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and that shorter throw is the only easy part of playing 2B, and that throw is often made on the run and off balance.STL Cardinal Fan 24 wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025 14:07 pm I think 2B can be thrown in as an honorable mention. Shorter throws than most other positions on average.
All those you mentioned were good fielders. can you imagine Lonnie Smith or Hector Cruz at first. Anyone can play any position. Playing it well is the issue. Gonna respectfully disagree here.OldRed wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025 16:51 pmMays, Mantle, Musial and others were moved to first. Jim Edmond played some first. Can you imagine Mark McGuire in LF? This has been debated for years, but usually the bat plays first, not LF.kscardsfan wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025 11:36 amIf you feel 1st base isn't important I could see this. After years of Goldy I disagree. A good 1st baseman is much more important than a good LF. Ask Pitchers their opinion.
Exceptional write. I was always an infielder. Didn’t get the best jumps on fly balls, as o think my first step was defensive rather than aggressive. Plus my vision wasn’t good. Needed glasses.Hazelwood72 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 09:07 am I agree with the folks who say it depends on the player. My own personal “experience” goes like this: I played Khoury League as a kid, second string high school as a teen, and college intramural softball at Rolla. So, the “very low leagues”
While I was slim back then, I was slow. I have very long legs for my build, but they didn’t churn fast. I could dig balls out of the dirt and field short hops, plus I had a good stretch. But I was too slow and didn’t judge curving fly balls very well.
So I was decent at 1B and really bad in the OF. BTW, I was a goalie in beer league hockey so there’s a bit of correlation there. (PS, I was a much better goalie than a baseball player, but still nowhere near escaping engineering as a career!)
Same here! Always seemed my first step in the OF was “not to make a mistake” rather than being decisive. On the IF (and in the goal in hockey) I didn’t have time to think, and reflexes took over.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 09:19 amExceptional write. I was always an infielder. Didn’t get the best jumps on fly balls, as o think my first step was defensive rather than aggressive. Plus my vision wasn’t good. Needed glasses.Hazelwood72 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 09:07 am I agree with the folks who say it depends on the player. My own personal “experience” goes like this: I played Khoury League as a kid, second string high school as a teen, and college intramural softball at Rolla. So, the “very low leagues”
While I was slim back then, I was slow. I have very long legs for my build, but they didn’t churn fast. I could dig balls out of the dirt and field short hops, plus I had a good stretch. But I was too slow and didn’t judge curving fly balls very well.
So I was decent at 1B and really bad in the OF. BTW, I was a goalie in beer league hockey so there’s a bit of correlation there. (PS, I was a much better goalie than a baseball player, but still nowhere near escaping engineering as a career!)
We played nearly every day. From Memorial Day to August All Stars. Much sandlot. Mucho. I often didn’t wear glasses as needed. That had its affect on my outfield defense.Hazelwood72 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 09:31 amSame here! Always seemed my first step in the OF was “not to make a mistake” rather than being decisive. On the IF (and in the goal in hockey) I didn’t have time to think, and reflexes took over.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 09:19 amExceptional write. I was always an infielder. Didn’t get the best jumps on fly balls, as o think my first step was defensive rather than aggressive. Plus my vision wasn’t good. Needed glasses.Hazelwood72 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 09:07 am I agree with the folks who say it depends on the player. My own personal “experience” goes like this: I played Khoury League as a kid, second string high school as a teen, and college intramural softball at Rolla. So, the “very low leagues”
While I was slim back then, I was slow. I have very long legs for my build, but they didn’t churn fast. I could dig balls out of the dirt and field short hops, plus I had a good stretch. But I was too slow and didn’t judge curving fly balls very well.
So I was decent at 1B and really bad in the OF. BTW, I was a goalie in beer league hockey so there’s a bit of correlation there. (PS, I was a much better goalie than a baseball player, but still nowhere near escaping engineering as a career!)
Maybe my “careful, thoughtful — and usually WRONG” approach on the first step in the OF was my nerdy engineering brain’s normal way of thinking!!
I agree, but I guess a way to compare is if you took the same player and had him play all the positions, which would be easiest?
But to play it well takes talent and experience. IA good 2Bman can be just as vital as a good shortstop. Case in point: Andres Gimenez of Cleveland last year, the anchor of that stellar infield last season. Since traded to Toronto, Cleveland's defense has suffered noticeably ever since.STL Cardinal Fan 24 wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025 14:07 pm I think 2B can be thrown in as an honorable mention. Shorter throws than most other positions on average.
So it states First Base as second easiest. I would think it’s the ground to the line that must be covered, plus two walks.nighthawk wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 10:02 am The defensive spectrum is for those who have actually studied it:
Designated hitter – First baseman – Left fielder – Right fielder – Third baseman – Center fielder – Second baseman – Shortstop – Catcher – Pitcher
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_spectrum
Good write. Funny. I played SS and pitched. Hated, and at any level, could not master third. Always hard for me.RamFan08NY wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025 10:15 am Too many variables. Are you talking about teaching a kid in little league either LF or 1B? Or are you talking about major leaguer?
What position would be easier for Mark Mcquier?
What position would be easier for Victor Scott?
Imo. All positions are "easy" once you know how to play them. I always played 3b, and SS. They were far easier for me than any OF position. Because I rarely played OF, I had a hard time picking up the ball off the bat. Always was caught taking that first step in. That's a problem.
Infield, always second nature. Because I knew where the pitch location was going to be, I was naturally moving to whete my instincs brought.
With all that said, I dont think there's a correct answer to the question, unless its directed at teaching a little league player their first position.
What about bunt defense? What about being the "cut" for throws to the plate? What about pick off plays?sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025 10:16 am Compare.
Left- chases balls to his left or right, to include two walls. Makes few hard throws pregame to second, and maybe a few easy throws to third. Plays line drives and fly balls. Maybe a collision in left center.
First- runs little. Throws little. Catches thrown balls often. Can catch one hop throws and in the dirt. Gets in way of runners.