Least Skilled Defensive Position

[tip184]

I am curious to know what defensive position you guys think requires the least overall skill- arm strength, accuracy, agility, getting a read on balls, quickness, speed, positioning knowledge, holding runners, soft hands, etc.?

[StraightGrain11]

Each position is it's own world. But if you're talking about overall "athleticism", I would have to say 1B (or LF :rolleyes:). Look at some of the guys who play it - Dimitri Young, Prince Fielder, Mo Vaughn, Shaun Casey, John Kruk (I know he'd appreciate this ;)) - they could never play anywhere else, they lack the range and mobility to do so. BUT, having said that, ALL have a very unique skill in "picking" bad throws - and saving their teammates' behinds a lot of grief. :nod:

If I have offended any 1B, I am sorry.

[beemax]

I understand that is easy to say first base because guys get "dumped" over there if they cannot DH, and that is true. However, here is some food for thought:

Look at the past World Series Champs and their starting first baseman:

2007: Red Sox-Youkilis 0 Errors all season at first
2006: Cardinals-Pujols NL Gold Glove winner
2005: White Sox-Konerko Only 5 errors all year
2004: Red Sox-Mientkiewicz-Gold Glove Winner
2003: Marlins-Lee-3 time Gold Glove Winner
2002: Angels-Spiezio-3 errors all year at first
2001: D-Backs-Grace-4 time GG winner

So while 1B may be the least skilled defensive position because of the amount of poor infielders that play there, I think there is a lot to be said for having a very good defensive first baseman.

If you think about how many plays come through the first baseman during the season, wouldn't you want a skilled guy over there?

[Dirtberry]

Pitching is an initiator skill; batting is a responder skill, which is on the defence there?

I’d rate it like this: highest skill to lowest,

Pitcher
Catcher
Ist base-acute skills here win games
Short Stop
2nd base
3rd base
Center
Left field, right field toss up, rightfielders get more to the line ball drift from spin and have to employ a stronger faster arm while left fielders get more plays.

[cosmo34]

You didn't offend me, SG.

Straight up athleticism, 1B is at the bottom of the list. But, to play it well, that's another story.

The big fat slow guys that play first play there because there is nowhere else to put them, but you have to have their bat in the lineup. But that doesn't mean that you can play it well and still be a slob.

The best 1st basemen out there could probably play other positions, but their size prohibits them. Derrek Lee has the athleticism to play short, but being 6'5'' 250 holds him back from doing it.

To be good over there, you still have to be very talented.

I will say that nothing pisses me off more than watching some huge slugger with no defensive talent whatsoever butcher ball after ball at first.

[TG Coach]

Left is the easiest position. First baseman have to be able to "pick it."

[LAball]

Left




...out:dance

[ChinMusic]

Left




...out:dance

why left over right as the easiest position? what makes RF easier?

[StraightGrain11]

why left over right as the easiest position? what makes RF easier?

You mean harder?

The throw to 3B. LF never throws to 1B, so he never has to make a throw "across the field" - 2B and 3B are "right in front of him". It also has to do with how good your "judgement" is. As a RF, you have to know when to "let one fly" to 3B, and when to reserve yourself and simply make the throw to 2B to "keep the DP intact". If you have a Major League RF-arm, you won't be "hitting a cut-off man" when throwing to 3B (I once watched Bobby Higginson pick up a ball in the RF CORNER and throw a SEED - ALL THE WAY IN THE AIR - to 3B to get a guy OUT - one of the most amazing throws I've ever seen on a baseball field). I'm not saying they NEVER will hit the cut, but the majority of the time they won't - because they don't need to (I promise you, if you run on Michael Cuddyer, and try and "take 3B", the "cut-off man" does not exist).

Why do you think Manny is out there (:rolleyes: to be a cut-off man)? And Braun (converted OF), and Damon (weak arm), and Garrett Anderson (getting "old"), Carlos Lee (bigger and slower), Soriano (converted OF), Dunn (bigger and slower), Chris Duncan (bigger and slower), AND - the King of them all - :bowdown: Barry Bonds (bigger, slower, older, LAZIER - alteast Manny has a little "spunkiness" to him and TRIES, sometimes)?

[hellborn]

To play even LF well at all, you have to be able to track a fly ball. Anybody can scoop a low throw by accident occasionally, but a most people would fall on their butt every time they tried to go back on a ball hit over their head. It's close, but I'd argue that 1B requires the least athleticism AND skill to get by.
This certainly isn't true in every case, but a lot of the super ML glove men at 1B are lefties who have excellent IF skills but can't play a more challenging IF position.

[airplouffe86]

top skill positions

CATCHER! duh!
Pitcher
3rd base
Shortstop
2nd base
Right field
Center field
First base
Left field

Ive played all of them...

