Difficulty?

[tyberesk]

How Would You Rate The Difficulty Of Each Position

This Is How I Rate Them

1.(Hardest)Catcher
2. Pitcher
3. ShortStop
4. Centerfield
5. 3rd Base
6. 2nd Base
7. Left Field
8. 1st Base
9.(Easiest) Right Field

Although The Hardest Thing Has To Be Pinch Hitting In Late Inning Games

[Bluesteve32]

Right field has a longer throw that the left fielder. Often, the least of the fielding outfielders in thebigs in the left fielder not right fielder.

Second baseman. shorter throw than shortstop, but must turn a double play a bit more often that a shortstop.

I would say that first baseman is the "easiest" position in baseball since he is not depended upon to make many throws.

Other than that, there are too many similarities between the different positions to say one is really significantly more difficult that the other. It also matters on the players strenghts and weaknesses on what is "proper" position really is.

[cdecro00]

Hardest to Easiest Posistions for Fielding:

1. Pitcher
2. 3rd Base
3. Catcher
4. Short-Stop
5. 2nd Base
6. Center Field
7. Right Field
8. Left Field
9. 1st Base

[Bluesteve32]

Catching is by far the most difficult position on the diamond. He is the quarterback of the team.

[scrface744]

im an outfielder and a catcher but i think outfield should be up there...it may seem easy but its not u have a lot of pressure on u alot of the time to be always backing up...being aggresive hitting the cut-off man...having a good arm.....not anyone can be an outfielder

[scrface744]

hardest to easiest

-pitcher
-catcher
-3rd
-short
-center
-left
-right
-1st
-2nd

[Bluesteve32]

As someone who played both second and first, first is far easier and requires fewer throws (that mean something).

Pitchers have a difficult job, but not nearly as catcher. First he wears the gear, catches every inning, not just when it is his turn, and controls the flow of the game. When I started to umpire, I began to realize how important a catcher really is to both the pitching staff and the team.

[tyberesk]

While Second Base may have alot of time on their throws, they have to cover the most ground when they are holding on the runners which can be tough. First base is a relatively easy position unless your team sucks and you havta scoop everything. Catching and Pitching are the two hardest positions because when you are playing those positions, its hard to concentrate on batting, when you have to concentrate on the opposing teams lineup and how you will get them out.

[Bluesteve32]

In the majors, the big, immobile guy with a weak throwing arm plays first. That ought to tell you something. Could you imagine Mo Vaughn playing any other position that first?

A second baseman must cover the same territory as a shortstop, but has a shorter throw.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Catcher is the most difficult, and least recognized position on the field. To have to call every ptch that the pitcher throws, and then frame them and catch each one is a difficult task. He is also expected to throw out runners, block balls and quarterback the entire team. Generally, the catcher is only recognized when he makes a bad play instead of a good one. If a ball gets by him, its: "He should have had that one". But when he frames a called strike 3 to get the pitcher out of a jam, no one says anything. Despite all of this, catcher is by far my favorite position (followed closely by 3rd base, where you have to be alert all of the time). On another note, i would say that LF is the easiest position. I played 5 innings there in a game a while ago, and did not recieve any fly balls (nothing was even close really).

[YankeesCatcher]

Amen to all the people who say catcher is the hardest....

Pitchers [in my experience] are always treated like such babies...When he's not hitting the strike zone it's "Oh his mechanics aren't working this week!"
Then next week his fastball is flat, so then people immediatly say "Oh his fastball isn't working this week!"

But then you have the poor catcher. He commits one error and about half the media is pissing on his head.

[tyberesk]

A good pitcher can pitch effectively even if he doesn't have his best stuff.

