Is the shortstop position overrated?

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Our best infielder played ss and did a terrific job. But now that the season is over and just reflecting on everything, I'm wondering if she was wasted at short. 2nd and especially 3rd received WAY more chances, and the errors from the 3rd base position were extremely costly. So many bunts, routine grounders, etc. that should have been outs turned into "hits" (12U).

Just curious, especially from you coaches, whether it makes sense to keep your most talented infielder at ss when she doesn't receive nearly the number of chances that 3rd or 2nd receive. Or perhaps this was just an anomaly and most teams do receive more chances at short? I'm thinking that if you have the choice of being exceptional at third and just average at short that would be better than exceptional at ss and just average at third.

Seems to me the one of the trademarks of all the realy good teams we played this year was that they had an terrific player at 3rd. Aggressive, fearless, would cut the ball off and make strong accurate throw to first.

Any opinions??

 

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Looking through our season stats prior to the World Series.........

3rd base had 52 PO and 58 assists
2nd base had 47 PO and 55 assists
SS had 49 PO and 54 assists

Based on these numbers, it appears that all positions should be treated with the same priority. Different things can effect these numbers, like overwhelming pitching or teams that play small ball more than hit.

If I had to prioritize where I would focus, I would say that SS and 3rd should be a close 1/2 followed by 2nd base 3rd. We were fortunate enough to have a really athletic infield that could cover a lot of ground and all had strong arms.

If you had a position that had a lot of errors, it's not always as simple as moving a great SS to 3rd. The ball "bounces" differently to each position, you would have been better off seeing if any of the other players could play 3rd.

 

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They both have to be good, the SS needs to have the better range of the 2 though as they have more space to cover and there are more coverages for the SS. I like a strong SS, especially for the catcher throw downs.

 

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I can only say that our 3rd rarely steals a hit.

While we played a team this year that had a SS that stole at least 3 hits. She had silly range. And the 2nd has to be really good also.

But the SS is the general of the IF and will also take the throw downs.........which is why the SS is so important. I have also heard that college coaches rarely recruit 2nd they take SS and put them at 2nd.

 

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I can only say that our 3rd rarely steals a hit.

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Looks like you need to find a 3rd baseman this year

 

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Second basemen get extra chances because they cover first on bunts. Most plays for the 2B are fairly easy. The SS not only is taking more throw downs than the 3B, but is also taking many more throws from the OF. I definitely want my best IF at SS.

I did have a choice to make once about a player and whether she would play 2B or CF. I noticed that the 2B the year before had way more touches than the CF and I put the girl at 2B, which proved to be a good choice over the course of the season. An OF can take away or allow an extra-base hit, but the infielders touch the ball many more times.

 

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They both have to be good, the SS needs to have the better range of the 2 though as they have more space to cover and there are more coverages for the SS. I like a strong SS, especially for the catcher throw downs.

This.

It takes three things to nail a base stealer....and the SS is responsible for two of them.

 

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I wouldn't call it overrated it defiantly isn't as tough a position as a Boys Baseball shortstop but maybe the better fix is get rid of your 3rd base player!

 

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isn't as tough a position as a Boys Baseball shortstop

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

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Looks like you need to find a 3rd baseman this year

The funny thing is that my daughter plays 3rd. So I will say that I never view her making plays as stealing a hit. I figure hitting a ball anywhere near her is just stupid because it is an automatic out:yahoo:

In general I think the 3rd postion has pressure because most of their plays are considered "routine" or "easy". While bunts are not hard to field you have to be in postion and be smart. And screamers are a matter of reacting to the ball but also watching the swing and anticipating when a girl is going to be pulling the ball.

While I think a good SS has to be able to cover a very large area by being reactive and smart like a 3rd but also know how to set their feet and field a ball in such a way as to come up throwing with velocity. Plus also cover 3rd on a bunt-steal situation, cover second on a steal, take throws from the outfields....ect. The SS postion requires a larger skill set and a more athletic player IMO. You can find a servicable 3rd but it is really hard to find good SS. And finding a SS that knows what they are doing is extremely hard.

 

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At 10/12U you can get away with an average SS.

14u and up, playing at a high level they will be exposed if they are not solid! SS is without a doubt your strongest fielder...

Small pop fly's behind third or in short OF, Hard grounders in the hole or up the middle, even if the SS does not make an out... the ability to keep the ball on the infield will keep you in the game. Most special plays evolve the SS, including relays so, the ability to make quick decisions is a must.
A very solid SS will make the other fielders including pitcher/catcher better.

your BEST infielder must be at SS....At 3RD you need a fearless player with a strong arm, 1st a great receiver... someone that can pick balls and has a good "feel" for the bag. Second base needs decent range, the ability to cover 1st and a strong enough arm to make an out at the plate...

