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TOPIC: Postions |
| Anchor
June 4, 2020
3:44:21 PM
Entry #: 4292503
| 1B - Able to catch, not small.
2B - Weakest infield
SS - best infield and range
3B - Good arm, able to stop the ball. Doesn't need good range.
SS - Middle infield / rover - good range, and baseball IQ - pays attention
LF - Good at reading balls - doesn't need to be the fastest.
LC - fastest, best outfielder
RC - weakest outfielder?
RF - second weakest outfielder
Catcher - Only the most talented beer drinkers play here.
Is that about right? Thoughts? lol
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| Jets6400
June 5, 2020
12:50:56 AM
Entry #: 4292509
| The catcher was the best.
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| Birkey
June 5, 2020
7:28:13 AM
Entry #: 4292511
| I don’t agree with the evaluation of the second bagger position. They are usually the second best infielder on the team.
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| Nate_8
June 5, 2020
11:41:17 AM
Entry #: 4292513
| Don't get too caught up in roles. Like, don't put an otherwise serviceable outfielder at 1B just because he is tall.
My advice is always remember that outfield errors are multiple base errors, and infield errors are usually 1 base. I'll take a stacked outfield over a good player at 1B, 2B, or 3B.
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| robokill
June 5, 2020
1:16:17 PM
Entry #: 4292514
| I say the same with the exception of you need to have someone who can catch at first. If they are dropping balls on easy outs, it can add up quickly. Nothing worse than seeing a dropped ball easy out at first to come around and score.
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| Tuyuvu
June 5, 2020
4:11:15 PM
Entry #: 4292516
| I disagree with RC, I always think the two strongest outfielders should play in the middle. If you have strong players in LC and RC then the corners don't need as much range.
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| Local 1134
June 5, 2020
10:14:29 PM
Entry #: 4292521
| I like splitting your two best OF, putting them LF and RC.
Controversial opinion but I'd rather have an incompetent 3b than catcher, particularly if the overall skill level isn't that high. Catcher can make a lot of outs on popups, and having a consistent throw back to the pitcher helps both the pitcher and the defense. That and if the other teams knows the catcher can’t catch they can “steal” home relentlessly. Just have to put 3b very deep in the OF for their safety.
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| mdufault
June 6, 2020
12:01:47 PM
Entry #: 4292523
| Great question about how to set your defense. I thought I would chime in with some data to help figure out specifically HOW MUCH each of the positions matter.
The data below is from the Jays 2019 season. If you take every out recorded on defense (other than strikeouts) and assign the credit to the key player for that out, you get the out breakdown as follows.
The percentage is the market share of outs. The number is brackets is the comparison to the position that generates the most outs (to make it easier to compare)
1. SS = 18.2% (100)
2. 2B = 16.7% (92)
3. 3B = 13.4% (74)
4. CF = 12.9% (71)
5. RF = 10.7% (59)
6. LF = 10.0% (55)
7. 1B = 9.6% (53)
8. P = 5.6% (31)
9. C = 2.9% (16)
As some of you would expect, the up the middle players (2B, SS, CF) are among the most important positions. But what you probably didn't expect is the importance of 3B, which produces slightly more outs than CF. In fact, the 3 infield positions (2B/3B/SS) are the top 3 positions for producing outs on defense.
While this data is for the MLB, I suspect many of the patterns hold true in our league as well. 2B is likely much more important than some think (and close to SS), and the infield produces a lot of outs. If you think of the best defenses in our league, they often have the best infielders.
But if you are curious, the easy thing to do is just count what position makes how many outs each game, and that will likely help you tune your defense to put your best guys in the most important positions.
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| LB4LB
June 6, 2020
9:41:50 PM
Entry #: 4292525
| re: I'd rather have an incompetent 3 bagger than catcher
I agree. A lot of runs can be forfeit by having the worst player at catcher.
It's almost like there should be someone that is able to catch the ball at all positions. Maybe try that out
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| Wonguy
June 7, 2020
11:38:23 AM
Entry #: 4292527
| Your 2 best outfields in LC and LF. 2 best infielders are SS and 3B. 2B doesn’t have to be great at fielding grounders but a strong throw to turn DPs and yes a tall guy at first who can catch is very important. I would even say the infield is more important than the OF so if you are on the fence stack your infield a the majority of balls to the outfield are routine flies. Generally RC and RF dont get too much action and usually are weak and routine balls if they do come that way. A large majority of hits are bloopers or liners over the infield.
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| Sultan of the swing
June 8, 2020
1:57:40 PM
Entry #: 4292531
| The most important on the field is the first baseman, he is involved in more out than any other payer.