Yesterday night, I came into the game as a pitcher in the third inning after playing shortstop. We were down 10-4 or something like that. We tied it 10-10 and i was pitching awesome. In the 8th inning our catcher missed 2 strikeout pitches that allowed the runner to reach. Eventually we got 2 outs on the team...and the runner on third decides to steal home(i was going from the stretch so that was stupid) the pitch arrived when the runner was halfway down the line and it was a low and inside fastball called for a strike. Our catcher drops it and then loses his cool and tags high and we lose. That was a heartbreaker(O yea our catcher hasnt thrown out a runner in about 60 attempts)

[nothing but baseball]

1. Catcher- involved in every play and needed to throw out baserunners and be a leader on the field
2. Shortstop- Also a leader on the field covering more ground than third base but also often having to make a longer throw than the 3rd baseman when in the hole, and also has to turn 2
3. Pitcher- Obviously involved in every play and when they do get hit the ball to them, which is not often, it is usually a shot back to the pitcher which requires a quick reaction
4. Center Field- Leader of the outfield and covers most ground of all of the outfielders
5. 2nd Base- Easy throw when it is hit to them but they cover the most ground of any infielder and must cover runners and depending on the coach of the team have to take the throw coming down from the catcher
6. 3rd Base- Least amount of room to cover on the whole field, but often have hot shots coming to them and a long throw across the diamond
7. Right Field - Requires a good arm which is about it, but it is a much longer throw than Left Field when throwing to third base
8. Left Field- Requires a good arm, but easy throw to third base
9. First Base- All you need to do at first is be willing to get off the bag with a bad throw and have the ability to just catch a well thrown ball and are rarely needed to make a throw

[warriorxlegolas]

Originally Posted by tyberesk

How Would You Rate The Difficulty Of Each Position

This Is How I Rate Them

1.(Hardest)Catcher
2. Pitcher
3. ShortStop
4. Centerfield
5. 3rd Base
6. 2nd Base
7. Left Field
8. 1st Base
9.(Easiest) Right Field

Although The Hardest Thing Has To Be Pinch Hitting In Late Inning Games

I don’t agree with you here pitch hitting late in a game isn’t that hard. Now of course pitch hitting in the 10th inning of game 7 of the World Series would make me piss my pants.

Originally Posted by Bluesteve32

Catching is by far the most difficult position on the diamond. He is the quarterback of the team.

I never understood why people say the catcher is the “Quarterback” of the team sure this is true some of the time (Red Sox’s, Tigers) but not nearly as much as people seem to say.

Originally Posted by scrface744

im an outfielder and a catcher but i think outfield should be up there...it may seem easy but its not u have a lot of pressure on u alot of the time to be always backing up...being aggresive hitting the cut-off man...having a good arm.....not anyone can be an outfielder

I think you were trying to say not everyone can be a good outfielder.

Originally Posted by Bluesteve32

As someone who played both second and first, first is far easier and requires fewer throws (that mean something).

Pitchers have a difficult job, but not nearly as catcher. First he wears the gear, catches every inning, not just when it is his turn, and controls the flow of the game. When I started to umpire, I began to realize how important a catcher really is to both the pitching staff and the team.

If a pitcher has an off day your chances of winning are almost none. On the other hand if your catcher has a bad day you still have a good chance of winning.

Originally Posted by tyberesk

While Second Base may have alot of time on their throws, they have to cover the most ground when they are holding on the runners which can be tough. First base is a relatively easy position unless your team sucks and you havta scoop everything. Catching and Pitching are the two hardest positions because when you are playing those positions, its hard to concentrate on batting, when you have to concentrate on the opposing teams lineup and how you will get them out.

I believe you are talking about how they hold the runners on in little league???

Originally Posted by RichmondHillPhoenix

Catcher is the most difficult, and least recognized position on the field. To have to call every ptch that the pitcher throws, and then frame them and catch each one is a difficult task. He is also expected to throw out runners, block balls and quarterback the entire team. Generally, the catcher is only recognized when he makes a bad play instead of a good one. If a ball gets by him, its: "He should have had that one". But when he frames a called strike 3 to get the pitcher out of a jam, no one says anything. Despite all of this, catcher is by far my favorite position (followed closely by 3rd base, where you have to be alert all of the time). On another note, i would say that LF is the easiest position. I played 5 innings there in a game a while ago, and did not recieve any fly balls (nothing was even close really).

