Pitcher is the most difficult position to play in baseball. Not only does the pitcher have the most important job on the field, which is to get batters out and prevent runs from scoring, but he also has to deal with the immense pressure that accompanies being on the mound.
First Base is the Best Baseball Position
Other than the pitcher and catcher, nobody is involved more on defense. Virtually every ground ball ends up being thrown to the first baseman so he has to be great at fielding throws and scooping errant ones out of the dirt.
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.
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 shortstop position is between the second base and the third baseman. Its name comes from where it’s located, as it requires the player to stop the short side of the field and act as a cutoff for the left and center fielders. Also seen on box scores and graphics, the shortstop position is labeled SS.
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.
First Baseman (Position #3 on the field chart)
First baseman are the biggest power hitters on a team, and they are typically very big and relatively slow because of this.
Right Field
This is often considered to be, alongside the left field, the least important position in baseball.
“A catcher has to be the smartest player on the field,” said Steve Stone, a White Sox television analyst who worked with dozens during his 11 years as a big-league pitcher. “He has to know the other team’s hitters.
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.
Still, the general consensus among baseball experts is that playing the right field is generally harder. The ball coming off the bat to the left field is commonly more predictable and has less of a spin to it. Most batters are righties and they rarely send balls of sliced pitches to the left field.
Lefties are ideal for first base because with their glove on their right hand, it makes it easy for them to turn to the base with their glove facing the field. Right-handed first basemen have to take a few extra steps to turn their bodies, which is a disadvantage for them compared to lefties.
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.
Rarely, a catcher will run to first base or third base to participate in rundown plays at those bases. In certain game situations, typically a ball batted to the shortstop or third baseman with no runners on base, the catcher may be expected to back-up first base in case the first baseman misses or mishandles a throw.
Shortstops are an integral component of turning double plays. On balls hit to the left side of the infield, a shortstop must cleanly field the ball and accurately throw it to the second baseman covering the second-base bag.
Second Base
This is a good position to put a player who is quick, small(er), has a good glove but may not be developed in throwing velocity. Fearlessness: there’s a lot of action at second base and it often includes fielding hard-hit ground balls.
The summer baseball season will soon be in “full swing” and new research published by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) shows that high school pitchers who also play catcher, a common practice in the game, suffer more injuries than pitchers who play other secondary positions.
“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.
The last left-handed catcher to play in the big leagues was Benny Distefano, who caught three games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989. Before Distefano, there had only been a handful: Jack Clements, Dale Long and Mike Squires to name a few. Why so few lefties behind the dish?
In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5. The third baseman requires good reflexes in reacting to batted balls, as they are often the closest infielder (roughly 90-120 feet) to the batter.
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.
Herman Long is the all-time leader in errors committed as a shortstop with 1,070. Long is the only shortstop to commit over 1,000 career errors. Bill Dahlen (975), Germany Smith (973), Tommy Corcoran (961) are the only other shortstops to commit over 900 career errors.