Posted by MikeT23 on 7/22/2010 5:39:00 PM (view original):
I don't think you have to be in foul territory for what he describes, I think you have to be in the worst possible recovery position to field a ball though.  And you'll be applying a blind tag on a throw to the bag. 

His argument holds no water.  There's a big advantage to being a LH 1B.

Again, you take steps off when the pitcher goes home.  Like a secondary lead.  Watch the next time you see a ML game with RH first baseman.

Posted by toddcommish on 7/22/2010 5:00:00 PM (view original):

Posted by isack24 on 7/22/2010 3:52:00 PM (view original):

Posted by badercubed on 7/22/2010 11:13:00 AM (view original):
Being LH is advantageous for 1B for holding runners. The glove is on the bag side while facing the pitcher. For turning a 3-6-3, there is far less turning to throw and run back to the base for a lefty.

At any real level of baseball, that's just not true about holding runners.  It's pretty much the same.  Use an open stance, essentially facing the pitcher with your leg on the first base line.  Then, if the throw is on target, you can let the throw get deep before you catch it, and that's faster than catching and applying a tag, anyway.  Definitely right about the 3-6-3 and any throw going to third while charging.

I disagree.  A righty has to reach across his body to backhand the pickoff throw and this makes him more susceptible to missing an errant throw.  It may not come into play assuming every pitcher puts the throw right on the bag, but we all know pitchers sometimes throw right into the runner, meaning the righty has to make a backhand stab while a lefty would merely extend his glove hand.

There are two times a righty has an advantage at 1B....  pickoff throws from the catcher and pop-ups down the 1B line.

I agree.  If the throw is way to the second base side, the LH will have the easier time.  But it doesn't happen that often where there's a big advantage.  At best, there's a slight advantage.  There's certainly not a big advantage on pickoffs.

The actual biggest advantage is covering 1st base on any ground ball. for a lefty they simply side step, slap their left leg on the bag and stretch out their right arm for the catch. For a righty, in order to stretch (as all 1b are taught to do on groundballs to 3rd or short) you have to put your right leg on first base.

This causes a few problems for righties. Firstly, its and extra step to the base, secondly its not really a fluid motion and thrid you end up actually having to turn your body which greatly reduces your ability to field errant throws up the first baseline.

Before you post, stand up and try covering with your left foot on the bag and right arm out then repeat trying to go to your right foot. Then post up and say thanks.

The only position on the diamond (other than pitcher) that is truly interchangable is CF. Many coaches and players feel very strongly about corner OFs, some like the gloves to the gap and other like gloves to the line but most feel strongly about it either way. Thats another debate in itself but there is a reason right handed 1B are very rare.