Center Field is an Important Defensive Role
The center fielder is arguably the most critical defensive position, after the pitcher and catcher. The person who plays center field is responsible for organizing the defense in the outfield as they’re often viewed as the captain of the outfield.
Center field is widely recognized as the third most important position on defense, behind both catcher and shortstop. That said, an argument can be made that center field is indeed the toughest position of any to play. It requires more versatility than any other position.
The nine players are pitcher (P), catcher (C), first base (1B), second base(2B), shortstop(SS), third base(3B), right field(RF), center field(CF), and left field(LF). Of these nine defensive baseball players, only two have locations that are defined by the rules. These are the pitcher and the catcher.
But the catcher has the most responsibility of any player on the field, eclipsing even that of the pitcher. Being a catcher is the hardest job in baseball.
What does a center fielder do in baseball? A center fielder catches fly balls and line drives, fields balls that may get through the infield, and backs up his teammates. A center fielder also needs to produce offensively and be a threat on the basepaths, so hitting and running are important skills for them to practice.
Based on statistics and the position’s active involvement in the game, it’s believed that right field is the easiest baseball position to play. This is the case because of the number of balls hit to right field compared to other positions on the field.
Center field is usually considered the hardest outfield position. The centerfielder has a larger area to cover than the other outfielders and the center fielder needs a strong arm to be able to make throws from deep center field to the infield.
A center fielder must be a well-rounded team player who can stand firm on the ground when needed. He should have a strong arm while being productive at-bat. This position is considered the captain of the outfield, as the center fielder connects with the right and left players in the outfield and lead.
Where to Stand in Center Field?- Center fielders should stand in the outfield, behind second base.
Often at the high levels, the center fielder is the outfielder who can cover the most ground. The left and right fielders also have an essential role in the outfield. At the higher levels, the right fielder is often the outfielder with the strongest arm because they are required to make the longest throw to third base.
A catcher and shortstop’s mobility is limited by being left-handed. While a right-handed thrower will naturally be in the position to get the ball where it needs to be, a left-handed thrower’s awkward range of motion and form adds precious milliseconds to a play in a game where every tiny thing counts.
The center fielder has to cover the most ground in the outfield, so he has to be the best fielding outfielder and is typically the fastest player on the team.
All outfielders have the ability to call off all infielders. The shortstop has the ability to call off all other infielders but not outfielders. If he is moving back into the outfield then he has to give up priority to the outfielder coming in on the ball.
According to Bill James, aside from pitchers and catchers, the most difficult defensive position to play is shortstop, followed by second base, center field, third base, left or right field (depending upon the ballpark), and finally first base as the easiest position.
With such limited margin of error and need for automated reflexes, third base is arguably the toughest position to play in baseball; where plays boil down to tiny fractions of a second that will either make or break the play.
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the center fielder is assigned the number 8.
Center fielder: Field the hit, listen for the left or right fielder’s instructions, throw to one of the cut-off men: the shortstop (if the play is at third base) or the first baseman (if the play is at the plate). Right fielder: Back up the center fielder and then become a quarterback.
While the center fielder is often considered the captain of the outfield, left and right field positions are just as important. Left field vs right field debates are common in baseball circles, mostly concerning which position is more vital and where you can best hide your weaker defender.
Of all outfield positions, the right fielder often has the strongest arm, because they are the farthest from third base.
In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three outs by himself in one continuous play, without his teammates making any assists. Neal Ball was the first to achieve this in Major League Baseball (MLB) under modern rules, doing so on July 19, 1909.
Right Field
Even though this is where most managers put players who are good hitters but poor fielders, the right fielder still needs a strong arm to throw to cutoff man and prevent runners from scoring. This is often considered to be, alongside the left field, the least important position in baseball.
Highest paid position player in MLB: Mike Trout, outfielder, Los Angeles Angels.
Generally, the left-field is where the worst player on a baseball team will be positioned. Even when the batted ball tends to go to the left side more often, the left fielder’s throwing arm doesn’t need to be so strong, and it’s surrounded by the most skilled players on a team.
The left fielder always has to be aware of which runner is important, and the situation that is at hand. A left fielder who has a strong arm, or can cover a lot of ground, is a plus, but is not a necessity. A left fielder must have at least one strong skill set, either with the bat or glove.