Is the third base man the most powerful on the infeild?

Question

The third base man has to be able to throw from 3rd to 1st

Answer 1

Define powerful.... the best arm is usually the SS or the Catcher. Power hitting is usually 1B or 3B.......

Answer 2

A third baseman needs a strong arm to be able to make the throw from 3rd to first. A good corner outfielder will usually have an even stronger arm though. A good centerfielder can have a great arm, but speed is more important, in order to cover a bigger territory than any other player on the field.

A throw from 3B to 1B is a little over 127' (127.27922). That's the longest throw he'll have to make, save for a few from foul territory.

Let's look at this from a rightfielder's perspective. A throw of that distance (1B to 3B), from right on the foul line in rightfield to 1B is a throw that begins approximately 217' down the foul line. Now, that's pretty shallow. Even so, from that point on the line, he has the already mentioned 127' throw to first, a throw of just over 155' to second (155.65667), a 217' throw to home, and a throw of almost 235' to third (234.92339). The closest throw is the throw he'll make the least. Again, that's in shallow RF on the line.

Let's put him at the wall of a minimum sized field of 325'. So to 1B is 235', to 2B is 251', to home is 325', and to 3B is 337'. Now, granted, not every throw is from right down the line, and often they'll hit a cutoff man. But the best outfielders can hit 3B or home on a bounce, and sometimes even on the fly. A 3B isn't always throwing from dead on 3B to 1B either. He makes many throws to 2B, and fields many balls a few feet towards first, rather than right on the bag.

A 3B probably makes more throws to 1B than an outfielder does on the fly to his farthest targets, but I'd say the most common throw for an outfielder is on a ball fielded out near the wall that he then throws to a middle infielder. That throw is going to be farther than the 3B fielder's 127' to first.

So a 3B usually has a great arm, and a better arm that the other infielders, but a good outfielder is going to have/need an even stronger arm.

Of course, that still makes the strongest arm in the infield. I'd also say that the catcher needs just as strong an arm though. The 3B just makes those throws more often.

Answer 3

I'm assuming you are talking about arm strength. If that's the case then the position that consistently must make the longest throw is the SS.
Though it may look further on paper the third basemen is usually playing in for a variety of reasons (speedy hitter, bunt possibility, assist SS by cutting off grounders in the hole) the only time he'll play back is to cut down on an extra base hit.
The SS is consisently deep and only moves in when there needs to be a play at the plate. Though a third basemen needs a strong arm he has more time to make his throws and is usually closer to his target.

Answer 4

I have played all the positions. So I can say the third baseman needs the strongest arm and gets the ball hit at him most often and hard. The shorstop has to do the most actions, since his deep positions forces him to come in on almost every ball hit at him rather than staying in place.
He has a long throw also and needs a quick release. The first baseman's biggest problem is thrown balls that don't quite reach him, and how infrequently he has to throw the ball. The second baseman has a short throw, but a great deal of territory to cover; and he has oncoming runners bearing down on him when he relays the ball during a double play, needing to be watched out for.

Frankly all four positions are difficult; but the third baseman's long throw is the hardest single feat of all four,
unless it's charging a bunt at third and throwing off the right foot, which is the next hardest.

Answer 5

The best arm has to come from the shortstop position. When the shortstop goes into the hole on the third base side, to field a ground ball, it takes a gun to be able to throw out a fast runner and it is a longer and harder throw to make than any possible play a third baseman would have to make. Many more throws from the shortstop position have to be made in an awkward off balance position and they still have to have some "zip" on the throw or they won't get the runner.

Answer 6

If you look at where the SS goes into the hole to make some of his plays, you'll see that the throw from there is longer than anything the 3B has to make.

However, the 3B needs to have quick reactions, because the ball can get to his position VERY quickly, and if it gets past him down the line, it's often a double.

SS is considered the most difficult position to field, because it requires speed, judgement, a strong accurate arm, and the ability to make the double play.

Answer 7

The longest infield throw is backhanded down the line behind the bag.The SS doesn,t ever throw from even the third baseman's position.Dexterity is important at SS.Ozzie Smith--best SS ever--not powerful,but explosive.Scott Rolen--powerful.Some of you guys need to look at a picture of a baseball diamond!LOL!

Answer 8

It all depends..On some teams the 3B has the strongest arm and on some teams the best arm comes from behind the plate....the catcher throw a rocket to second on a regular basis....when It comes to reaction time..bolt have cat like reflexes....the shortstop can jump..and run..he is no slug but I think that the award has to go to either the catcher or 3B..I lean In favor of the catcher

Answer 9

Short Stop is the hardest position because it gets the most action but it is a much harder throw from third

Answer 10

Wel..Brandon Inge is ours...they have to have a good arm for sure...now if only that bat would start swinging...lol!!