how much of an advantage is it

[jamesh23]

to be left handed? I mean in pitching wise and playing 1st base? are the advantages enough to switch over cuz I can throw with my left hand also, I only throw about 55 but i've only been throwing lefty for 2 months and only on weekends. I throw about 70 righty.

[TG Coach]

Unbelievable! Have you considered lacrosse?

[korp]

to be left handed? I mean in pitching wise and playing 1st base? are the advantages enough to switch over cuz I can throw with my left hand also, I only throw about 55 but i've only been throwing lefty for 2 months and only on weekends. I throw about 70 righty.
There are alot of coaches who like left handed HITTING. Throwing left handed really hinders the positions you can play. For instance you will never play 2nd, shortstop, thirdbase or catcher. I mean if you are destined to be an outfielder, pitcher or 1st basemen then its ok. As for pitching you can throw a little slower left handed than right handed and be successful for instance tom glavine, barry zito (every year but this one) and a number of others .. they throw mid to high 80s which is not heat when you compare them to the zumuya's and verlander's who can hit up to 103mph. As for first base goes you gotta have genes that will make you big or at least tall, outfield you obviously need to be somewhat fast and hit for pop if you play the corners. Hope this helps.

[hawkiirock]

well it would be a good advantage if you can throw as good with left. Keep working at it. Sure won't hurt ya and may open up some other doors

How old are you?

[TG Coach]

James ... Is this your magic pill of the week? I'll stick with focus and work hard to become a better player.

[Baseball gLove]

There were a couple of lefties that tried out for our high school's varsity team, but they sucked so they were cut from the team.

[jamesh23]

im 15, and ok I went and did diggers and did pretty good today. actually I have seen a lot of 1st basemen in college that are 5'10" about like 200lbs so ya.

[jamesh23]

There are alot of coaches who like left handed HITTING. Throwing left handed really hinders the positions you can play. For instance you will never play 2nd, shortstop, thirdbase or catcher. I mean if you are destined to be an outfielder, pitcher or 1st basemen then its ok. As for pitching you can throw a little slower left handed than right handed and be successful for instance tom glavine, barry zito (every year but this one) and a number of others .. they throw mid to high 80s which is not heat when you compare them to the zumuya's and verlander's who can hit up to 103mph. As for first base goes you gotta have genes that will make you big or at least tall, outfield you obviously need to be somewhat fast and hit for pop if you play the corners. Hope this helps.

I can hit left handed, actually harder than I do righty, but my hand eye coordination on that side sucks.

[kylebee]

James ... Is this your magic pill of the week? I'll stick with focus and work hard to become a better player.

I agree. James, you need to focus on what makes you a better player overall, not some quick fix.

[jamesh23]

also my coach loves left handed throwers, cuz he is one, He threw like 90 back in the 80's but never got anywhere, he blew his arm out his junior year of college. so anyway there is a 5'5" 95 lb 8th grader who is a lefty and long tosses at most 100' he throws about 45-50 on the mound and the coach put him on varsity... he's slow and cant hit well so ya.

[Charger567]

also my coach loves left handed throwers, cuz he is one, He threw like 90 back in the 80's but never got anywhere, he blew his arm out his junior year of college. so anyway there is a 5'5" 95 lb 8th grader who is a lefty and long tosses at most 100' he throws about 45-50 on the mound and the coach put him on varsity... he's slow and cant hit well so ya.

Wow... Obviously you are stretching the life out of the truth here.. Agreed with everyone else; stop wasting everyone's time as well as your own and start working at it.

[jamesh23]

Wow... Obviously you are stretching the life out of the truth here.. Agreed with everyone else; stop wasting everyone's time as well as your own and start working at it.

I am not stretching the truth, the kid is 13, maybe 5'7" but like a twig, his bicep is about as big as my wrist, no lie, he said he weighed 95lbs. Nd he throws slow... but he is a lefty. He only pitches, he always has a DH

[TL_Dad]

also my coach loves left handed throwers, cuz he is one, He threw like 90 back in the 80's but never got anywhere, he blew his arm out his junior year of college. so anyway there is a 5'5" 95 lb 8th grader who is a lefty and long tosses at most 100' he throws about 45-50 on the mound and the coach put him on varsity... he's slow and cant hit well so ya.

Come on 45-50 mph on High School Varsity everyone on this site knows better than that.

[callyjr]

also my coach loves left handed throwers, cuz he is one, He threw like 90 back in the 80's but never got anywhere, he blew his arm out his junior year of college. so anyway there is a 5'5" 95 lb 8th grader who is a lefty and long tosses at most 100' he throws about 45-50 on the mound and the coach put him on varsity... he's slow and cant hit well so ya.

my 7yr old can long toss at 100(2nd grader) Your not winning us over this way James.

[jamesh23]

then your 7 yr old has a cannon cuz I can barely get 150' on a line and have a pretty good arm for my team, and he didnt normall pitch he was just on varsity but he sat.

[TG Coach]

I can barely get 150' on a line and have a pretty good arm for my team,

Your team must be weak. When my son was in LL the kids with good arms could throw from the fence to home on a line (200 feet). They could stand at home and throw the ball over the fence.

[Go Cardinals]

James I have two questions for you:

1) Does this lefty pitcher (assuming he throws that slow) get people out? Is there something your coach sees in that pitcher, like command, or deception?

2) You throw around these velocities all the time, are they assumptions or are they measured velocities? So basically, does your HS program daily clock everyone to see how hard they throw?

[jamesh23]

I can barely get 150' on a line and have a pretty good arm for my team,

Your team must be weak. When my son was in LL the kids with good arms could throw from the fence to home on a line (200 feet). They could stand at home and throw the ball over the fence.


like I said tanks, your telling me 12 yr old kids can throw that far and when you can throw 300' on a line you have a major league arm? so in 3 or 4 years these kids should be throwing at least 350' on a line correct? we had a kid that just got recruited to play baseball at a D1 college, he has a cannon one of the best arms in state and can throw about 300' on a line, or about 85 off the mound...

James I have two questions for you:

1) Does this lefty pitcher (assuming he throws that slow) get people out? Is there something your coach sees in that pitcher, like command, or deception?

2) You throw around these velocities all the time, are they assumptions or are they measured velocities? So basically, does your HS program daily clock everyone to see how hard they throw?

1/ not really, he has a good change up but I mean come on its varsity he gets hit when he pitches. also the coach has been known for favoritism on lefties. all of the last 4 lefties that have pitched in my town all have been his favorites.

2/ we got clocked 2 weeks ago and that was what he was hitting.

[Go Cardinals]

You could try talking to your coach and asking him what areas of your game need to get improved in order for you to get a starting spot. Ask him for specifics on how you can get better. Then work from there.

[TG Coach]

your telling me 12 yr old kids can throw that far

Top LL players all over the country can make a quality throw from the fence (200 feet) to the plate. Top LL players from all over the country can stand at home plate and throw the ball over the fence. You mentioned 150 feet, not 300.

[Go Cardinals]

your telling me 12 yr old kids can throw that far

Top LL players all over the country can make a quality throw from the fence (200 feet) to the plate. Top LL players from all over the country can stand at home plate and throw the ball over the fence. You mentioned 150 feet, not 300.

I know decent LL players who can throw that far.