In vary few plays do the catcher’s actually call the pitch.

Originally Posted by YankeesCatcher

Amen to all the people who say catcher is the hardest....

Pitchers [in my experience] are always treated like such babies...When he's not hitting the strike zone it's "Oh his mechanics aren't working this week!"
Then next week his fastball is flat, so then people immediatly say "Oh his fastball isn't working this week!"

But then you have the poor catcher. He commits one error and about half the media is pissing on his head.

Really because from my experience the catcher gets the no love no hate from the media.





1: Closing Pitcher
2: Starting Pitcher
3: Shortstop
4: Catcher
5: Center Fielder
6: Setup Man
7: Third Baseman
8: Middle Relief Pitcher
9: Second Baseman
10: Right Fielder
11: Pitch Hitter
12: Left Fielder
13: First Baseman
14: Pinch Runner
15: Designated Hitter

Fisher Webb

[Bluesteve32]

Originally Posted by warriorxlegolas

I never understood why people say the catcher is the “Quarterback” of the team sure this is true some of the time (Red Sox’s, Tigers) but not nearly as much as people seem to say.

The catcher is the only defensive player that is looking out at the field and he is the one that calls out to the cutoff man on which base to throw the ball or to hold it on almost every ball hit to the outfield. He also calls where to throw the ball on bunt attempts.

Originally Posted by warriorxlegolas

If a pitcher has an off day your chances of winning are almost none. On the other hand if your catcher has a bad day you still have a good chance of winning.

That is true, but the manager/coach can give the pitcher the hook right away. Also a bad catcher hinders some pitcher from getting "borderline" strikes by receiving the ball poorly.

The catcher is also responsible to soothe fragile pitcher's egos when they walk the first guy when having a five run lead the team just got him.

The catcher is also the one calling out various plays prior to the pitch (standing in front of home pate and giving defensive play signals).

Originally Posted by warriorxlegolas

In vary few plays do the catcher’s actually call the pitch.

Not true. If the cather is not calling the pithcers or plays directly, he is getting them from the bench and relays those signs and signals to the infielders and the pitcher.

All in all, a poor receiving catcher can make good pitching mediocre and poor pitching that much worse. A good catcher is another fielder who will pounce on ball hit in front of home plate and make accurate throws for outs as opposed to having a pitcher or other fielders making plays on those balls.

Past balls cause more damage that wild pitches, too. A past ball on strike three may result in the batter-runner reaching first (Mickey Owen in the 1941 WS) and runners advancing. A good catcher prevents many wild pitches by keeping the ball in front of him.

Most teams have more than one pitcher, in almost any level, but try to find that catcher is much more difficult at any level, especially past Little League rules.

[tyberesk]

No I was talking about how the second basemen is in charge of holding the runner who is taking a lead at second base.

[warriorxlegolas]

Originally Posted by Bluesteve32

The catcher is the only defensive player that is looking out at the field and he is the one that calls out to the cutoff man on which base to throw the ball or to hold it on almost every ball hit to the outfield. He also calls where to throw the ball on bunt attempts.

I completely agree with you here. I just personally believe that most of the time the Captain of the team is the “Quarterback”.

Originally Posted by Bluesteve32

That is true, but the manager/coach can give the pitcher the hook right away. Also a bad catcher hinders some pitcher from getting "borderline" strikes by receiving the ball poorly.

The catcher is also responsible to soothe fragile pitcher's egos when they walk the first guy when having a five run lead the team just got him.

The catcher is also the one calling out various plays prior to the pitch (standing in front of home pate and giving defensive play signals).

Yes but if the Manager/Coach pulls the starting pitcher early then he almost always has already given up a lot of runs.

