What position should the weakest defender play?

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

OK, so perhaps this is a separate topic but - where do you put your pitcher when she is not pitching? Do you try to rest her for another game or put her on the field? DP?

At the younger ages you haft to play her if she is one of the better players. Im not sure how they would do things at the upper ages. Ive seen pitchers whom pitched an earlier game go to the catching position then get put back to pitching if the current starting pitcher is struggling. It is hard to sit down talent unless the game is out of hand,such as playing a less talented team that you know you will run rule.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Sorry I did not get back to this post til now. To clear things up a bit:

1 I meant the weakest player of the 9 starters on defense.
2. I am talking High School Varsity ball

As an added query: Can a lefty play 2nd base on HS Varsity and Travel and be effective? Can they make the double play?

 

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I agree, 2nd base, you have to be kidding. Last year after tracking, 2nd base had the most balls hit to that position than any other.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Sorry I did not get back to this post til now. ?To clear things up a bit:

1 I meant the weakest player of the 9 starters on defense.
2. ?I am talking High School Varsity ball

As an added query: ?Can a lefty play 2nd base on HS Varsity and Travel and be effective? ?Can they make the double play?

As far as you original question. It really depends on the situation; strength of your pitcher, strength of the other team's offense, strengths of the other fielders. I just would avoid anything up the middle (SS, 2nd, Center).

Can a lefty be effective at 2nd? Absolutely. It isn't conventional, but I saw a very good left-handed athlete play 2nd last year. Just when you had a good hit that got past the pitcher and you're thinking hit all the way this lefty swallowed up the ball going up the middle and made play after play.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Left field would probably be my choice with the fact that girls can't get around on the pitcher and hit to right. ?I put one of my best arms in right and put my weak link in left. ?But as someone said earlier, trouble will find the weak link, and you will PAY!

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Game time coaching is overrated. Great coaches show up on the practice field. Their reward is how their team plays on game day

I both agree and disagree with you. Great coaches show up on the practice fields - absolutely but the ability to coach the actual game can be the difference between a W or L.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

I agree with Sammy and coachjwb. But like a few other people have said, I also agree that it's sometimes hard to determine your weakest defender. You have ground ball ability, fly ball ability, line drive ability, arm strength, throwing accuracy, instincts, speed, game sense and probably a few other categories. Not often will it be the case that the same girl is the weakest in all of those categories.

Since it's almost never the case that one girl is clearly the weakest defensive player in all or even most of those categories, the question of where to place the weakest defender is moot probably 95% of the time. Given that, when making out the defensive lineup, the goal is to put what will be the overall strongest defense on the field. That might mean having the second best first baseman playing first, or your best outfielder playing short, or whatever.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

I agree with Sammy and coachjwb. ?But like a few other people have said, I also agree that it's sometimes hard to determine your weakest defender. ?You have ground ball ability, fly ball ability, line drive ability, arm strength, throwing accuracy, instincts, speed, game sense and probably a few other categories. ?Not often will it be the case that the same girl is the weakest in all of those categories.

Since it's almost never the case that one girl is clearly the weakest defensive player in all or even most of those categories, the question of where to place the weakest defender is moot probably 95% of the time. ?Given that, when making out the defensive lineup, the goal is to put what will be the overall strongest defense on the field. ?That might mean having the second best first baseman playing first, or your best outfielder playing short, or whatever. ?

?

Stated like a true Lawyer!!! ?Tapped danced all the way around the question for 2 paragraph's, then never really answered the question. Cmon Joe...Tell us what you really mean!!

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Play her next to the kid on the bench with the bucket of EXTRA CRISPY!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

 

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Thanks CSChlit about the lefty at 2nd answer. I think what makes a lefty even more effective for the whole defense is when the 1st baseman is also a lefty. Now the whole right side infield hass great range.

But again, a whole lot of people say a Lefty cannot turn the double-play. I think they can - they are just facing the outfield when they throw the ball to first (I think).

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

I agree that sometimes coaches can make the difference during a game. More often than not though the better prepared team will win the day. Whats really nice is when you get to see two great teams playing and the coaches pulling out all the stops. Back to the original question. When the girls get older if they've played and practiced together for any length of time, they will know each others weaknesses and try to compensate for them on their own. Every kid on the team should always have someone backing them up.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

As for the lefty playing 2B question, there are very few grounding into double plays at this level anyhow so yes a lefty should be able to play 2B just fine ... C, SS and 3B make more of a difference but are doable as well.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Thanks CSChlit about the lefty at 2nd answer. ?I think what makes a lefty even more effective for the whole defense is when the 1st baseman is also a lefty. ?Now the whole right side infield hass great range.

But again, a whole lot of people say a Lefty cannot turn the double-play. ?I think they can - they are just facing the outfield when they throw the ball to first (I think).

I have a lefty that will play 2nd base when not pitching. She can turn any play as well as any righty can, in some cases better. This girl can play anywhere but she caught my eye with her pitching and ability to play 2nd. Oh - is she smart also? OH yeah... she is smart. Very smart.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

[quote author=footwear50 link=1205521021/25#29 date=1205534872][quote author=Miami Valley Vipers 14 link=1205521021/25#28 date=1205529234][quote author=Johnnies link=1205521021/0#8 date=1205523260][quote author=Pakman link=1205521021/0#7 date=1205522761]A very good HS coach told me that first base is the place to put your "9th player".

