Lefty Specialist?

I bet you would have had a great pick-off move to second base.

 

What are you now?

I'm left-handed, and I played first base for my entire 11-year career, solely there for the final eight years. I platooned between first and center in Little League, and I played a game at pitcher and second base in Teeners. I also caught a couple practices. When I moved on to my storied softball career, I was my team's starting third baseman for three seasons, while subbing at first base when our regular couldn't make it.

Playing on the opposite side of the infield was tough, but only because I wasn't used to making the long throw to first. It just feels like you're playing the game a little backward. The positions are only as hard as you make them. You can learn to do everything almost as well as a righty, but it takes a lot of work, and the timing will probably never really get there. And, especially at the younger levels, a lot of left-handers -- at least in my area -- weren't given the opportunity to try different infield positions; I was given a choice between first base and the outfield. Nothing else. If you had a good glove, like I did, you played first base to erase the errant throws and liners down the line.

 

Better to first, believe it or not.

 

"Lefty Specialist"?

26 posts?

What is wrong with you people?

 

I was a defensive whiz but also a fat kid. I played third base until I injured my arm and couldn't make the throw. I moved to second base and let the shorstop take it himself on most double plays. I shouldn't say "let." It's just that he figured by looking at me that there was no use waiting when he could do it himself in less time.

I ended my career playing first base, and I hated the fireballers we had at short and third. I could dig it, but I never learned to catch the ball in the webbing. It always slammed into the palm of the glove and left me grimacing like a pathetic wimp.

But I could hit. When you're a fat kid, you go to great pains to secure a nice slow jog around the bases.

 

I had fears this was some sort of masturbation thread. Never have I been more glad to be wrong.

On the topic, I played in little league with a lefty who was our third baseman. Best player on the team, too. I know he went on to start for his high school team, but I'm not sure if they moved him or not.
And one of our baseball coaches had his first kid a couple years ago. When the kid was a few months old, the coach used to beam that Junior was showing signs of being a natural lefty. Dude just had his second kid yesterday. I wonder if he'll make him a righty to have a battery mate.

 

I was a left-handed second baseman for three straight championship-winning Little League clubs in the early 90s. I just played a bit to the first base side and was blessed with a quick first step to the hole. Part of the best damn infield in the whole city. Alas, I couldn't hit for shit, thus my baseball career ended at 12, and so I never got the chance to blossom as a junkball pitcher.

 

Teach your child to be a bullpen catcher. Easy hours, long career, good pay.

And, of course, the USMNT will need a left-footed forward in about 20 years.

 

Reporting for duty

 

He was clearly reincarnated as Jose Offerman.

 

Not Jeet-ah?

 

I've known two former MLB pitchers who have purposely trained their sons to be lefties. There is a reason for that.