Originally Posted by Bluesteve32

Not true. If the cather is not calling the pithcers or plays directly, he is getting them from the bench and relays those signs and signals to the infielders and the pitcher.

All in all, a poor receiving catcher can make good pitching mediocre and poor pitching that much worse. A good catcher is another fielder who will pounce on ball hit in front of home plate and make accurate throws for outs as opposed to having a pitcher or other fielders making plays on those balls.

Past balls cause more damage that wild pitches, too. A past ball on strike three may result in the batter-runner reaching first (Mickey Owen in the 1941 WS) and runners advancing. A good catcher prevents many wild pitches by keeping the ball in front of him.

Most teams have more than one pitcher, in almost any level, but try to find that catcher is much more difficult at any level, especially past Little League rules.

I don’t see anything I disagree with here.

Originally Posted by tyberesk

No I was talking about how the second basemen is in charge of holding the runner who is taking a lead at second base.

I can see that you are 15 but as you get older the second baseman doesn’t always hold the runner on (Signs from pitcher and lefty’s) and can stay back in the hole.


Fishers Webb

[Bluesteve32]

Originally Posted by warriorxlegolas

I completely agree with you here. I just personally believe that most of the time the Captain of the team is the “Quarterback”.

Most baseball teams, in my observation, really don't have a captain, per say and if he is not an infielder, really cannot control things like a catcher.

On most upper level baseball teams, the catcher is in fact a de facto captain since he is able to observe all thisng on the diamond a center fielder, shortstop or even a pitcher cannot do.

Also many umpires use the catcher to warn pitchers about infractions that may cause balks or other acts. As an umpire up to college level, this is a commn practice. I never realized how important catcher are to a baseball team, and very few possess the ability, talent, and the leadership to catch.

Let's put it another way, MLB teams carry 10-12 pitchers, but most carry 2 catchers maybe three. There are fewer MLB level people who really can play the position adequately. yet there are more trained pitchers, infielders, and outfielders. In today's baseball, most teams use more than one pitcher, often three or four in a single game, yet one catcher.

How many position players end up catching in MLB other than catchers? Not many, yet there are times a position player may actually pitch. All teams have the emergency catcher, but the day in and day out grind of a season, catching seems to be the most difficult position, especially in the heat and humidity.

Scouts say the quickest way to professional baseball (not necessarily the show) is left handed pitcher and catcher (especially if he hits left-handed, but throws right).

[Newtown_Dodger]

Originally Posted by warriorxlegolas

I don’t agree with you here pitch hitting late in a game isn’t that hard. Now of course pitch hitting in the 10th inning of game 7 of the World Series would make me piss my pants.




I never understood why people say the catcher is the “Quarterback” of the team sure this is true some of the time (Red Sox’s, Tigers) but not nearly as much as people seem to say.




I think you were trying to say not everyone can be a good outfielder.




If a pitcher has an off day your chances of winning are almost none. On the other hand if your catcher has a bad day you still have a good chance of winning.




I believe you are talking about how they hold the runners on in little league???




In vary few plays do the catcher’s actually call the pitch.




Really because from my experience the catcher gets the no love no hate from the media.





1: Closing Pitcher
2: Starting Pitcher
3: Shortstop
4: Catcher (You so need to move this up 3 places)
5: Center Fielder
6: Setup Man
7: Third Baseman
8: Middle Relief Pitcher
9: Second Baseman
10: Right Fielder
11: Pitch Hitter
12: Left Fielder
13: First Baseman
14: Pinch Runner
15: Designated Hitter

Fisher Webb

"Did the catcher used to pick on you on the bench or something?"

[swingbuster]

I would say that first baseman is the "easiest" position in baseball since he is not depended upon to make many throws.

He can make to whole team look good when he can catch what they do not throw well.

Picking the ball at FB is a valuable skill to the entire team .

It is usually a skill unique to that particular player that is a different "catch" on the short hop than most other plays.

THe fun of baseball IS that most position plaers have to conribute somthing different