I would want to play that team.[/quote]

Me too........many teams have lost games from weak 1st base play.[/quote]

You guys are making an assumption that this player would be weak enough to cost her team the game. Maybe she is the considered the weakest defensive player on her team but maybe she is better than any player on the other team.

I know the coach in question and if you understand their philosophy then you can better understand their statement. And no, you do not want to play their team because I would bet you might get out coached.[/quote]

Probably should just give them the state trophy now and lets just get started with travel ball!
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Typical response.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Lefty playing 2nd base? At the younger ages it doesn't make much of a difference sometimes depending on the other girls who can play 2nd. Though on the travel ball level it would seem kind of strange that the best option on a team for 2nd base is a lefty. But in the long term this just hurts the lefty playing 2nd base. Because if she has any college aspirations whatsoever, she is wasting her time playing 2nd. Her time would be better spent refining her skills at another position. Leftys CANNOT turn the 6-4-3 double play faster than a righty who is as talented. Not that it happens that much anyways. But still. Nor can they make plays as quick on balls hit towards the middle. And IF they can then you have one heck of an athlete, and now, she is being wasted at 2nd base. If she is that good she can be used at the other positions leftys are meant to play. And those don't include 3rd, SS, 2nd, and most times catcher. Though I did see a college team use a lefty catcher here and there. Rarely though. But we all have our opinions, this is just mine.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

Regardless of a high school or travel team, a coach has put certain girls at each position because that coach has determined - whether through gut feeling, hardened experience, or a combination - that this lineup will give the team the best opportunity to win.

I've sat on the sidelines many times and said to myself "What is he thinking??" in regards to the coaches lineup. But if you put yourself in an actual coaching position, you'll understand that there is more to this decision than just analyzing statistics. The "gut feeling factor" is HUGE!

Many things can affect the best of players - a headache, death in the family, female issues, and the list goes on. And believe me - teenage boys have their issues, possibly more so! A savvy coach will take all this stuff into account, toss it all into the magic "lineup blender", and come up with the best lineup for the game at hand. Two hours later, the formula may be entirely different. Therein lies the difference between great coaches and run-of-the-mill coaches.

So, as a spectator, when you say "Susie isn't a 2nd baseman, she's a left fielder!", you may not have the same info the coach has. Susie may well be the BEST 2nd baseman the team has for that particular game!

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

I would have to agree that second base is probably the toughest and most unnatural position for a lefty to play (not that it can't be done, would certainly take an awsome athlete). ?Third, ?not as tough as second, but still some disadvantage....catching though, is not highly affected by handedness. ?As a lefty catcher myself, I would say the biggest issue had more to do with working with the umpire. ? ?Because of their positioning, and being used to the typical movements of a righty catcher (throw down, pick off, etc..), we occasionally bumped into each other. ?Didn't happen too much, but I had more than one umpire discuss this with me. ?Other than that, most things are comparable....a pick off to first is easier for a lefty, while third is bit less natural....the opposite being true for a righty. ?I guess I would also say that having the glove on the right hand while making a play at home is somewhat of a disadvantage in that the runner is traveling on the left side of the catcher's body (as they face the outfield) making the catcher reach across/turn their body to make a tag on the outside corner of the plate. ?This would be especially true in receiving a ball from right field. ?Still, a good athlete can make it work.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

[quote author=JoeA1010 link=1205521021/25#46 date=1205609656]I agree with Sammy and coachjwb. ?But like a few other people have said, I also agree that it's sometimes hard to determine your weakest defender. ?You have ground ball ability, fly ball ability, line drive ability, arm strength, throwing accuracy, instincts, speed, game sense and probably a few other categories. ?Not often will it be the case that the same girl is the weakest in all of those categories.

Since it's almost never the case that one girl is clearly the weakest defensive player in all or even most of those categories, the question of where to place the weakest defender is moot probably 95% of the time. ?Given that, when making out the defensive lineup, the goal is to put what will be the overall strongest defense on the field. ?That might mean having the second best first baseman playing first, or your best outfielder playing short, or whatever. ?

?

Stated like a true Lawyer!!! ?Tapped danced all the way around the question for 2 paragraph's, then never really answered the question. ?Cmon Joe...Tell us what you really mean!!

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lol. I'll avoid some questions, but I didn't avoid this one! I agreed with Sammy and coachjwb where they had said it's probably left or right field, depending on your pitcher. I just didn't want to repeat the same things that they and others had already said.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

I apologize I have not read through all the posts, but a rhetorical question:

Weakest how? ?

Define the skill sets and it would create different answer. ?

Fielding, arm strength, smarts, lateral movement and on and on all go into defining what player is best suited for each position.

Me, I make conscious ? (ok semi-conscious) evaluations and compare players that qualify for positions based on skills and talent, and that begins a chess game against yourself using your players. ?Each decision affects another. ?Players with weaknesses can, sometimes, ?be elevated by placing them next to stronger players.

Reality, weakest player on the bench, slot the other nine where they will most benefit the team as a whole, there is no right answer.

 

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Re: What position should the weakest defender play

OK and now after reading Joe's response, I'll admit I am not a lawyer. LOL. And I will concur, if they have to be in there, right or left, with a plethora of caveats.