[freddy]

top skill positions

CATCHER! duh!
Pitcher
3rd base
Shortstop
2nd base
Right field
Center field
First base
Left field

Ive played all of them...

By far the easiest position is the bench............

[Jake Patterson]

By far the easiest position is the bench............Not in my duggout!! LOL

[3and0]

Pitcher
Catcher
Short
2nd
CF
3rd
RF
LF
1B

[Stat One Author]

I am curious to know what defensive position you guys think requires the least overall skill- arm strength, accuracy, agility, getting a read on balls, quickness, speed, positioning knowledge, holding runners, soft hands, etc.?

I think the answer is left field, without any question. The only other candidate is right field, but you need a better arm in right to make the throw to third base.

[Utility07]

I agree about it being left field.

[Jake Patterson]

I think TG's right - LF...
In RF you need to read the ball better as hitters have a greater tendency of hitting a slice than they do a hook and there are more RH hitters.

Unless of course it's in Fenway

[Dirtberry]

This girl shows them how to get better at it?
I think she trains with Jackie Chan?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YnhuaGlJB3I

[KCGHOST]

You can argue LF or 1B.

[RuthMayBond]

I think the answer is left field, without any question. The only other candidate is right field, but you need a better arm in right to make the throw to third base.What percent of guys move from 1B to the corner OF, at least late in their career as their range goes down? :think::rolleyes: How about the other way around?

[RuthMayBond]

Pitching is an initiator skill; batting is a responder skill, which is on the defence there?

I’d rate it like this: highest skill to lowest,

Ist base-acute skills here win games
Short Stop
Good one :ughh:shrug:

[TG Coach]

By far the easiest position is the bench............

Finding foul balls in the bushes can be a tough job.

[RuthMayBond]

Why do you think Manny is out thereBecause LF in Fenway is smaller than RF. Manny was playing RF in 2000, and his problem is not his arm

<the King of them all - :bowdown: Barry Bonds (bigger, slower, older, LAZIER>

you do know that Barry was playing LF when he was an ancient twenty-three, the year after being the starting CF?

[RuthMayBond]

By far the easiest position is the bench............Tell it to Cal Ripken Jr

[TG Coach]

When my son plays outfield in 16U travel he plays right or center. Speed is not an issue to him. He's fast. He thinks right is harder than center due to the slices. He prefers to play center due to the ground he gets to cover.

[RuthMayBond]

top skill positions

3rd base
Shortstop

Right field
Center field

Ive played all of them...If you say so

[RuthMayBond]

When my son plays outfield in 16U travel he plays right or center. Speed is not an issue to him. He's fast. He thinks right is harder than center due to the slices. But if speed is not an issue? :shrug:

[StraightGrain11]

Airplouffe86, my sincere appologies.

Because LF in Fenway is smaller than RF. Manny was playing RF in 2000, and his problem is not his arm
Sorry if I made it sound like it was because of Manny's arm. I have seen him make some pretty good, strong, throws. But it's relative to the REST OF THE OFs - his arm is not as strong as Drew's and he is no where near as fast as the rest of them (Drew/Crisp/Elsbury) - it's not just arm strength. But, doesn't that kind of make the case, though? As you say, "Lf is smaller" = less ground to cover = less need for speed; also = shorter fence = shorter throws = less need for arm strength?



you do know that Barry was playing LF when he was an ancient twenty-three, the year after being the starting CF?
True, he has played it pretty much his entire career, you are correct. But, why'd he get moved? :think: (obviously, it was not his speed, as he is the only 600/600 [HR/SB] player in the Game's history; he had a decent arm - ala the '92 NLCS "play at the plate"; so what was it? - I'm guessing: ATTITUDE = laziness)

[tip184]

My order of positions in terms of most challenging to least challenging:

Pitcher
Catcher
Short stop
2nd base
Right field
Centre field
Left field
Third base
First base

I haven't played much third base, but I cannot imagine it being that hard. A third baseman does not need to have a lot of range, and his proximity to the plate gives him time to make the throw to first in plenty of time if he's got a strong arm. Arm strength is not as important as it is for right field, centre field, catcher, shortstop or even 2nd base (remember the 2nd baseman has to make the occasional relay throw to home). Holding runners is easy because his momentum takes him towards first.

I think right field is up there. He doesn't get many plays, so he feels the pressure when he finally has a play. Many of his plays are the hardest in the game (slicing liners and the throw to third base). In a tight game a throw to third can have a huge impact on the game. Left and centre field get more fly balls, but they are normally hit higher and it's easier to stay engaged in the game when you have more plays to make.

I believe first base is the least demanding because his job is to basically sit back and watch as his infielders make the plays. Most throws are right to him, and the scoop does not require any great athleticism. I feel first base is comparable to the person who catches return tosses to home during infielding practice.

