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.

Relative newbie question- I had understood that handiness didn't matter originally in HBD fielding.  Did that change?

I dont know about originally in HBD, but go back and look at the LH players whose owners put them at 2B, 3B, and SS. They have all racked up a ton of "-" plays despite their fielding attributes.

You should also read the thread "Lefty 2B" on the general MLB board for more details.

Posted by toddcommish on 7/22/2010 12:30:00 PM (view original):
You should also read the thread "Lefty 2B" on the general MLB board for more details.

... and for a good laugh.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize that the guy who's been spending most of his time playing 2B on my team was a lefty until our most recent game a week and a half ago.  It's never really been a problem. 

Then again, we're a bunch of hacks and "bang-bang" DP's just don't happen.

Oh no, I bet you're an expert on bang bang DPs.

heh

Sounds like tec plays catcher.

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.

Doesn't that leave you a good step and a half behind a lefty on balls hit between first and second?

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.

also, you're not allowed to start the play in foul territory.

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.

Posted by MikeT23 on 7/22/2010 4:03:00 PM (view original):
Doesn't that leave you a good step and a half behind a lefty on balls hit between first and second?

Not really.  You take a couple of steps off when the pitcher makes a move towards home anyway.  They should both be a couple of steps off when the ball is hit.