Hello all,I was just wondering what you think is the toughest/hardest position to play at the highschool level and why?
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Catcher, hands down
All teams need good pitchers. But without a really good catcher (difficult position to master), the pitchers will appear mediocre.
Agree - Catcher!
Play it a couple times and it will become self evident!
Play it a couple times and it will become self evident!
Catcher.
Real simple. Catchers normally get screwed and are expected to be able to do everything even though the coach provides them no time to practice those skills.
The catcher is the leader on the field. He sees everything on the field; the only other position that could possibly come close to seeing it all is the centerfielder.
Real simple. Catchers normally get screwed and are expected to be able to do everything even though the coach provides them no time to practice those skills.
The catcher is the leader on the field. He sees everything on the field; the only other position that could possibly come close to seeing it all is the centerfielder.
Hitter.....usually fail more than 70% of the time
Third base is a pretty tough position also.
every position is tough if you are working at it to be the best
There are no easy positions in baseball
There are no easy positions in baseball
Catcher is the most physically demanding no doubt, but I believe shortstop take the most overall skill. Both are leaders in different ways.
I would agree all are important and difficult.
A catcher is to a pitcher as a first baseman is to infielders. A catcher and first baseman that are strong in their position can make the pitchers and infielders look good.
A catcher is to a pitcher as a first baseman is to infielders. A catcher and first baseman that are strong in their position can make the pitchers and infielders look good.
I gotta agree, catcher, BUT.... I am not impartial!! 
GED10DaD
GED10DaD
Catcher--toughest physically. Lots of effect on overall game. A walk or single is a triple if catcher can't throw. Past balls are extra bases and runs. Poorly caught balls make great pitches look out of the zone. A bad catcher can cost you alot of games.
Pitching also it can lose games even with a superior team.
Pitching also it can lose games even with a superior team.
Pither becasue if they do not do their job then nothing good can happen..Efverything starts with the pitch........but I like what TR said....every postion is tough if you are working at being the best
I have to go with catcher even though my son is a pitcher. I have never seen him have a good game on the mound with a bad catcher. But I have seen him have a good game when he didn't have his stuff when he had a great catcher.
The toughest position is having to sit on the bench.
quote:Originally posted by RJM:
The toughest position is having to sit on the bench.
Easily the best answer; bravo sir!
Seriously, gotta agree about the catcher answer. My oldest boy played SS in travel, catcher in HS as a soph and a junior and moved back to SS for his senior year. It sure seemed like he got a break that season. Another thing that I noticed, at least in our system, was that the catchers caught a lot of bullpens (obviously) but too often at the expense of BP. So they had less time to work on their offensive production.
ASSUMING that we are referring to just position players and assuming that we are dealing with players performing at a high level, catcher wins hands down. Especially as one moves up, the battle for the strike zone is tough enough, but almost impossible if the catcher doesn't do his job.
Guys its not even close. Take a look at the team huddle after every game. Who's uniform is dirty after every game? Who gets hit with a pitch every game? Sometimes several times. Who is on every play of every pitch in every game? The physical demand of catching far exceeds anyother posistion on the field. The mental demands far exceed anyother posistion on the field. Now you add in HS baseball. Look at some of the pitchers they have to catch. You can play an entire game at SS and not have one single ball hit your way. You can have a busy night and have 6 or 7 plays to make. A catcher makes a play on every single pitch of the game.
Its not even close. It is the toughest posistion to play not only in HS but at any level of the game. My son is now in college and he is a catcher. I asked him in the fall what the biggest difference in the game was for him. He said "Its so much easier catching these guys. Many times I never have to block a pitch. They rarely miss there spots and when they do if its supposed to be inside its just too far inside not way outside like in hs. And it so much easier to throw out runners. They work hard to hold runners and they get it to me much quicker."
Try catching in the summer when its 90 plus and your wearing all that gear. How many times do players come off the field and say "Man its hot out here." Dude put that gear on and have to work your butt off behind that dish on every pitch then come back and tell me something.
Pitcher would be my second choice. After that it would depend on the game and who gets the most action on a given day. Without a doubt catching is the toughest posistion to play.
Its not even close. It is the toughest posistion to play not only in HS but at any level of the game. My son is now in college and he is a catcher. I asked him in the fall what the biggest difference in the game was for him. He said "Its so much easier catching these guys. Many times I never have to block a pitch. They rarely miss there spots and when they do if its supposed to be inside its just too far inside not way outside like in hs. And it so much easier to throw out runners. They work hard to hold runners and they get it to me much quicker."
Try catching in the summer when its 90 plus and your wearing all that gear. How many times do players come off the field and say "Man its hot out here." Dude put that gear on and have to work your butt off behind that dish on every pitch then come back and tell me something.
Pitcher would be my second choice. After that it would depend on the game and who gets the most action on a given day. Without a doubt catching is the toughest posistion to play.
My son used to catch. One summer he lost ten percent of his body weight. His arms were so banged up from foul balls and wild pitches he didn't have any power left. Then there was the hitter who lost his balance and clocked him in the head with his backswing. I had told him from the beginning (9yo) he had too much speed to catch. After the season he got completely beat up he bought into the speed argument.
Yeah I think pitcher is a distant second to catcher. Every pitch for the pitcher starts out the same; his foot is on the rubber with plenty of time to get the grip he wants. The catcher; holy cow nothing is ever the same for this guy.
