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Agree 100%
Agree 100%
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Maybe at the younger age range. But as you get older, 2nd better be one of your strongest players. They have to have the range of a shortstop, cover first like a first baseman, call plays, cover second on pickoffs, adjust to slappers, etc. They should also probably have a nasty persona on the field. Those are what I am look at in a 2nd baseman.
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I don't disagree, but I do think that when an outfielder makes a mistake it is more costly than when a 2nd baseman makes a mistake, so I would put my weaker player at 2nd. A weak outfielder drops a ball or can't chase it down, or just let's it get by her, and a single can turn into 3 or 4 bases. 2nd basemen mistakes are normally one base mistakes. Just sayin'.
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Depends on who is pitching, what age group, and who you are playing against. With the dominate pitching we have in high school this year, take a book out to left field and read it, because unless a lefty is up you see no action.
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I didn't say I would hide a kid there - I said I would teach a kid there. I don't care what age... I wouldn't teach a kid there on a Sunday game .) I don't care how good the team is - every team has a weakest player and a best player. With my team two years ago - every kid got a scholarship offer - but there was a best kid and there was a weakest kid.
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I re-read every post leading up to and following your post and can't find the person who thought you were saying to hide a kid at second. I think there are two schools of thought on where to play the weakest player on the team. 1 school says put her in the spot in the outfield least likely to get balls, and the other school says put em at 2nd. Just sayin'.
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At the older levels, I want one of my fastest and best athletes at 2B. I had a great one on my high school team and it saved us a ton of runs. She made diving plays on pop ups behind first base, she saved tons of bad throws to first on bunts, she fielded the most balls on the team, she saved us time and time again on good reads on bunts/slaps, etc. I now have a much slower player on my team at 2B and the lack of range is an extremely noticeable difference.
I don't know what I might have said in this thread last year, but I would put the weakest defender in either left or right field, depending on the pitcher. With a good pitcher, the infield will get up to 85% of the batted balls and sometimes the corner outfielders won't see a ball all game.
I don't know what I might have said in this thread last year, but I would put the weakest defender in either left or right field, depending on the pitcher. With a good pitcher, the infield will get up to 85% of the batted balls and sometimes the corner outfielders won't see a ball all game.
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Good reading on this subject, but with my experience in Coaching Travel Ball/Boys Baseball 2nd can be weak at 10U, but at 12U girls are starting to put the bat on the ball and they begin bunting the day lights out of the ball. If you have a fireballer on the hill at 12U or 14U, 2nd is going to get a lot of action and be required to play first base alot. I dont think the weakest player is at 2nd, maybe at 10U, buy not at 12U and above unless you are still playing rec ball. My opinion is in the outfield based on what type of pitcher is pitcher.
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I saw firsthand the other day what a weak outfielder will do to you. Good pitcher or not, girls are going to hit the ball to the outfield. I want girls who are at least competent enough to take proper angles, not take their first step in, and can catch the ball in the outfield. I understand where Joe, Roger, and a myriad of others are coming from, I just respectfully disagree. I think mistakes in the outfield are more costly than mistakes at 2nd base, in direct proportion to the number of bases given up per mistake.
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Just a thought, but as they get older, maybe the safest place to put them is at 3rd? 3rd only has to charge a bunt and throw to first, short usually is covering on the steal, so 3rd doesn't do as much as 2nd does.
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I agree that outfield mistakes are usually more costly when looked at on a 1 for 1 basis. The outfield mistakes usually cost two bases or more. Almost all infield errors are one base errors as the outfield is backing them up (hopefully).
The sheer number of balls hit to the infield should be enough to tell you that you that is where you want your best fielders to play. Would you rather your weakest player play at 2nd base where she'll get the opportunity to field say 7 (1 per inning) balls per game or left field where she may get 0-2?
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LF or RF depending on Pitcher and opponent.
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How about we play that player on the other team!!!
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Put them on the scorebook. I like to ask them questions 15 or 20 times a game. Who's winning, how many outs, who's up next, what did that girl do last bat, was that an error?
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Good call.
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playing them on third...hmmm, till you meet a team that has 3 or 4 girls bunt (really well) and plays small ball when they are struggling to hit say a tough pitcher.
Many scenarios and many right answers. Everyone has "their own" play book for the weak player.
Many scenarios and many right answers. Everyone has "their own" play book for the weak player.
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2nd base is in charge of the right side of the infield. One of the hardest plays in softball is when 2nd covers first on the bunt or a ground ball that 1st base fields. They also cover 2nd on the run with a runner on first and a ball hit to the left side. A good 1st base player will make all the infielders look better and save your team more errors than any other player on the field. If you have a player that is not as good as the rest right fld would be my choice as long as they understand that they need to back up first. Left fld needs to be able to go back on the fly balls. I agree if you have a week player you need to work with them, the ball will find them. I do believe some players are outfielders and some are infielders, but most can play both.
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I'm going to have to go with mustohio on this one, scorebook is the safest place. Triplethreat's idea to trade them to the other team is good as well. Every game is different so to really say where you would place the weaker player depends on who you are playing.
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I firmly believe you need to remain strong up the middle to be successful as a team, so P, C, SS, 2B, and CF are out in my world. I would put my weakest player at either 3B, 1B, LF, or RF depending on her weakness(es), who is pitching, and the tendencies of the other team (if known).
Len
Len
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Absolutely no where in the dirt. Left or right field depending on where opposing teams tend to hit the least balls off your pitcher. In high school ball the last several seasons, we put our weakest one in left field and could sometimes go 3-4 games without her getting a chance. Sorry but the people saying 1B, 2B and 3B are crazy ... other than possibly catcher, 1B and 2B get the most chances every year.
