2007-07-25 04:50:53 · 10 answers · asked by Fuze M 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
You would leave too much of a hole between the first and second basemen.
You can shift on a lefty because you don't need the 3rd baseman to play the base like you do the first baseman.
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2007-07-25 04:53:51 · answer #1 · answered by Kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, you do.
Dave Kingman, a power hitting right handed 1b and outfielder from the 1970s and 1980s, often had the shift put on. There have been others as well, but it is certainly much more rare.
The reason is because you need the first baseman to cover the bag on any grounder, so he can't be shifted too far off the bag, which leaves way too big a hole on the right side of the infield, even for a shift.
Dave Kingman would sometimes just bunt the ball when the shift was employed because the first baseman was caught in no man's land.
2007-07-25 12:01:51 · answer #2 · answered by h_charles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WOW that is a good question. Never really thought of that. Could that most good hitters are mostly lefty. The shift started with Ted Williams left handed. Barry Bonds, David Ortiz, Wade Boggs, and George Brett are few that comes to mind that are or were strong left handed batters. It might have to do with there is moreright handed people then left handed. Another thing when Nomar won his batting titles he was the first right handed person in awhile.
2007-07-25 12:10:58 · answer #3 · answered by SECRET DESTROYER 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well...I could see a semi-shift being put on but that would open a huge hole between the first and second baseman if you play the second baseman behind second...you can't really move the first baseman too far over because...well...when he grounds the ball to someone you need somebody at first to throw to.
2007-07-25 11:55:00 · answer #4 · answered by JT-24 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Question! I think it maybe because right handed hitters are or have the tendency to be more of a pull hitter, that will pull the ball down the line. Where lefties also have that couple of steps closer to the base.
2007-07-25 12:01:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
first baseman kind of has to be there to get a throw on a ground ball to the left side
2007-07-25 11:53:42 · answer #6 · answered by BOSTONboy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the 1st baseman needs to be close to first base in case of a groundball
2007-07-25 12:06:49 · answer #7 · answered by Victor A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think because if they did they will be a big hole in the infeild preferrablyin between shortand second base
2007-07-25 11:55:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
first baseman needs to stay on first.
2007-07-25 13:00:22 · answer #9 · answered by popular_bond 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because people make to much of left handed hitters. when in fact the numbers say other wise.
2007-07-25 11:59:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