Left Handed Catcher

[nbcards]

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/44139204/

Can you make a left handed catcher in mlb the show?

[jseward92]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/44139204/

Can you make a left handed catcher in mlb the show?

No you cant

[fatheifer]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

Why the heck not?

[Threeebs]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

Why the heck not?

You may not have noticed but there are no left handed catchers. I've never even heard of one. I don't know why for sure but it may have to do with a combination of pitchers not being comfortable pitching to a right handed glove and the fact that their hand would then be flipped when showing signs to a pitcher and if they flip flopped between right handed and left handed signs, it could become too confusing for them. As far as throwing to bases, I don't understand why a lefty couldn't excel in that area. He's already facing 1st base for any tappers in front of the box, 2nd base is still directly in front of him and a snap throw to 3rd may prevent more base runners from stealing 3rd.

Lefty's are relegated to pitching, first base and the outfield...

[BestServedCold]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

Why the heck not?

There has not been a left handed catcher in the MLB in literally 100 years. Logan Schafer is listed as the emergency catcher for the Brewers though, so this might change soon.


The reason for this is that lefties who can throw well enough to play catcher are usually made into pitchers (a left handed pitcher is far more valuable than a left handed catcher- who is at a disadvantage throwing to 3B).

[Jr.]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

There have been a few LH catchers, but the last in the majors was about 20 years ago.

They're rare because baseball works counter-clockwise and is RH dominant, so it makes it harder for LH catchers to throw out base runners at 2nd and 3rd (throwing arm is the same side as a RH batter in the box, makes it harder to make a strong, accurate throw.. also have to turn their bodies to throw to 3rd as opposed to just stepping around a batter or sliding feet for a RH catcher).

[Jr.]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

There has not been a left handed catcher in the MLB in literally 100 years. Logan Schafer is listed as the emergency catcher for the Brewers, so this might change soon.


The reason for this is that lefties who can throw well enough to play catcher are usually made into pitchers (a left handed pitcher is far more valuable than a left handed catcher- who is at a disadvantage throwing to 3B).

Benny Distefano caught in the MLB in the late 80s.

[BDKiiing]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

There has not been a left handed catcher in the MLB in literally 100 years. Logan Schafer is listed as the emergency catcher for the Brewers, so this might change soon.


The reason for this is that lefties who can throw well enough to play catcher are usually made into pitchers (a left handed pitcher is far more valuable than a left handed catcher- who is at a disadvantage throwing to 3B).

That alone made me wish we could have lefties stay as lefties to catch. hah.

[fatheifer]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

I know there are no left handed catchers, and that they're rare. It's a video game though... you should be able to do what you want.

[nbcards]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

i just saw the article and figured id ask since at the time i was in class. id would be nice to create a lh catcher but at the same time i understand why we cant

[Caliboy626]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

I was typing out a really well thought out response to this. But my log in timed out in did not save it. In short Baughn3 pretty much summed it up. With the majority of the baseball being right handed hitters, the left side of the infield including second base would have to do a 180 degree turn to plant and make a strong throw. This is why Pablo Sandoval is a natural left hander who taught himself to throw right handed so he would not be stuck at first base growing up in Venezuela.

[TonyMoraco]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

I was typing out a really well thought out response to this. But my log in timed out in did not save it. In short Baughn3 pretty much summed it up. With the majority of the baseball being right handed hitters, the left side of the infield including second base would have to do a 180 degree turn to plant and make a strong throw. This is why Pablo Sandoval is a natural left hander who taught himself to throw right handed so he would not be stuck at first base growing up in Venezuela.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!

[dingleberryfinn]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

This is the kind of little thing I expect the P$4 to be able to handle.
I'd like to recreate the lefty Mike Squires from my childhood that played
3B & C for a few games.

[IK720]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

There have been 30 players to catch at least 1 inning of baseball in history, and only 23 if you do not include the players who only did it for one game. Crazy. I just read a pretty good article on nytimes including comments from the last lefty catcher to do it Benny Distefano. Pretty interesting article.

He says the only two things that negatively effect left handed catchers are bunts up the third baseline because the throw isn't as natural, and plays at the plate. He mentions plays at home being the biggest problem because having the glove on your opposite hand makes you back hand the ball on the runners side and leaves you wide open when catching the throw up the first baseline.

Also the "more right handed batters" thing is crap. At the date of the article 56% percent of AB's were right handed (due to switch hitting it is almost 50-50).

[jseward92]

Re: Left Handed Catcher

In my high school days we had a backup lefty catcher. Mainly because nobody wanted to play catcher lol but I didn't have a problem throwing to him and I don't think anyone else did either.