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| Redkel1
June 8, 2020
10:42:59 PM
Entry #: 4292536
| The life of a SS
Shortstops are reliable. You're consistent. You field grounder after grounder, day after day. The virtue of repetition is drilled into your skull. In a way, this makes you boring. You discover early in life the secret to success is logging the hours every day and slowly improving. But the often-tedious road to incremental improvement has an exciting destination. When you can make the tough play look easy, you can make the impossible possible. To use my musical background, Shortstops are cello players in cleats.
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| MI5
June 9, 2020
9:52:41 AM
Entry #: 4292539
| Brilliant assessment of the short stop.
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| bugatti
June 9, 2020
12:01:09 PM
Entry #: 4292540
| 3B
Third base is a reacting position. Fielding hard grounders and line drives is like being punched with the ball. All of the characteristics that make someone a good boxer—light feet, quick hands, lack of concern for your well-being—also make you a good third baseman. But like most lunks, the third baseman has a big heart, which is why you're also the most reliable guy on the team—on the field and off. No statistics back this up, but if a stranger ever helped you change a tire or returned your wallet after you lost it, odds are he was a third baseman.
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| Yarbs22
June 9, 2020
1:12:26 PM
Entry #: 4292542
| Not much happens in right field. Most people assume you have a cannon arm.
All the time you spend standing around in the outfield gives you the freedom to contemplate life's many mysteries—like
Did that beer help me?
Why are we here?
Why did I get out?
Is it coming to me?
How come some guys catch the ball?
It's hard to tell unless people get to know you, but the right fielder is the team philosopher. He's the person who doesn't say much, but when he does, it's inspirational, hilarious or deep.
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| JAG 28
June 9, 2020
4:53:20 PM
Entry #: 4292549
| Strength up the centre (excluding catcher) LC,RC, SS, 2nd.
But, most important is the Pitcher.
Slopitch is about scoring runs and if you have a pitcher who can "read" the hitters , knows what to do (and can do it) - he can save you a lot of runs and the game.
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| Dublinxx
June 10, 2020
1:47:16 PM
Entry #: 4293560
| Pitcher
You are simultaneously the most serious and the goofiest guy on the team. You're serious on game day because you play the most demanding position on the field.
Except for a quarterback, the pitcher is the most important player in team sports. Think about it. If you are an amazing pitcher surrounded by eight Neanderthals, you still have a shot at winning. But put a weak-armed Neanderthal on the mound, and you're probably going to lose, even if the pitcher is surrounded by eight all-stars.
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| Empress Ruler
June 10, 2020
5:17:24 PM
Entry #: 4293564
| I've played on, coached and covered a loads of baseball teams, and the position you play says at least a little something about you. I really have enjoyed this reading.
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| Faux
June 11, 2020
8:25:03 AM
Entry #: 4293571
| The RF description is fantastic and accurate.
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| RRForever
June 11, 2020
5:14:12 PM
Entry #: 4293587
| If you’re into regular action, first base may just be for you. Every single runner goes through you, meaning either you’ll be responsible for making frequent tags at base or you’ll be grabbing fair balls and linking up with the pitcher (who will sometimes be responsible for covering your base when you have to run off it.)
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| 4545PB
June 12, 2020
11:30:50 AM
Entry #: 4293592
| If you want to play at shortstop, you’d better be ready for it. At first glance, it may seem like shortstop is nothing more than an extra second base, positioned between second and third. But the differences in play style and needed ability make shortstop the hardest infield position there is, often thought of as the key fielding position.
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| Rassie
June 12, 2020
5:04:50 PM
Entry #: 4293598
| The Third Baseman has to have quick reflexes. With 80% of people being right-handed, a lot of hits are hooked down the third base-line. Quite frequently, you could have line drives heading right towards you. So, you should be able to handle hard hits and be a quick decision maker. You often have to decide whether it’s better to throw to second base or to first base, on a dime. This guy is the ultimate athlete.
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| Cashman
June 14, 2020
2:35:30 PM
Entry #: 4293606
| My rankings with the most important first would be
SS, CF, 3B, LF, 1B, 2B, RF, P, C
That's assuming you can find a poor defender who can pitch of course. The importance really isn't there though, because many of the plays they can make can be covered by other infielders.
I prefer a traditional rover to an extra outfielder, but skill-wise it's a weird position...if you have the skill players, I'd put it at 1st or second position, because a smart player can make a lot of plays by putting themselves
in the right spot. But if you don't, it's also a place you can hide someone, because good fielder's can cover a weak player there as well.