Aahhhh...an easy one. Catcher.
Simply put, coaches will rotate a catcher to a different position occasionally to give him a "break"....has anyone ever heard it done the other way around?
"Bobby, you been getting a few hard grounders hit to you at 3B in the past few games....tell you what, I'm gonna let you catch the next game to give you a break."
Simply put, coaches will rotate a catcher to a different position occasionally to give him a "break"....has anyone ever heard it done the other way around?
"Bobby, you been getting a few hard grounders hit to you at 3B in the past few games....tell you what, I'm gonna let you catch the next game to give you a break."
Pitcher's parent is by far the hardest position in High School Baseball. Especially in the last inning of tight games, when the winning run is in scoring position and the meat of the order is up. Bonus points if JR is a little wild.
JMOFF
Agree!
Agree!
This has never bothered me. From having played sports (corner in football, point guard in basketball and pitcher) I know some days you're the windshield and some days you're the bug. My son is a goalie in s****r, point guard in basketball until he gave it up and a pitcher. My daughter ran anchor in track. I can watch any game calmly.quote:Originally posted by JMoff:
Pitcher's parent is by far the hardest position in High School Baseball. Especially in the last inning of tight games, when the winning run is in scoring position and the meat of the order is up. Bonus points if JR is a little wild.
RJM - You're stronger than I am.
As a player, I always wanted the ball in the clutch situation and it never bothered me. As a parent, I have an empty, helpless feeling.
Especially with freshman son pitching for varsity on a team full of upper classmen.
As a player, I always wanted the ball in the clutch situation and it never bothered me. As a parent, I have an empty, helpless feeling.
Especially with freshman son pitching for varsity on a team full of upper classmen.
I just enjoy the game. The alternative is go insane. I believe my kids will succeed most of the time. Since neither can walk on water or turn water into wine I know there will be those down moments. My son had a "Lifesaver moment" last week. I had to think for a minute to remember what it was.
It would be hard for them to top what I once did. But my son came close last week. In college I gave up walk off homers in both ends of a doubleheader. My son got picked off as the potential tying run last week in a conference pennant race. I did mutter "Dumb ****." Then again, had he not kept the inning/game alive with a laser line drive, it wouldn't have been an issue.
The great thing about this game and being young, there's always tomorrow.
It would be hard for them to top what I once did. But my son came close last week. In college I gave up walk off homers in both ends of a doubleheader. My son got picked off as the potential tying run last week in a conference pennant race. I did mutter "Dumb ****." Then again, had he not kept the inning/game alive with a laser line drive, it wouldn't have been an issue.
The great thing about this game and being young, there's always tomorrow.
Catcher. If the ball gets behind the catcher, the game is over.
Catcher...we won a game the other day because of a bad catcher on the other team. He could not handle a pitcher who was killing us. Missing swinging third strikes...passed balls..no arm. We scored 3 runs without touching the ball.
quote:Originally posted by Coach May:
Guys its not even close. Take a look at the team huddle after every game. Who's uniform is dirty after every game? Who gets hit with a pitch every game? Sometimes several times. Who is on every play of every pitch in every game? The physical demand of catching far exceeds anyother posistion on the field. The mental demands far exceed anyother posistion on the field. Now you add in HS baseball. Look at some of the pitchers they have to catch. You can play an entire game at SS and not have one single ball hit your way. You can have a busy night and have 6 or 7 plays to make. A catcher makes a play on every single pitch of the game.
Its not even close. It is the toughest posistion to play not only in HS but at any level of the game. My son is now in college and he is a catcher. I asked him in the fall what the biggest difference in the game was for him. He said "Its so much easier catching these guys. Many times I never have to block a pitch. They rarely miss there spots and when they do if its supposed to be inside its just too far inside not way outside like in hs. And it so much easier to throw out runners. They work hard to hold runners and they get it to me much quicker."
Try catching in the summer when its 90 plus and your wearing all that gear. How many times do players come off the field and say "Man its hot out here." Dude put that gear on and have to work your butt off behind that dish on every pitch then come back and tell me something.
Pitcher would be my second choice. After that it would depend on the game and who gets the most action on a given day. Without a doubt catching is the toughest posistion to play.
I agree^^
Any position you play in high school is going to be hard. Pitcher- Have to be able to throw strikes and get ahead. If you have plus stuff then this job can be a little easier as long as you control it. Catcher- Have to be able to block and recieve very well to play at the varsity level. Being able to shut down a running game becomes big at this level also. 1st Base- Definately needs to be able to recieve throws of any kind due to most middle infielders not having above average throwing accuracy and arm strength. 2nd Base- Need to have average-to-good range. Don't need to have plus arm strength yet but it definately helps on double plays. SS- Needs to have excellent reange because at the high school level not many 3rd/2nd basemen have great range yet. Are usually the best athletes on the field and also need to have plus arm strength. 3rd Base- Needs to be a pretty decent athlete able to handle the hot corner and make the throw across your body on slow rollers. Usually have to be fairly quick.LF- Usually one of the stronger hitters on teams and are sometimes the more lesser athletic players on the field. Need to have decent range in the corner spot. CF- Need to have great range and excellent arm strength as these guys usually end up running the balls down in the gaps. Usually are fastest players and one of the best athletes. RF- Needs to have decent range but definately top quality arm strength in order to make the long throws to third. Just my opinion.