The spectrum. The defensive spectrum is: Designated hitter – First baseman – Left fielder – Right fielder – Third baseman – Center fielder – Second baseman – Shortstop – Catcher – Pitcher.
Each position conventionally has an associated number, for use in scorekeeping by the official scorer: 1 (pitcher), 2 (catcher), 3 (first baseman), 4 (second baseman), 5 (third baseman), 6 (shortstop), 7 (left fielder), 8 (center fielder), and 9 (right fielder).
Your most important defensive positions are up the middle. That means that your best fielders should be pitcher, second base, shortshop and center field. The left side of the field should have strong arms, while the right side of the field can have weaker arms.
Right Field
This position is thought to be the easiest to play on the defense of a baseball team. The right fielder will catch fly balls hit mostly by left-handed hitters, who comprise 25% of major league hitters.
Right Field
This is often considered to be, alongside the left field, the least important position in baseball.
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.
The most demanding position in the infield due to the skills required. The shortstop must have high end ragne, a strong arm and the ability to stand focused on the game and position other fielders. They have responsibilities in cutoffs and covering bases when runners are dancing or trying to steal a base.
Third Base: Third base, also known as the ‘Hot Corner,’ is a tough position to play defensively. The margin of error is small when a third baseman has to make the longest infield throw to nail a runner at first base.
6-4-3 double play
The shortstop (6) fields a batted ball and throws to the second baseman (4), who forces out a runner advancing from first and then throws to the first baseman (3) to force out the batter.
Outfield Positions - Center fielders are often the fastest players on the team. In youth baseball, right field tends to see the least “action”, and managers may choose to put their weaker fielders in right field, then left field.
Statistically, the majority of hit balls are batted towards the region between second and third base, and it is up to the shortstop to quickly catch the ball and throw it towards a baseman in order to put out the baserunner.
The best player always played shortstop because he was actually capable of doing things shortstops need to do. Shortstops didn’t always have to handle a bat as well. They used to be smaller, faster players who specialized in hitting line drives and ground balls, taking an extra base when they could.
Hands down the most important position in baseball is the pitcher.
The second most important position on the team is the other part of the starting battery – the catcher.
First base is next on the list.
The next position on our list is the third baseman.
The shortstop is the next position on our list.
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.
The outfield positions are generally considered to be easier to play than the infield positions and tend to be dominated by good hitters. Center field is usually considered the hardest outfield position.
Left field is an outfield position on the defensive side of baseball. It is located on the left side of the outfield. This position can be hard for some to play, but only basic skills are needed. If you can catch a ball and run relatively fast, you have the skills needed to play left field.
A lefty catcher would struggle to throw out runners at third base. This is true! Whereas a right-handed catcher can keep his feet planted and make the throw, a lefty would have to pivot first. This encumbrance counts on plays in which fractions of a second make the difference between safe or out.
“Lefties can’t play catcher because your head hangs over home plate when you make a tag.” “You’ve got the ball in your right hand, you’re blocking the plate with your left foot. When you go to make the tag, you’re exposed.
No, catchers do not currently have the ability to talk back to their coach using their earpiece and headset system. It’s currently a one-way communication from the coach to the catcher only. Many catchers have expressed that they hope two-way communication becomes a new innovation added to the game soon.
Ichiro has the strongest and most powerful arm of any outfielder in the major leagues today. Runners will not even try to advance extra bases when the ball is in Ichiro’s hands. Ichiro has won a Gold Glove all 10 years that he has been in the major leagues.
In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, and as such is situated at the right end of the defensive spectrum.
Shortstop is between second and third base. Like third basemen, they must also have a strong arm. Additionally, players at this position are usually the most athletic of all the defensive positions.
Center fielders are often considered the “quarterback” of the outfield. They have authority over the rest of the outfield, and with it, the responsibly of patrolling the largest amount of outfield grass. Center fielders are in charge of roaming the expanse of grass between the two other outfielders.
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.