When it comes to the game of baseball, everyone knows that lefties have an advantage over right-handed pitchers. The reason for this is simple: lefties have a natural edge in terms of the angle of their pitches, which can make it harder for righties to hit them. But what about the position of catcher? It turns out that lefties aren’t as well-suited to this spot as righties, and there are a few reasons why.
The Role of the Catcher
Before we get into the specifics of why lefties aren’t generally well-suited to play catcher, let’s review the role of the catcher in baseball. The catcher is essentially the quarterback of the defense, calling out the signals and locations for pitches, and helping the defense to anticipate what the offense will do. They also have to be able to catch the ball and throw it accurately and quickly to the other infielders.
In addition, the catcher is usually the first line of defense against a runner trying to steal a base. They must be able to quickly and accurately throw the ball to the base, and have the strength and agility to block the runner from stealing. This makes it essential for the catcher to have quick reflexes, great hand-eye coordination, and the ability to throw accurately.
Why Lefties Aren’t as Well-Suited
Now that we understand the role of the catcher, let’s look at why lefties aren’t as well-suited for the job.
Angle of Throws: The main reason why lefties aren’t as good at playing catcher is because of the angle of their throws. Since lefties are throwing from the opposite side of the field from the other infielders, it can be difficult for them to get the ball to the base quickly and accurately.
Blocking: Another issue for lefties is that they don’t have as much power behind their throws when blocking a runner from stealing a base. Since lefties are throwing from the same side of the field as the runner, it can be difficult for them to get the ball to the base in time to prevent the runner from stealing.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Finally, lefties are at a disadvantage when it comes to hand-eye coordination. This is because their dominant hand is on the opposite side of the field from the other infielders, which can make it difficult for them to quickly and accurately throw the ball.
Conclusion
It’s clear that lefties aren’t as well-suited to play catcher as righties. The main reason for this is that lefties have a harder time throwing accurately and quickly, and they also don’t have as much power behind their throws. In addition, the angle of their throws can make it more difficult for them to get the ball to the base quickly and accurately. Finally, lefties are at a disadvantage when it comes to hand-eye coordination, since their dominant hand is on the opposite side of the field from the other infielders.