The other day, after IF Luis Guillorme pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning in a 16-4 blow out loss, Mets announcers mentioned two things about Dom Smith:
1) he'd love to pitch in a similar situation and claims to have an awesome pick off move
2) he has a lefty's catcher's mitt handy in case the Mets need a catcher in a pinch.
As a lefty hurler myself (of great renown from my stickball days at the Bellerose, Queens Braddock Park handball courts), I have wondered from time to time why there aren't lefty catchers.
First of all, below the pro level, I think not having lefty catchers is ridiculous, even (ahem!) discriminatory.
If a guy wants to catch as a lefty and isn't turning pro, what real difference does it make? It's just a game, after all.
Secondly, if I am Rawlings or another mitt manufacturer, why wouldn't I want to produce and promote the sales of lefty catchers' mitts? What a great idea to increase revenues.
Thirdly, pro baseball might frown upon it, for tradition and other reasons.
To the extent tradition is a factor, screw that, I cry out: "Lefties determine equal access! Power to the lefties!"
Mechanically, here are my thoughts on lefty catcher pros and cons:
PROS
a) throws behind the runner at first should be improved.
b) throws to first on bunts should provide better throwing angles.
NEUTRAL
a) throws on attempted steals of 2nd base should be essentially the same. Yes, there are more righty hitters than lefty hitters, probably 60-40, so lefty catchers would have to deal with righty hitters obstructing their throws more than righty catcher deal with lefty hitter obstruction, but the ratio difference is not excessive to make it a key factor.
CONS
a) throws to third on steal attempts with a righty there would be somewhat tougher, but I think it can be adjusted to largely,
b) tag outs at the plate. Sweep tags seem to be somewhat easier for righty catchers than lefty catchers, but I think with practice any such difference in tag speed would be negligible.
Seems balanced to me, pros vs. cons.
Are the cons so insurmountable as to make lefty catchers a ridiculous concept?
I think that if Jim Abbott could pitch while missing a hand, and still go 18-11 one year and fashion a no hitter, anything is possible as far as lefty catchers is concerned. A one hand pitcher is much bigger hurdle than lefty catcher would be.
After all, let's say you have a lefty catcher who hits great, throws 98, and is otherwise exceptional defensively and in calling a game, vs. a modest-hitting righty catcher who throws 90 and is an average catcher defensively.
Which would you pick?
I WOULDN'T HESITATE.
GIVE ME THAT LEFTY.
Tom-
ReplyDeleteI think the tag play at the plate swamps all other factors, pro or con. Only slightly reduced when the plate-blocking rules changed.
I remember reading why this is but can't remember what it was.
ReplyDeleteMaybe same theory why they cut off only certain arms in some followings...
Hobie, I think the tag play is fairly neutral, depending on where a lefty catcher would stand vs. a righty catcher.
ReplyDeleteI still don't see why the Rawlings of the world don't make lefty mitts. Last I checked, there are only about 500 pro catchers at any given point in time - but there are millions of lefties who, at an amateur or even at a collegiate level, would IMO be fine catching.
A top prospect lefty catcher might have to find another primary position - but I would think being able to catch in a pinch would be an asset.
Tom - here's an interesting quote from the last left-handed catcher, from 20 years ago:
ReplyDeleteDistefano offered two explanations. Bunts toward third base, he said, cause problems for left-handed catchers. In scampering to grab the ball, transferring it to their left hand and throwing to either first or second base, their bodies get closed and clumsy. Throws for right-handers are far more open and natural. But the primary problem Distefano encountered was with plays at home. Because his glove was on his right hand, every accurate throw to the runner's side of the plate would have to be reached for backhanded, impeding a quick tag. And on outfielder throws up the first-base line, reaching out with his right hand would leave his throwing shoulder wide open to the runner.
"If there's going to be a bang-bang play, the left-handed catcher's going to get hurt,” he said.
IDK. Personally, i think there are too many lefties everywhere you look. I'm in favor of a written rule banning Lefty catchers. Let's stand up for righties.
ReplyDeleteRDS 900, those are leftogynist thoughts LOL
ReplyDeleteDavid, I hear you, but again 99.99% of catchers don't make pro ball, so I don't see it as an issue where that 99.99% doesn't get the choice to live out their Yogi Berra dreams.