Lefty Catchers? Interesting article in NYT

I've always thought that a Lefty Catcher would have advantages. Having watched a few in the youth leagues, it seems they have the best approach to play a bunt. A righty often has to turn to throw to first.

The biggest advantage is that the glove is already to the outer part of the plate with a righty batting. Since most batters it seems are hitting from the right side, pitchers can eat up the outside corner and be assured that the catcher does not have to reach across his body. This really pays off on a sharp breaking ball in the dirt from a righty.

The throw to second is comparable once the middle infielders get used to seeing the ball.

The two biggest points I have noticed are that 1) a lefty catcher has better control of the mitt and 2) for some reason Leftys are easily coachable and retain knowledge.

The biggest prize in baseball may one day be a switch hitting lefty catcher.

Lefty catchers are harder to steal third on because of the setup is just to move your foot back. I did some catching in H.S. and being left handed it was an easy throw to the 1st base side of second base because it was natural arm angle. The worst problem was the infielders had to get used to a different on the ball.

There aren't any lefthanded catchers in the upper levels of ball. That fact by itself ensures that lefthanders are actively discouraged as they become teenagers, simply because it doesn't look right.

Here's a quote I recall from a few years ago, when a high end travel team was discussing which catcher on the team was the best. A holdover coach from the previous year's edition of the team pointed out that the best catcher wasn't being used at that position. The head coach said, "I know he's the best, but there's no way we'll use a lefthanded catcher at a national tournament!"

Reviving this thread, as it may be the last frontier of MLB.  This weekend, my son and I were trying to logically think this through with the following arguments, and counter arguments during a ball game:

 

1) There are more right handed hitters so the catcher would get jammed on pitches on the outside corner to a righty.  I'm not buying it.  It seems most MLB teams have the same amount of lefty and righty hitters these days.  It is a wash.

 

2) Umpires are not used to it, so they would have to adjust.  Teams would be afraid of not getting calls.   Umpires are perceived as traditionalists. I'm buying that as a potential reason but not entirely sold on that idea. 

 

3) Pitchers are not used to hitting a target that is setup differently for breaking pitches.  Pitchers are prima donnas, and don't like change.  I'm buying that as a potential reason but not entirely sold on that idea. 

 

What are the possible reasons you can come up with?  If the left handed catcher can hit, and deserves to be on the field.....why not play him?

 

I sort of read a book last year on the economics of baseball that had a chapter on left handed catchers.  I didn't read it closely because I thought the author wasn't a particularly skilled writer.  However, if I recall correctly, the author examined all the various theories in turn, found each of them unpersuasive, and concluded that an important reason for the lack of left handed catchers is their value at other positions.

the only argument that i will lend any value to is the one Swamp just stated.  My oldest and youngest are lefty's.  Both love catching.  The oldest would have been the heir apparent behind the dish his Soph yr except the HC loved his OF defense and liked him as a pitcher.  He still loves to get behind the dish.  He jumped in with a throw together team for a tourny last summer and he caught 4 games, threw out all base stealers except one....it was like he was at fantasy camp....lol.  I have found that it is more of a mind set of HS coaches that they think it is taboo to let a lefty catch, no matter how good they may be..that and catchers are a low priority for them

It's not just that the catcher would get jammed on outside pitches.  It's that a LH catcher throwing down to 2b on a steal has to clear further away from the RH hitter because his throwing arm is on that side.  The ratio of RH hitters in MLB is still approximately 2/3 including taking into account the AB's of switch hitters.

Also, a LH catcher is at a disadvantage on a sweep tag at the plate.  He would usually have to put his body in harm's way to make the tag as opposed to having the option of the sweep.

Sorry, it's late and I didn't read the article - don't know if that is covered.

I noticed a few NCAA Softball World Series catchers are left handed.  I understand the arguments and counter-arguments but I'm still not persuaded these are good enough reasons if I have a left handed catcher that can rake and call a game.  I think it has more to do with baseball's (high school to pros) modus operandi and unwillingness to try something different. 

