Hardest Position To Play In Baseball?

Queensryche · 03-06-2003, 01:33 AM

I was thinking awhile ago...what is the hardest position to play in Baseball. Pretty much from Little League all the way through High School I never stepped off Third Base...so I really have NO CLUE as to how hard the other positions are...and I just got to thinking on which one would the most difficult to play.

What are your thoughts?

JML · 03-06-2003, 01:36 AM

Catcher.

Dwolfson20 · 03-06-2003, 01:39 AM

Agreed.

hamonrye · 03-06-2003, 02:13 AM

catcher, nothing else close

Old Man · 03-06-2003, 02:24 AM

catcher also

blubbla · 03-06-2003, 03:05 AM

No doubt about it being catcher.

Eckstein 4 Prez · 03-06-2003, 10:52 AM

Right field......

Ah, just wanted to break up the monotony. Of course it's catcher.

Kezzek · 03-06-2003, 11:37 AM

The guy who has to clean the dugouts after major league games.

Scott Vibert · 03-06-2003, 12:14 PM

Catcher... but IMO its also the best position.

LivnLegend · 03-06-2003, 12:42 PM

Never played catcher. Or I should say, never had any desire to play catcher! Gotta be thr toughest, hands down. I was primarily a first baseman but for awhile played third. Third base was tough. Or was it getting to third base that was tough?

Gastric ReFlux · 03-06-2003, 01:55 PM

Any in a league sponsored by nudist colonies.

Man, it hurt to slide into the bases.

hamonrye · 03-06-2003, 03:02 PM

i agree that catcher is the best position. constant action, running dialog with the home plate ump and the hitters, playing psychiatrist to nutty pitchers, etc. it makes the mangled fingers and sore knees worth it.

DiMaggio5CF · 03-06-2003, 04:25 PM

I agree that catcher is the hardest position to play. You have to be solid defensively, blocking some tough balls in the dirt, you have to be able to see runners trying to steal and be able to throw them out, you have to call a large portion of the game, and you have to do all of it in the heat wearing all of that gear. And you can't take a break, because you are a significant part of every play.

And you have to do all of that, all while doing your part with the bat and on the basepaths. And in the dugout, you have to be a mediator. You have to communicate well with your pitchers.

As far as my favorite position, it's first base, because I played that from the time I was 6 until I was 18. First base is easy to play, but it's not easy to play well. I also played third base, left field, and right field.

The infield is also tough, but your skills pretty much dictate where you play, so you don't have to be as well-rounded as you do to play catcher. If you're fast, you can play middle infield, and if you're quick with good reactions, you can play third. Pitching is also very very tough because the game rests on your shoulders, but it's very one-dimentional. You worry about pitching, but hitting and defense is not really your concern.

So I'd have to say that catcher is the toughest position to play.

Total Nirvana · 03-07-2003, 11:29 AM

doggy sty... opps, wrong thread

Geiiga · 03-07-2003, 12:24 PM

I don't know. Being left-handed and short, I was only allowed in the infield to pitch or play third base when I was the only one able to throw the ball across the infield. I gotta say, as a lefty, anywhere in the infield is the hardest position.

Rizon · 03-07-2003, 02:22 PM

I played every position in a GAME, except catcher. I did a little catching in practice, and hell yeah, thats the hardest. All that friggin gear, and playing in the summer heat here in California, sweating like a pig all over myself. Definately catcher.

Rowleyball · 03-07-2003, 07:58 PM

Yep, catcher has got to be the toughest. Looks like a lot of you were like me, playing everything else except catcher. I didn't have the arm growing up.

I played first a lot before high school, and that's pretty tough when your infielders can't throw the ball accurately. The infield defense on my teams used to be horrible (I wasn't any better, I was always wild with throws too). After a while I learned to scoop it pretty well, but it still was tough.

KcJockBoy · 03-08-2003, 11:58 AM

Catcher, but i wouldn't have played any other position if you payed me. Loved the part of being part of every play and big ol hefty boys coming down the 3b line thinking they was gonna take me out, trying to catch those pesky speedsters thinking nothing can stop them and then catching them napping and picking them off with a throw down to first. Wouldn't trade the feeling for anything.

Frankie

fantom1979 · 03-08-2003, 12:03 PM

I played catcher, third, and center in high school and I thought third was most difficult. Catcher was easy to me, you are in the game every play. At third you might not get a ball for three innings and then all of a sudden a rocket down the line.

Aussie Mark · 03-08-2003, 09:00 PM

As most replies have stated, the answer is catcher - no contest. I was versatile enough to play most positions for a reasonable number of games, and there's something about being behind the plate that makes you feel part of the game, every pitch. There's the physical toughness, mental concentration, calling the shots etc, and even at the end of the inning you don't get a "rest", because you're either batting, on deck, or putting on or taking off your catcher's gear. Nothing worse than being on deck with 2 out, the guy at bat gets out, then you have to get "dressed" again. I hated that.

I especially enjoyed the interplay with the plate umpire. Questioning calls, smart comments, talking him into calling strikes etc. Lots of fun.

03-06-2003, 01:33 AM	#1
Queensryche Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 453	Hardest Position To Play In Baseball? I was thinking awhile ago...what is the hardest position to play in Baseball. Pretty much from Little League all the way through High School I never stepped off Third Base...so I really have NO CLUE as to how hard the other positions are...and I just got to thinking on which one would the most difficult to play. What are your thoughts?

