Hardest Position?

Question

What do you think the hardest position in baseball is to play? And Why?

Answer 1

Definitely catcher... a previous answer outlined many of the reasons, and did a good job of it.

One other thing I would add is that, not only is catcher the hardest position to play from a purely physical standpoint, but it's obviously the most difficult position to play in terms of the defensive skills required to play the position.

This is bourne out by the fact that no player at any other position can adequately substitute for a catcher defensively. Outfielders can sometimes switch around, third baseman sometimes play short or second, or even first, catchers have been known to play outfield, first and third... but nobody ever just steps in there from another position and takes over at catcher. It's probably the only position on the field that can not be learned at the major league level (i.e. by a player coming from another position). You either come up as a catcher, or you don't...

Players can learn how to play all of the other positions while at the major league level..that's been done throughout history... but nobody goes from playing another position to being a catcher at the major league level.

Answer 2

The catcher is the hardest position. Only one catcher in the history of baseball has led the league in hitting. Imagine sitting in a squat for two to three hours a day. then add a guy throwing 75 to 90 miles a hour. now add a guy partially blocking you view swing a bat in front of you.Catcher is also the only position that can be run over by the other team.Take a look at the times a catcher gets a ball off his arms , legs or mask. They call the protection he wears the "tools of ignorance" for a reason.A catcher has to be a cheer leader, field general and a manager all at the same time. Then he has to pay attention to every detail of the game. If he loses his attention he could get hurt or give up a easy run.Hats off to all catchers

Answer 3

Without a doubt catcher is the hardest position to play particularly day in and day out as it's so physically demanding. You have to wear all the equipment, call the pitches and squat for 9 innings getting beat up with fouled off pitches, pitches that bounce in the dirt and an occasional bat upside the head. Also there is the play at the plate with a collision which also wears on your body.

Answer 4

I'll have to go with a majority of these answers and say cather as well.

Here are my reasons why:

1. He has to know the tendencies of EVERY batter on the other team, and has to set up the pitches to where the batter is least likely to get a base hit.

2. He has to deal with the ball being thrown at speed of around 90 mph on EVERY pitch. Hey, you try to stop an object being hurled at you at 90 mph over 100 times.

3. The constant bending and physical stress the catcher puts on his knees over and over and over again.

4. The occurance of having a runner coming at you at top speed trying to knock the ball out of your hand(s), and being hit similar to a car with the force of over 1,000 lbs behind the runner.

5. Getting hit in the mask/face/throwing hand off a foul ball.

6. Having to make an accurate throw of 120 feet (40 yards) when a runner tries to steal second. Hey, try to accurately throw a football 40 yards. How many of us can do that at least 70% of the time?

7. Having to calm down your pitcher when he becomes erratic. Imagine a young Pudge Rodriguez trying to calm down Nolan Ryan early in his career. Talk about pressure. Basically, you have to be part psychologist with your pitching staff. Plus, what if your pitcher doesn't speak English (or Spanish) very well? Somehow, the catcher has to find a way to break through the communication barrier.

Those are my reasons for saying that catcher has to be the hardest position in all of baseball.

Answer 5

the hardest positions in baseball would have to be the pitcher and catcher they are the most important and all the pressure comes to them it there job to make sure the batter strikes or the person stealing is out and thats y it so hard

Answer 6

I asked my cousin-in-law to answer this. She played softball in high school. (yes, softball isn't baseball, but bear with her) Here's her answer:

"Pitcher. There is so much pressure at that position that it makes you crazy. All eyes are on you every single inning. If you do something good, you're a hero. If you make a mistake, you're a letdown. My old high school had one of the two best softball teams in our district, and we had to beat our rival school or else. It was so much pressure that I got distracted from my studies and began to slip. I even dreamed about it. I finally said I'd had enough and quit so I could get back to what was important, my education and my sanity (lol).

Answer 7

Catcher. He's the field leader, has to set the defense, call the game, still hit and take a beating for 2-5 hours a night.

Answer 8

It's a toss up for me between catcher and ss. Catching for the wear and tear on the knees, not to mention all the times they get whacked in the face by a stray ball.

ss because of the range you have to have in the field.

Either way, they all make an insane amount of money.

Answer 9

Catcher- ya haffta know the signs, and the knees take a beating w/ the chest
Also at times center field, due to the sun and the dimensions of the ballpark

Answer 10

Either Pitcher Or Catcher