Quote: Originally Posted By stevehoggett on 10/17/2007

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i dont like this aspect of the game...I played 2B (im a lefty) forever and still do, mind you now its only in softball but Ive never been hindered by this. I just did a lot of underhanded tosses to 1B if I was close enough and if it was a diving play to the right I just got used to coming up off the ground to my right.

 

I would assume any major leaguer has the brain and focus to be able to come up to the right BLIND and know he has to throw to first. You just have to know each scenario in your mind before the ball comes off the bat and know what you are going to do ahead of time.

 

In fact the only position I think its a disadvantage to be a Lefty is 3B ( when diving left and having to throw to 2nd- and possibly catcher (3rd base steals)

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Even though it has been years since I've played 2B (Little League), I will state with confidence that it is actually a slight advantage to be LH (at 2B). Why?

1. Double plays. Throw comes in, slightly less transfer time for LH. Not much of a difference in a vacuum, but baseball is a games of inches and seconds.

2. Grounders up the middle. With your glove on your right hand, you don't have to travel quite as far to reach it from the second baseman's position.

3. Bunts. The 2B must act as a 1B and the advantages of a LH 1B are well documented.

(Shortstop, OTOH, still is better when RH)

I can tell you certainly have never tried playing 2B left-handed... because "turning around" is a myth. All you have to do on double plays is drop the ball into your glove (moving forward, while RH the ball moves backwards).

Your ground ball up the middle assessment is almost the opposite of truth. Even if I can't make the play to 1st, a runner on 2nd will not score. An RH guy may let that same ball get through the IF. Run. Furthermore, an RH guy has to turn around (or reposition, which takes almost, if not completely, as much time) moving toward the bag if he does not want to throw off-balance. Again, all an LH has to do is scoop and throw.

(While turning around may be slightly more accurate, I agree it does slow you down too much. So just scoop.)

(Come to think of it, have you even played 2B for any length of time at all?)

kbosch: Every time that his head is in the game. That is exactly his job on bunts. Even if 1B stays back to cover, 2B cannot assume that and should be on first by the time someone recovers the ball. If he did not, no excuses: Mental miscue.

Quote: Originally Posted By jonas1102 on 10/19/2007

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You can't explain to a lefty why he can't play the infield.  They've all "done it" before, and will try to explain to you how it is actually an advantage.  It's like a little man complex.  You can tell them until your blue in the face about how poor footwork for them to get into throwing postion takes more time and leads to more errors, they don't care.  It's easier to teach a monkey to read.  Once you tell someone they can't do something, that is all they want to do.

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Quote: Originally Posted By hurricane384 on 10/19/2007

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What are you talking about scoop and throw? As a left-hander your body is positioned to throw the ball to 3rd base, not first. Can you please explain what you mean scoop and throw? There's a reason lefties don't play middle infield in the first place.

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Quote: Originally Posted By uncleal on 10/19/2007

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Quote: Originally Posted By hurricane384 on 10/19/2007

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What are you talking about scoop and throw? As a left-hander your body is positioned to throw the ball to 3rd base, not first. Can you please explain what you mean scoop and throw? There's a reason lefties don't play middle infield in the first place.

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When you take the throw, moving the ball from your glove to your hand will be moving toward 1st base as LH. As RH, this motion will be away from 1st base.

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