03-06-2003, 01:39 AM	#3
Dwolfson20 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Not St. Louis Posts: 2,872	Agreed. __________________

03-06-2003, 02:24 AM	#5
Old Man Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 464	catcher also __________________ Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah, 1983 "All the fat guys watch me and say to their wives, 'See, there's a fat guy doing okay. Bring me another beer.'" -Mickey Lolich

03-06-2003, 10:52 AM	#7
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 6,358	Right field...... Ah, just wanted to break up the monotony. Of course it's catcher. __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out my dynasty thread, The Dawn of American Professional Base Ball, 1871.

03-06-2003, 11:37 AM	#8
Kezzek All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Keyboard - frantically typing in subtle insults to raise my self-esteem Posts: 973	The guy who has to clean the dugouts after major league games. __________________ - Kez, P.E.

03-06-2003, 01:36 AM	#2
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	Catcher.

03-06-2003, 02:13 AM	#4
hamonrye Major Leagues Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 335	catcher, nothing else close

03-06-2003, 03:05 AM	#6
blubbla Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Herscher, IL Posts: 2,457	No doubt about it being catcher.

03-06-2003, 12:14 PM	#9
Scott Vibert Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: My Computer Posts: 8,210	Catcher... but IMO its also the best position.

03-06-2003, 12:42 PM	#10
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	Never played catcher. Or I should say, never had any desire to play catcher! Gotta be thr toughest, hands down. I was primarily a first baseman but for awhile played third. Third base was tough. Or was it getting to third base that was tough? __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

03-06-2003, 01:55 PM	#11
Gastric ReFlux Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Member #3409 Posts: 8,350	Any in a league sponsored by nudist colonies. Man, it hurt to slide into the bases.

03-06-2003, 03:02 PM	#12
hamonrye Major Leagues Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 335	i agree that catcher is the best position. constant action, running dialog with the home plate ump and the hitters, playing psychiatrist to nutty pitchers, etc. it makes the mangled fingers and sore knees worth it.

03-06-2003, 04:25 PM	#13
DiMaggio5CF All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 921	I agree that catcher is the hardest position to play. You have to be solid defensively, blocking some tough balls in the dirt, you have to be able to see runners trying to steal and be able to throw them out, you have to call a large portion of the game, and you have to do all of it in the heat wearing all of that gear. And you can't take a break, because you are a significant part of every play. And you have to do all of that, all while doing your part with the bat and on the basepaths. And in the dugout, you have to be a mediator. You have to communicate well with your pitchers. As far as my favorite position, it's first base, because I played that from the time I was 6 until I was 18. First base is easy to play, but it's not easy to play well. I also played third base, left field, and right field. The infield is also tough, but your skills pretty much dictate where you play, so you don't have to be as well-rounded as you do to play catcher. If you're fast, you can play middle infield, and if you're quick with good reactions, you can play third. Pitching is also very very tough because the game rests on your shoulders, but it's very one-dimentional. You worry about pitching, but hitting and defense is not really your concern. So I'd have to say that catcher is the toughest position to play.

03-07-2003, 11:29 AM	#14
Total Nirvana All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 750	doggy sty... opps, wrong thread __________________ Total Hockey Commissioner Your Off-Topic Nightmare. Free Agent OT Player - Plays 1B/3B/OF, hits for power on all fields, great fielder, can hit .330 a season!

03-07-2003, 12:24 PM	#15
Geiiga Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 195	I don't know. Being left-handed and short, I was only allowed in the infield to pitch or play third base when I was the only one able to throw the ball across the infield. I gotta say, as a lefty, anywhere in the infield is the hardest position. __________________

03-07-2003, 02:22 PM	#16
Rizon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SF Area, California Total Posts: 531,691 Posts: 2,369	I played every position in a GAME, except catcher. I did a little catching in practice, and hell yeah, thats the hardest. All that friggin gear, and playing in the summer heat here in California, sweating like a pig all over myself. Definately catcher. __________________ JML MILKSHAKES

03-07-2003, 07:58 PM	#17
Rowleyball Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 265	Yep, catcher has got to be the toughest. Looks like a lot of you were like me, playing everything else except catcher. I didn't have the arm growing up. I played first a lot before high school, and that's pretty tough when your infielders can't throw the ball accurately. The infield defense on my teams used to be horrible (I wasn't any better, I was always wild with throws too). After a while I learned to scoop it pretty well, but it still was tough.

03-08-2003, 11:58 AM	#18
KcJockBoy Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 166	Catcher, but i wouldn't have played any other position if you payed me. Loved the part of being part of every play and big ol hefty boys coming down the 3b line thinking they was gonna take me out, trying to catch those pesky speedsters thinking nothing can stop them and then catching them napping and picking them off with a throw down to first. Wouldn't trade the feeling for anything. Frankie __________________ Asahi2-St.Louis Cardinals CBLR-St.Louis Cardinals

03-08-2003, 12:03 PM	#19
fantom1979 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 3,498	I played catcher, third, and center in high school and I thought third was most difficult. Catcher was easy to me, you are in the game every play. At third you might not get a ball for three innings and then all of a sudden a rocket down the line. __________________

03-08-2003, 09:00 PM	#20
Aussie Mark Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Downunder Posts: 489	As most replies have stated, the answer is catcher - no contest. I was versatile enough to play most positions for a reasonable number of games, and there's something about being behind the plate that makes you feel part of the game, every pitch. There's the physical toughness, mental concentration, calling the shots etc, and even at the end of the inning you don't get a "rest", because you're either batting, on deck, or putting on or taking off your catcher's gear. Nothing worse than being on deck with 2 out, the guy at bat gets out, then you have to get "dressed" again. I hated that. I especially enjoyed the interplay with the plate umpire. Questioning calls, smart comments, talking him into calling strikes etc. Lots of fun. __________________ Cheers Mark