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.
What about bunt defense? What about being the "cut" for throws to the plate? What about pick off plays?
Yes. Thanx for the input. That’s one reason I never played third well I think was bunt defense.
And as you mentioned, the pick off. Not a hard throw, but footwork is paramount.
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
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.
Well, look at it this way. We once had what many think was the greatest fielding first baseman ever -- Keith Hernandez. That so impressed this franchise that since then, 12 of the 18 full time first basemen were converted outfielders or infielders and one catcher. And during that time, not one playe who came up to play first as his natural position has been shifted to left field or any position full time for that matter.
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
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.
Well, look at it this way. We once had what many think was the greatest fielding first baseman ever -- Keith Hernandez. That so impressed this franchise that since then, 12 of the 18 full time first basemen were converted outfielders or infielders and one catcher. And during that time, not one playe who came up to play first as his natural position has been shifted to left field or any position full time for that matter.
Great post. And Herzog at one time thought of putting Simmons on first and Hernandez in LF but decided against it because of Herandez's lack of speed to play the outfield. But much like Kenny Reitz at third, (Brooks Robinson) (Arenado) and others 3rd and first doesn't require speed to be great defensively, just quickness in a small range to make a play.
“I would think I’ll be playing a lot of first base and it’ll be just fine for me, but I don’t know if it will be just fine for Keith,” Simmons told Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “You’re taking a Gold Glove and putting him somewhere where he might not win another one. I don’t think that makes our club that much better defensively and I would think it would have a reverse effect. Keith is a much better first baseman than he is a left fielder. You take your Gold Glove and put him in the outfield … you’ve done something that, I’m sure, you really would rather not have to do
Comparing outfield positions, center by far is number one, although it only has one wall to contend with. It also has both gaps.
Right and left are the same; except the throw to third. Both have two walls, a foul line, and a gap. It’s all in the arm.
On the nfield. Third and SS the toughest. Second the easiest. First.
First has normal throws from a fielder, bad throws, in the dirt, in the base line, stretching, pickoff, bunts, a foul line, and slicing ground balls from right handed hitters.
So it’s done to first and left.
I think several hit it- depends on body type. The bigger and burly, the more first base.
