Who to start?

If skills are the same, I would think the older player will have more baseball knowledge....So in our defensive scheme the 3rd baseman has less responsiblities....so I would put the younger player at 3rd.

I'd look at from the other side of the coin. Look at the players instead of the position. Use practice drills, simulations etc to determine which kid is the strongest at either position; play him there and the other one gets the other job. Do everything you can to identify a strength... if they really are truly equal... well this coaching stuff would be a lot easier if we knew where they were going to hit the ball wouldn't it?

Better take in consideration the mental capacity of both and I don't just mean if they are smart. Will the 8th grader buckle under the pressure of playing Varsity?

Who can position you best to win? What if the younger one has better background in competitive situations?

This may sound too simple but I always felt you play the best 9 that you have---and do not worry about hurting feelings

Give them both time at both posistions and see if one scenario works better than the other for the team. Usually over a period of time players end up making these decisons for you if you let them. Good luck

They are BOTH going to play TR... he's just pondering positions in a "all things being equal" world.

All things are never equal

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
Give them both time at both posistions and see if one scenario works better than the other for the team. Usually over a period of time players end up making these decisons for you if you let them. Good luck

Agree. It usually will sort out by itself.

So having actually read the post, I'll answer the post. In the short term you'd probably want to put the soph at third. Despite 1b seeing more action, there tends to be more pressure at third. Looking at the long run and given equal skill sets I'd put the 8th grader at third because eventually he's most likely going to be the better player and you might as well start developing him at a harder to fill position now. Juggling both I'd recommend going with the 8th grader at 3rd. JMO and considering equal skill sets and that both will be playing it doesn't really matter much does it?

TR,
They are both in the best 9. The question is which one at first and which one at third.

Good info. They both are in the best nine and 8th graders playing varsity is common place around here. We have finished first in district and second once in my five years here. Every year i've had at least one eigth grader starting. I know what i'm going to do (i think), i just wanted some input on what you guys thought, Thanks.

I've never thought the idea that you could hide a weak glove at 1B was even close to true. That being said, and even as the father of a 1B type, I have to say I agree with CADad that 3B is one of the toughest positions on the field. In addition to the fielding skills required, game awareness is a big thing.

I would tend to put the more experienced player there, on the assumption that he would recognize and react more quickly due to his additional experience. But I also agree that trying them both in both positions makes sense. That's what preseason scrimmages are for. Assumptions are basically just educated guesses, but you never really know until you see how it works in real life.

One other thing to consider...at smaller high schools a large majority of hitters are right handed (this seems less true at bigger schools, but still more than half are righties). So, to me it's more likely that if a ball is absolutely crushed it will be to the third baseman rather than the first baseman. Even if the players are the same talent wise, that soph has probably had a little more experience and hopefully won't be as intimidated to hang in there on a rocket coming his way.

From my experience I have found that you cannot hide a weak glove anywhere in the infield

TR I agree, but we try to hide inexperience at third. Our third baseman in not involved in cuts/relays, fewer baserunners reach third, fewer pick-off attempts, etc. Also, we added up balls hit to third base over 4 seasons and he had the fewest ball hit his way (tied with right field).

He just has to have that tough, goilie type attitude and wear one if need be. The ball must not get by him. If we can find that kind of player we feel like we can be good. With our scheme, 3B does not have to be a player that will win the game for us....he just has to be one that will not lose the game for us.