[Ghumbs]

V V Haha, no problem V V

[StraightGrain11]

What the hell? He was saying catcher is the most difficult. Read the post before you go off on whatever that was.

You are correct. It was put in a thread entitled "Least skilled defensive position", but that does not remove my obligation to correctly read the response. I edited the post. Thank you for pointing out my "boneheaded-ness". :silent:

Airplouffe, again, I appologize.

[RuthMayBond]

My order of positions in terms of most challenging to least challenging:

Right field
Centre field
Left field
Third base

I haven't played much third base

Bingo!

<but I cannot imagine it being that hard. A third baseman does not need to have a lot of range, and his proximity to the plate gives him time to make the throw to first in plenty of time if he's got a strong arm.>

Brooks Robinson would like a word with you

<Arm strength is not as important as it is for right field, centre field, catcher, shortstop or even 2nd base (remember the 2nd baseman has to make the occasional relay throw to home).>

Yeah, OCCASIONAL. The MAJORITY of a 3B's throws are all the way to first

<Holding runners is easy because his momentum takes him towards first.>

Provided the ball's not hit down the line

[RuthMayBond]

Add to this the fact the HS outfielders play under more pressure than MLB. Hiddengem would be surprised to hear this. Haven't heard many HS outfielders being heckled in the national media or not being re-signed to multimillion dollar contracts

[RuthMayBond]

top skill positions

CATCHER! duh!
Pitcher
What exactly are we including in defensive skill? A pitcher's pitches to try to fool batters, or just his glove and throws to bases on come-backers?

[Stat One Author]

You can argue LF or 1B.

I would definitely rather have great defense at first. It can make up for a lot of otherwise poor infield play. You can hide a guy in left field much easier.

[Stat One Author]

I know we talked about least-skilled defensive position, but I thought it would be interesting to also mention the flip side. I think shortstop takes the most overall skill to play, but I think catcher is the single-most important defensive position on the field. They're involved in every play. If you've ever pitched, then you know just how important a great defensive catcher can be (blocking balls in the dirt, calling the game, framing pitches, keeping runners at bay, etc.). Consider this quote from p. 27 of Stat One regarding Mike Piazza:
"Defensively, he was not good. Piazza lacked soft hands behind the plate. He would often lose strikes for his pitchers and, therefore, extend at-bats and innings by failing to frame pitches and receive the baseball in a fluid manner. Most fans don't notice that. Most umpires do."

[RuthMayBond]

I would definitely rather have great defense at first. It can make up for a lot of otherwise poor infield play. You can hide a guy in left field much easier.Maybe you shouldn't be hiding poor fielders in the infield :think: (C and from 2B through 3B)

[RuthMayBond]

IConsider this quote from p. 27 of Stat One regarding Mike Piazza:
"Defensively, he was not good. Piazza lacked soft hands behind the plate. He would often lose strikes for his pitchers and, therefore, extend at-bats and innings by failing to frame pitches and receive the baseball in a fluid manner. Most fans don't notice that. Most umpires do."And what impartial author, with whom you have no ties, would you be quoting? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[RuthMayBond]

A third baseman does not need to have a lot of range, and his proximity to the plate gives him time to make the throw to first :confused::confused:

[tip184]

:confused::confused:


The third baseman is closer to home than the shortstop and second baseman, so the ball gets there faster and he has a lot more time to set and throw to first.

[beemax]

The third baseman is closer to home than the shortstop and second baseman, so the ball gets there faster and he has a lot more time to set and throw to first.

...And he has a lot less time to react to the ball off the bat.

Listen, I've played both First and Third. Third is no walk in the park. They call it the hot corner for a reason. There are some balls where you have to simply give up your body, put your chest in front of the ball, and wear a line drive. Not to mention the other shots that you have to have extremely quick reaction time and great hand-eye coordination.

I would be wary of speaking about a position with which you have admittedly no experience.

[RuthMayBond]

The third baseman is closer to home than the shortstop and second baseman, so the ball gets there faster and he has a lot more time to set and throw to first.Not much closer than 2B, and I'm guessing the longer throw would cancel that out

[RuthMayBond]

But, why'd he get moved? :think: (obviously, it was not his speed, as he is the only 600/600 [HR/SB] player in the Game's history; he had a decent arm - ala the '92 NLCS "play at the plate"; so what was it? - I'm guessing: ATTITUDE = laziness)I wouldn't expect a guy that lazy to lead his league in assists five times

[beemax]

I'm guessing: ATTITUDE = laziness)

You do know that Barry was an 8 time Gold glove winner, don't you?

[RuthMayBond]

You do know that Barry was an 8 time Gold glove winner, don't you?*I* know it, but . . .