Here's an article on the subject that my father wrote a while back. The game will decide when lefty catchers can't be behind the plate any longer, but the reasons for it are baseless and dated. http://www.catchingcamp.com/bl...rit-just-aint-right/

 

Lefty approach to the tag play at home plate (it's a softball demo, yes, but in the game of softball being a lefty is looked at as an advantage not a defect and the video a good demonstration of what the proper approach looks like) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9hgDJKL0M

Good stuff CCJR!  Looks like the girls have figured it out.

Not to hijack the thread, but another question about catching that I have is, why is there a size bias where catching is concerned?  What is considered the optimal size for a catcher in D1, D2 or D3?  Is it more important that a catcher have a good pop time to control the running game and call pitches well or is size more important in college?

To me, the lefty catcher has a disadvantage throwing to third; on the bunt and, most importantly, the steal.  As a catcher moves forward into the throw, throwing across the body is easier; as it is for the third baseman charging the ground ball. 

 

I agree the lefty softball catcher may be PREFERABLE; mainly because there are more throws to first then to third!

I agree that baseball has dictated that a lefty is more valuable at other positions and ultimately lefty catchers have been discouraged.  However, I think the righty still has the slight advantage if the skill level is equal (arm strength + accuracy of throws) and it would take a special lefty to overcome one obstacle that will not change in the game...more right handed batters.

 

I know lefty catchers are seen more in softball, but my opinion is that the lack of a running game due to the nature of the game allows more flexibility to have a lefty catcher.

 

I still believe that the lefty is at a disadvantage in baseball throwing to 2nd base with all skills being equal (arm strength + accuracy) as it is a fact there are more right handed than left handed batters.  A right handed catcher still has challenges throwing to 2nd base at times with a right handed batter drifting toward home plate (even with their back to the batter). A lefty is going to see that on the majority of throws even if the batter is not drifting.  It is just going to happen with the lefty facing the right handed batter in a relatively tight space around home plate.  Trying to gain a little more clearance is going to be a challenge using slightly different footwork especially as the pitch arrives at different locations.  This could potentially result in a loss of valuable 100th's of a second.

 

Secondly, I think the footwork for a throw on a 3rd base steal attempt (or on a blocked ball) is much easier for a righty. Either sliding behind the right handed batter or throwing in front (if that lane is open) is more efficient for the righty as their lead foot (left) does not need to cross over their back foot during any of the potential footwork sequences. A lefty has to always get their lead foot (right) positioned toward 3rd base on every throw which is not simple footwork especially if you have to throw behind the right handed batter.  A little easier if have a lane to throw in front of right handed batter.

 

Thirdly, I like the video of the left handed tags/blocks of the plate, but most of the views are with the catcher already having the ball and going down for the tag or block/tag.  That is the easy part.  Catching a ball from right field and applying the tag/block has definite advantages as a righty catcher if they need to come back hard at the plate (if ball is up RF line slightly). Rather have that ball in that lead, left glove hand of a righty protecting the impact along with the right throwing hand keeping it secure versus the bare left, throwing hand/arm (even though hand in the pocket of the glove) leading the way if a lefty.

 

Lastly, the righty catcher has an advantage on outside pitches to a right handed batter in that they can position themselves if the ball tails outside to give the umpire a better view. That is, drop left knee subtly inward to ground as the left hand moves to receive the ball.  This provides an unobstructed angle for the umpire over the left shoulder of the catcher to see that outside pitch/frame. Tough for lefty and in general the angle is not as good to look over right shoulder of catcher on that outside pitch especially if tails that way.  

 

With that said, I think a lefty catcher can take their game to the same level of a righty, but it is going to take the right, lefty catcher  to get all the footwork nusiances and movements perfect to overcome one obstacle that is not going to ever change.....more right than left handed batters.