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| Peatsum
June 15, 2020
6:24:59 AM
Entry #: 4293616
| While strikeouts are common in fast pitch softball and baseball, they are very rare in slow pitch. Most pitches are put in play by the hitter, and it is up to the defense to either catch the softball or throw to a base and force the runner out. So a pitcher who throws strikes and spots the ball is the key to run reduction.
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| Blumpkin
June 15, 2020
1:56:54 PM
Entry #: 4293625
| Field your weakest defensive player at catcher.
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| Azzuri
June 15, 2020
7:29:30 PM
Entry #: 4293630
| Place a weak defensive player in right field. Most hitters are right-handed, and are able to turn on the pitch and pull the ball to left field in slow pitch softball. Right fielders are typically not involved in as many plays as the three other outfielders, so it is a good spot for a weaker fielder.
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| Duchy
June 16, 2020
10:31:07 PM
Entry #: 4294669
| The first baseman is the most involved defensive player in the game in regards to playing action other than the pitcher.
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| daump
June 19, 2020
12:30:26 AM
Entry #: 4294692
| Just because you can, doesnt mean you should. Markham has been given the go to reopen into Stage 2, but this area is so big, that it's best to continue social distancing. Wear your mask when you're out, stop hanging out in large groups unnecessarily.
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| uarms
June 19, 2020
8:41:13 AM
Entry #: 4294693
| When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control how you respond to what’s happening. That’s where your power lies.
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| Moulton
June 21, 2020
7:16:37 PM
Entry #: 4295708
| We just have to sit back and trust the government.
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| Eau55
June 22, 2020
7:01:07 AM
Entry #: 4295710
| Realized today I'm one big athletic fraud.
A old lazy wine drinking slob trying to get out of a thin body.
At least I get to taste copious amount of wine.
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| Tuyuvu
June 22, 2020
1:29:06 PM
Entry #: 4295713
| what are the chances of playing this summer
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| Birkey
June 23, 2020
7:19:37 AM
Entry #: 4295726
| Some kids and adults leagues may have canceled already. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
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| silverfox
June 24, 2020
4:57:17 AM
Entry #: 4295741
| Sports:
*projected
7/24 MLB begins
7/30 NHL begins
7/31 NBA begins
8/6-9 PGA Championship
8/23 UEFA Final
8/24 US Open tennis Rd1
9/10 NFL opener
9/15 Stanley Cup Final Gm1*
9/17-20 US Open
9/31 NBA Finals Gm1*
10/21 World Series Gm1*
11/12-15 Masters
So wear your mask!
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| Rassie
June 25, 2020
2:31:43 PM
Entry #: 4295757
| The next few months will be good for us sports fans.
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| Jets6400
June 28, 2020
5:02:01 PM
Entry #: 4296775
| When the season starts...: make sure you stay hydrated, sanitized, and happy.
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| MI5
June 28, 2020
11:46:10 PM
Entry #: 4296779
| What is general approach for positioning of standing in the batter's box?
I am shorter and have historically stood near back of mat.
Starting to think that moving forward would not be the worst idea. Reason for this is when I generally pop up a pitch it is of the shorter variety.
Thoughts?
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| Azzuri
June 29, 2020
3:50:57 PM
Entry #: 4297787
| I stand in front of the box, my back foot is almost even with the front of the plate. I find most pitchers try to hit the front of the plate. Little shorties. When they go deep I take the pitch if they constantly go deep I move back a little, then go hacking.
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| Hellenistic
June 29, 2020
9:20:10 PM
Entry #: 4297791
| I've only encountered a few pitchers who were actually able to match me up on where I stood.
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| yaya
June 30, 2020
4:39:17 PM
Entry #: 4297810
| You must be really a special player.
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| Eau55
July 2, 2020
6:28:35 AM
Entry #: 4297825
| Things learned in the past three months
Family first
You are not your job
Don't respond to negativity
Keep in touch with friends
Be honest
Be kind
Forgive first
Drink water
Eat less sugar
Be humble
Exercise daily
Know when to leave
Missed playing games
Don't nitpick
Learn to learn
Laugh more
Write more
Clean up ball bag
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| MBA98
July 5, 2020
6:46:19 PM
Entry #: 4297854
| This is what I will take away from this pandemic. There is only one person who could ever make you happy and that person is you.
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| Goldglover1
July 6, 2020
8:39:20 PM
Entry #: 4297883
| This is my statement about the start date of the season.
I don't know
U don't know
He don't know
She don't know
We all don't know
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| Blumpkin
July 11, 2020
8:54:47 AM
Entry #: 4298940
| Provincial Social Services (welfare payments) is proud to be distributing this year the greatest amount of free money ever . Meanwhile, the Parks Branch,
asks us "Please Do Not Feed the Animals." The stated reason for this policy is because "The animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves."
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