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HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of Rob Kremer
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Revisiting the age old question of why no lefty catchers, the New York Times has an article about the last lefty catcher to catch in the majors 20 years ago.

Which reasons for no lefty catchers are valid?
 
Posts: 1706 | Location: Portland, Oregon | Registered: January 03, 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I've always thought that a Lefty Catcher would have advantages. Having watched a few in the youth leagues, it seems they have the best approach to play a bunt. A righty often has to turn to throw to first.

The biggest advantage is that the glove is already to the outer part of the plate with a righty batting. Since most batters it seems are hitting from the right side, pitchers can eat up the outside corner and be assured that the catcher does not have to reach across his body. This really pays off on a sharp breaking ball in the dirt from a righty.

The throw to second is comparable once the middle infielders get used to seeing the ball.

The two biggest points I have noticed are that 1) a lefty catcher has better control of the mitt and 2) for some reason Leftys are easily coachable and retain knowledge.

The biggest prize in baseball may one day be a switch hitting lefty catcher.
 
Posts: 1779 | Location: Tampa | Registered: August 06, 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Lefty catchers are harder to steal third on because of the setup is just to move your foot back. I did some catching in H.S. and being left handed it was an easy throw to the 1st base side of second base because it was natural arm angle. The worst problem was the infielders had to get used to a different on the ball.
 
Posts: 95 | Location: Nor Cal | Registered: January 16, 2009Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
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There aren't any lefthanded catchers in the upper levels of ball. That fact by itself ensures that lefthanders are actively discouraged as they become teenagers, simply because it doesn't look right.

Here's a quote I recall from a few years ago, when a high end travel team was discussing which catcher on the team was the best. A holdover coach from the previous year's edition of the team pointed out that the best catcher wasn't being used at that position. The head coach said, "I know he's the best, but there's no way we'll use a lefthanded catcher at a national tournament!"
 
Posts: 1005 | Location: Belmont, CA | Registered: April 01, 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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