athletic ability, and mental capacity to be a catcher, then any coach should recognize that and cherish the opportunity to coach a lefty catcher... If I were still coaching, given the opportunity to have two catchers, I would actually love to have a solid lefty and a solid righty... Run up against a team that likes to small ball you all day? Throw the lefty catcher in, which the other team will probably not notice at first and then snicker while they try to figure out how a catcher can be that fast with a throw to 1B...
 
Aug 26, 2015
590
16
I don't have any answers, but as the Mom of a lefty DD catcher, I'm paying attention to this. I've sometimes wondered whether it is worth putting all this time, effort, and money into molding her into a catcher if some coach down the line is going to tell her that lefties can't play catcher.

Pssh! Just find her another team if they believe lefties can't catch. We have a girl on our team that is our #2 catcher and she could be the #1 if she wasn't also the #2 pitcher. She is awesome and I can't imagine some fool saying she can't play the position. Also saw a 16U Gold lefty #2 catcher at a tourney 3 weeks ago. If memory serves, her primary is SS or 2B. MIF basically. Keep molding away and let those who have a preconceived notion KICK ROCKS!
 
Aug 26, 2011
1,285
0
Houston, Texas
I don't have any answers, but as the Mom of a lefty DD catcher, I'm paying attention to this. I've sometimes wondered whether it is worth putting all this time, effort, and money into molding her into a catcher if some coach down the line is going to tell her that lefties can't play catcher.

You are not wasting your time. I know of one LH catcher who just recently committed to a Texas D1 school, and she is a sophomore. Hard work and perseverance will pay off...and having the right coach helps too.
 
Jul 25, 2015
148
0
Found these two articles:

Baseball Mystery Files: Left Handed Catchers | Call to the Bullpen

The New England Catching Camp» Blog Archive » Lefty Catcher….It just ain’t right!

The second article probably nails it with: 1) the comparison of the size of the diamond in baseball vs softball, and 2) softball players can't leave base until ball is released.

Yeah, I read both of those and I agree that the bottom article kind of nails the comparison, but it still does not really answer the question fully. Of course, I have heard the horror stories of how a talented kid played catcher as a lefty, was really good at it and then when they got to HS was told that a lefty cannot play catcher... Like I said earlier, my son played positions that a "lefty cannot play" when he was coming up because he could play it better left handed than other right handed kids on the team... I knew the stigma associated with lefties in baseball, so I always felt as though some of his positional development time was being wasted at those positions to some degree and even when he started travel ball, coaches were up front at try outs that he would play P, 1B or OF - but in his younger years, he still ended up playing 3B or SS some.

I do not really have a dog in the hunt on this one but for my own knowledge was wondering if it truly is just a stigma thing for lefty catcher's and baseball...
 
Apr 16, 2010
924
43
Alabama
I believe the advantage of a lefty catcher in softball is taken away in baseball due to the way the game is played. Personally in softball I am a little partial since I am a lefty catchers dad. Being left handed is actually an advantage to her on most plays. Her soon to be school ball HC told her he loved lefty catchers. Being he is a successful travel coach with a top five finish at PGF Nationals in premier this year she really liked the comment.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
We had a discussion about this topic recently, but I can't find the thread.

My take...Let the catcher's skills on the field determine whether they are a good choice behind the plate, regardless of which hand they throw with.
 

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