LH catchers Topic

cbriese
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We all know that LH 2B or SS in HBD end up leading the league in errors, but what of a LH catcher? I am going to try to start  Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Miguel Morales at the major league level because he has other good defensive fundamentals for a catcher. I have no idea if WIS adds a LH factor as they obviously do with infielders. Inexplicably, Miguel hits right handed.
9/9/2014 10:02 PM
tufft
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His MinL stats look fine. Nothing like you'd see from a LH 2B or SS.

Please post again after he's started 40-80 games and let us know how it goes.

9/9/2014 10:16 PM
frymaster99
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What am I missing here? Why would being a LH Catcher impede his ability to perform?
9/10/2014 12:21 AM
hypnotoad
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Lefty catchers have traditionally been ignored and/or unused in baseball. I think the biggest reason is the majority of the throw out attempts at second base would go 'through' the right handed batters box, which is more likely to have a body in it than the lefty batters box. Also, the angle and positioning is awkward when pivoting to throw to third base. Plus, just because.
9/10/2014 6:25 AM
MikeT23
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I think the "just because" is the right answer.  

LH catchers don't exist in MLB for a reason.   I'm not privvy to the reason.   My guess is it's baseball's "It's always been that way" thought process.    Perhaps LH with a good enough arm to be a C is pitching.   Otherwise, it makes very little sense except for the snap throw to 1B.
9/10/2014 8:28 AM
tecwrg
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Another reason that I heard a long time ago was that a LH catcher's throw to second would have a slight tail to the left, away from the incoming runner, as to opposed to a RH catcher's throw which would have a slight tail into the incoming runner.

I'm neither endorsing or dismissing this as a reason.

9/10/2014 8:45 AM
tecwrg
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And one more reason is that there are generally very few LH catcher mitts available in youth baseball, so most coaches will tend to not stick a LH thrower behind the plate.  So far fewer LH catchers are being developed from a young age.
9/10/2014 8:49 AM
arcticlegend
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Personally, I think the anti-lefty bias (at catcher and in the infield) is just an example of baseball sticking with a tradition despite any real reason to support it. The usual justification for avoiding lefty catchers is, as noted above, that they would have trouble the owning out runners when there's a righty in the batters box. But if that were the case, wouldn't righty catchers be at a disadvantage when a lefty is batting? If so, is think teams would steal a lot more when a lefty hitter is up, and that doesn't seem to be the case.

As for infielders, I'm told the problem is that a lefty has to pivot before throwing to first base, and that I costs them a fraction of a second to do that. But it seems to me if there was a talented fielder, he could make up for that delay with quick footwork and hands. I don't think there's any legitimate reason not to allow lefties to play these positions.
9/10/2014 1:10 PM
MikeT23
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2B/3B/SS are legit problems.   How many putouts at 1B are a fraction of a second?   Enough to matter.     The more moving parts in making that happen, the less room for error.

If you're a righty, you can test it where you sit(after you stand up).    Pretend to field a ball and throw to your left.   Then do the same thing and throw to your right.   If you say "I don't see a difference", you're lying.    Throwing to the left, you don't even have to straighten up.  I'd love to see someone throw to the right with their back parallel to the ground.

9/10/2014 1:57 PM
frymaster99
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arctic, I think purely from a numbers standpoint you're going to have an issue with a RH hitter in the box as a LH C more than a LH hitter in the box as a normal RH C.
9/10/2014 2:51 PM
damag
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A lefthanded infielder would have to have INCREDIBLE footwork, not just quick. Even on the most basic plays, he'd be dancin' all the time.

As for catcher, who becomes a catcher? A kid who is really good at it, and wants to do it. Or a kid who can't do anything else, right? So with all the above reasons and biases in play, you would need a lefthanded kid who INSISTS on playing C and is GREAT at it.



9/10/2014 3:17 PM
AlCheez
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Posted by arcticlegend on 9/10/2014 1:10:00 PM (view original):
Personally, I think the anti-lefty bias (at catcher and in the infield) is just an example of baseball sticking with a tradition despite any real reason to support it. The usual justification for avoiding lefty catchers is, as noted above, that they would have trouble the owning out runners when there's a righty in the batters box. But if that were the case, wouldn't righty catchers be at a disadvantage when a lefty is batting? If so, is think teams would steal a lot more when a lefty hitter is up, and that doesn't seem to be the case.

As for infielders, I'm told the problem is that a lefty has to pivot before throwing to first base, and that I costs them a fraction of a second to do that. But it seems to me if there was a talented fielder, he could make up for that delay with quick footwork and hands. I don't think there's any legitimate reason not to allow lefties to play these positions.
He would need dramatically better footwork and hands than all the talented right handed fielders he's competing with.

You see it at lower levels (I saw several LH infielders at the LLWS this year, mostly at 3B) because at those levels it's easier for a player to have physical traits that make him superior to other options despite the disadvantage.  But at the higher levels where the competition is greater, it's just not realistic for a LH infielder to be able to good enough elsewhere to make up the difference.
9/10/2014 3:26 PM
tecwrg
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Posted by damag on 9/10/2014 3:17:00 PM (view original):
A lefthanded infielder would have to have INCREDIBLE footwork, not just quick. Even on the most basic plays, he'd be dancin' all the time.

As for catcher, who becomes a catcher? A kid who is really good at it, and wants to do it. Or a kid who can't do anything else, right? So with all the above reasons and biases in play, you would need a lefthanded kid who INSISTS on playing C and is GREAT at it.



Catching is a specialized position.  You can't just put a kid "who can't do anything else" behind the plate.  He needs (a) the arm to throw accurately to 2B, and (b) the mobility and ability to be able to block pitches in the dirt. 

Plus, you need somebody who wants to do it.  One kids start getting older (I'm talking about 11/12 and older), you'll find than many of them are reluctant to play the position.  I think it's mostly a fear thing.
9/10/2014 3:37 PM
sgmedia
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Posted by tecwrg on 9/10/2014 3:37:00 PM (view original):
Posted by damag on 9/10/2014 3:17:00 PM (view original):
A lefthanded infielder would have to have INCREDIBLE footwork, not just quick. Even on the most basic plays, he'd be dancin' all the time.

As for catcher, who becomes a catcher? A kid who is really good at it, and wants to do it. Or a kid who can't do anything else, right? So with all the above reasons and biases in play, you would need a lefthanded kid who INSISTS on playing C and is GREAT at it.



Catching is a specialized position.  You can't just put a kid "who can't do anything else" behind the plate.  He needs (a) the arm to throw accurately to 2B, and (b) the mobility and ability to be able to block pitches in the dirt. 

Plus, you need somebody who wants to do it.  One kids start getting older (I'm talking about 11/12 and older), you'll find than many of them are reluctant to play the position.  I think it's mostly a fear thing.
Or it's a parents thing...how many parents want their kid playing catcher knowing what a thankless position it is and what it could do to Little Johnny's knees long-term?  Most parents want Johnny playing SS, or CF, or pitching...one of the "prestige" positions.
9/10/2014 3:40 PM
tecwrg
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I've been coaching youth baseball for the past 10 years or so, and I've never heard of a parent complaining that they don't want their Johnny behind the plate.  At least in my town.

I'm sure it happens, but I don't think it's a prevalent thing unless you're talking about "elite" AAU type teams, which (my opinion) are more likely to have intrusive parents making demands.

9/10/2014 3:45 PM
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