 

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Have to agree with the thoughts about the importance of the SS as the players get older. Range becomes SO important. If you can eliminate that Bermuda triangle behind short, what an asset. Same with second base and those mid-tier flies behind first base. It has been our experience that the players (and we don't just have one for each position) who can eliminate the Bermuda triangles are also really good at stretching to get the ground balls back in the more traditional playing field for SS and 2nd base.

Most of our players who play third could still play short on many travel ball teams, including our own, in the right game. They have the fearless reaction and the gun to first. They just get caught at times on that range thing.

Had a smile on my face in a game at GAPSS where we had three players at the foul line fence in the Bermuda triangle and one of them made a sliding catch. Talk about great team effort.

 

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I think you need to be aware of the mental game with this decision.

The SS has a lot more decisions to make than 3rd not only what to do if she is hit the ball but how to react to the play when the ball is in someone else's glove. This mental agility is also necessary at 2nd but I think 2nd has less to juggle and more time to do it. 3rd is more reactive with far less ground to cover but all pistons pounding to track down those bunts.

These three positions certainly need different physical skills but they must have vastly different mental skills. You have got to match the mental makeup of your players to these positions.

 

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My dd has played on teams with not-so-good ss and amazing ss. There are too many outs that get lost because of a so-so shortstop.

I thin coachdennis summarized it very well.

 

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At 10/12U you can get away with an average SS.

14u and up, playing at a high level they will be exposed if they are not solid!

Small pop fly's behind third or in short OF, Hard grounders in the hole or up the middle even if the SS does not make an out, the ability to keep the ball on the infield will keep you in the game.

your BEST infielder must be at SS....At 3RD get a fearless player... with a strong arm, 1st a great receiver... someone that can pick balls and has a good feel for the bag. Second should have decent range and the ability to cover 1st and a strong enough arm to make an out at the plate...

SS is without a doubt the strongest fielder on the infield...

Dead-on analysis!!!! There is a reason why colleges recruit shortstops even if they will not play there in College.

 

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Shortstop is important and I won't downplay any position in today's game. I recruit by priority and just my opinion, my list goes; pitcher, catcher, 3rd base, 1st base for the top 4. My reasoning is if we have a very good pitcher, she'll be responsible for half the outs needed in 7 innings. The rest will probably be from opponents playing small ball.

I rank 1st base up there because a solid post at 1st that can catch anything can make the others look good even when they are off target. Remember; it's not worth a nickle to field and throw if your anchore keeps dropping the ball.

It all comes full circle but even in today's game, I feel these 4 positions are the most important when building a team.

 

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I think having a Stud SS is right below Pitcher/Catcher in 12-18u range. I will take a top flight SS over a top flight 3rd basemen. My reasoning is simple, in general the toughest put outs come from that position. A slapper comes up hits a chopper in the hole, SS cuts it off gets the girl out with an off foot throw. You check the book a month later and it just shows 6-3. They might not get quite as many chances but in general the plays they are forces to make and are expected to make are much tougher IMO.

10u future SS go to 1st base lol, you HAVE TO HAVE a really good 1st basemen or your going to have a long season.

 

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Several excellent posts about position priority and the reasoning behind it. At higher levels, EVERY position is critical, and has the potential to lose a game. If you have a s-l-o-w middle infielder that can't get the glove on the ball, and can't cover "CGS's Bermuda Triangle" it's gonna be a long season. If you think about it, you can apply that to every position. I know fastpitch is a TEAM sport, but I can't emphasize enough that INDIVIDUAL skills work is what makes these deficient skills BETTER. Team practice alone will not make any fielder better, she MUST learn proper footwork, glove work, angles, etc. No amount of just "playing games" will ever make the gal at 3rd on 29dad's daughter's team better! She's probably just reinforcing bad habits every game! Just like pitchers taking lessons, these players need individual fundamental training to get better.

IMO, depending on your pitching staff, you must change priorities. First time through the batting order, a faster pitcher will typically be allowing balls into play on the right side. Switch to a slower junk pitcher, and the hits shift left. Add to that WHERE the pitcher is locating the ball.

I think your pitching dictates your field make-up, along with shifting. Look at MLB - they'll shift the infielders into CRAZY positions - and it works!! I think that strategy is way under used in fastpitch.

 

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I truelly believe the ss should be the fastest and best side to side movement one on the team if the third basmen miss the ball right next to her a good ss will be there to back them and keep a double into a single as a slower bigger ss will not get there and put a player in scoring position also quick release has to be a priority for ss. I think the first baseman should be the best fielder on the team nobody can make the best throw every time especily when you have a slapper or bunter and you have to make a good quick throw not always on target.

 

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My dd has played on teams with not-so-good ss and amazing ss. There are too many outs that get lost because of a so-so shortstop.

I thin coachdennis summarized it very well.

Sue99 was the good ss a faster player then the not so good ss .