Left-Handed Catchers

[zeker434]

@DSYoungEsq

May I suggest that arguing why left-handed catchers are “disadvantaged” compared to righties is a bit silly (if not plain stupid) in the absence of true expert opinion?

I’d suggest asking someone with some true knowledge about the issue, like, say, Joe Torre (playing and managing experience), or Bob Brenly (same), or any of a number of other managers or former catchers from professional baseball.

Otherwise, it’s all just uninformed opinion, hardly the stuff of fighting ignorance.

A couple of things:

[ul]
[li]First, we’re discussing this subject because it’s fun to do![/li][li]Second, you’re correct - I’m not a major league player or manager. However, I’ve been playing baseball or softball for the past 35 years, and for the past 5 years, I’ve been catching a lot. And, yes, I’m a left-hander. And I can definitely say that it’s much easier for me to make throws to first base than it is for me to make throws to third base. It just is. So although I haven’t done this at the same level as a major leaguer, I’m not totally “ignorant” to the subject.[/li][li]Lastly, if I’m being overly sensitive, I apologize. However, you’ve mentioned silly, stupid, uninformed, and ignorance in your last post. I don’t consider myself to have any of those qualities, and I resent that implication. If the subject and discussion bother you this much, then stop reading the thread.[/li][/ul]

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent.

[stf]

@SkyCowboy

Personally, I think it is easier to steal third than second. (It is easier to get a large leadoff.) If I were a major league manager, I would have my players try it more often.

Wouldn’t the advantage of a large lead-off (presumably because it takes longer to throw to 2nd) be exactly counterbalanced by the shorter amount of time it takes to throw to third?

[redbird007]

@stf

Wouldn’t the advantage of a large lead-off (presumably because it takes longer to throw to 2nd) be exactly counterbalanced by the shorter amount of time it takes to throw to third?

Also, a larger lead results in greater risk of being picked off.

[samclem]

@DSYoungEsq

May I suggest that arguing why left-handed catchers are “disadvantaged” compared to righties is a bit silly (if not plain stupid) in the absence of true expert opinion?

I’d suggest asking someone with some true knowledge about the issue, like, say, Joe Torre (playing and managing experience), or Bob Brenly (same), or any of a number of other managers or former catchers from professional baseball.

OK. The following is an interview with Bill Dickey from 1941.

Bill has wondered why there aren’t any southpaw receivers. The subject has fascinated him because he believes that left-handers would make the best catchers. He wishes that he were left-handed; says it would have made him a finer catcher. “There is an unwritten law in baseball that a left-handed fellow just mustn’t try to catch,” Bill told me. “I wonder why. I’ve asked dozens of baseball people the reason for this and yet have to find one that knows the answer. All I know is that let a left-handed youngster suggest that he learn the catching business and he is shooed away from the plate as if he had the plague. I’ve had people say they suppose the reason for this is that a left-handed catcher would hit a righthanded batter in the head when he made a throw to second. That’s crazy, tho. Why wouldn’t right-handed catchers hit left-handed batters when they made a peg?” I asked Bill why he thot left-handers would make better catchers, all things being equal. “For a lot of reasons,” answered the big Arkansas fellow who ranks with the outstanding catchers of all time. “Take the actual pitcher. Most pitchers are right-handers, right? Okay, and what kind of ball do the throw most of the time. A curve, and how do their curves break. Over the plate to the right of the catcher. A lefthander’s mitt would be right there. He could just sit down and pick 'em off all day. No awkward shift to his right. It would make him surer and save him lots of effort.”