MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

[RaychelSnr]

Last week, I jokingly commented on MLB 14: The Show's fact sheet, which included the addition of "left-handed infielders." To me, this seemed not only an odd thing to add, but an odd thing to publicize.

If you are unfamiliar with why left-handed infielders are so rare, it has to do with fielding and throwing runners out. Lefties field with their right hand, but need to throw to the left (first base) to get the out. This leads to an awkward transition, bad throws, and extra time for the runner. Think about the throw a right-handed first basemen needs to make on a 3-6-3 double play, or a right-handed quarterback who rolls to the left for similar throws.

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[BSUFAN]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

It really is kind of odd thing to add to the game but I give them the benefit of the doubt that they know what they are doing.

[eaw913]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

It definitely is odd, but I think it is a cool addition. It also brings in new animations and added realism. We'll see.

[nemesis04]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

I don't think SCEA is advocating an army of left handed infielders. Maybe it is being taken out of context. Maybe it really means now if you stick a lefty at a righty position he will stay a lefty at the position and suffer the consequences. Also means they specifically have left handed throwing animations for those positions which they did not have in the past.

Also I thought these extra fact sheets were for the hardcore crowd? I doubt this would be a back of the box highlight!

[CPRoark]

I don't think SCEA is advocating an army of left handed infielders. Maybe it is being taken out of context. Maybe it really means now if you stick a lefty at a righty position he will stay a lefty at the position and suffer the consequences. Also means they specifically have left handed throwing animations which they did not have in the past.

Also I thought these extra fact sheets were for the hardcore crowd. I doubt this would be a back of the box highlight!

This is all pretty tongue-in-cheek. I'm certainly not complaining...anything that adds an extra dimension of realism/flexibility to the game is welcome by me!

[Curahee]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

The big things is really 2-fold.

#1 if you are a lefty in real life, this gives your CAP an opportunity to play an IF position as a lefty.

#2, in dire situations, this give the user the opportunity to place a lefty at an IF position if necessary and keep him a lefty, rather than the CPU auto-changing him to a righty.

Will I ever use it? No. Im a righty and I have no need for it.
But #2 might pop up one of these days and why not keep him a lefty if he really is a lefty.

[nuke_21]

There are lefty infielders, they're called first basemen

[nomo17k]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

[...

If you are unfamiliar with why left-handed infielders are so rare, it has to do with fielding and throwing runners out. Lefties field with their right hand, but need to throw to the left (first base) to get the out. This leads to an awkward transition, bad throws, and extra time for the runner. Think about the throw a right-handed first basemen needs to make on a 3-6-3 double play, or a right-handed quarterback who rolls to the left for similar throws.

...

I actually think this awkwardness factor is exactly the reason the proper animations for left-handed fielders in "inappropriate" positions should be included in the game. The only difference is that SCEA probably should've advertised the new feature *not* as "now we can use left-handed infielders!!" but as something along the line of "left-handed players playing out of natural positions are properly punished by their awkward mechanics."

As you correctly point out, left-handed players are rare in certain positions because they cannot make certain plays naturally and efficiently as right-handed players. So if somebody tries to put them in those unnatural positions, they really should have a good reason to do so, like their offensive contribution significantly surpasses their flaws in fielding.

Without the proper animations, we have been getting free lunch for putting left-handed players into positions for which they should be punished in playing. This has not been the case till MLB 14 (although they may have gotten generic reduction in fielding attribute ratings...).

So I am curious as to how this affects the game play. How much do you get penalized for playing a left-handed second baseman when turning two? Does the game have appropriate animation representing the awkwardness?

I hold my judgement till I actually see the implementation.

[Woodweaver]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

I actually think this awkwardness factor is exactly the reason the proper animations for left-handed fielders in "inappropriate" positions should be included in the game. The only difference is that SCEA probably should've advertised the new feature *not* as "now we can use left-handed infielders!!" but as something along the line of "left-handed players playing out of natural positions are properly punished by their awkward mechanics."

As you correctly point out, left-handed players are rare in certain positions because they cannot make certain plays naturally and efficiently as right-handed players. So if somebody tries to put them in those unnatural positions, they really should have a good reason to do so, like their offensive contribution significantly surpasses their flaws in fielding.

Without the proper animations, we have been getting free lunch for putting left-handed players into positions for which they should be punished in playing. This has not been the case till MLB 14 (although they may have gotten generic reduction in fielding attribute ratings...).

So I am curious as to how this affects the game play. How much do you get penalized for playing a left-handed second baseman when turning two? Does the game have appropriate animation representing the awkwardness?

I hold my judgement till I actually see the implementation.

You are correct. Your précis is exactly why this change was made.


There was never any penalty for playing a left-hander in the infield. He was just forced to right handedness while on defense. There still is not any penalty other than the awkwardness and delay inherent with playing these positions left handed.

[BROman]

As a lefty, I always played in the outfield & 1st base, but I played one season on a middle school team devoid of good infielders, so I had to play some 2nd & 3rd. 2nd wasn't that bad except for trying to turn DP's- I never did once. 3rd was ridiculously hard- almost every throw required a spin, so I played way off the line as a result, as a throw after fielding a ball backhanded was not going to end up well. Anyways, I'm interested to see if they've taken all of this into account.

[mb625]

My little brother, who is left-handed, is pretty set on playing shortstop. He's in 7th grade this year, one year away from playing in high school (they do things a bit differently in Iowa, with the summer season and all) and I keep telling him that he will likely be moved to either first base or outfield, due to his left-handedness... Guess history is on his side.

[cardinalbird5]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

The big things is really 2-fold.

#1 if you are a lefty in real life, this gives your CAP an opportunity to play an IF position as a lefty.

#2, in dire situations, this give the user the opportunity to place a lefty at an IF position if necessary and keep him a lefty, rather than the CPU auto-changing him to a righty.

Will I ever use it? No. Im a righty and I have no need for it.
But #2 might pop up one of these days and why not keep him a lefty if he really is a lefty.

It could apply to DD as well, which kind of falls back to number 1, RB.

[cubby blue]

Squires played for the White Sox that year not the Cubs. FYI

[CaseIH]

Re: MLB 14 The Show: A History of Left-Handed Infielders

There are lefty infielders, they're called first basemen

Exactly, that is the only place for a lefty in the infield is 1st base. Actually it is best to have a lefty at 1st base over a RH'er too.

Not sure why they are adding this in, so a lefty can play 2nd,ss,3rd or catch considering you wont see it in the majors leagues. But it fine with me, as long as generated players dont end up being LH'ed playing those positions in my franchise. I am also LH'ed too

In LL while I was our main pitcher I did play 3rd base quite often. We also had a LH'ed catchers mit, and the coach put me at catcher at times too which I loved, because Johnny Bench was and always will be my favorite player. In LL this kind of stuff really dont matter, because you typically have to put your best players at this positions to have success, but once you get older their are enough quality players the coaches dont have to do that. Actually once I got to highschool, my coach had this thing with his pitchers not playing any infield positions which I hated, cause I wanted to go back to 1st base when i wasnt pitching. So it was either play the OF or sit on the bench if it wasnt your day to pitch.

[tril]

I never payed much attention to this in baseball games, until SCEA said they've included left handed fielders this year.
This is a nice little touch added by SCEA. adds another element of strategy to the game.