LF, RF - 2 plays per game
CF - 3 plays
3B - 2-3 plays, I forget
SS, 2B - 5 plays per game
Question being how many 'marginal' chances are there -- how many balls into the gap are there, every game, that one left fielder MIGHT get to, that another player might not. I've often maintained, watching from the 3rd deck, that in MANY (maybe most) games there are NO marginal chances for ANY outfielder. So I suspect that the number of extra catches, that any corner outfielder makes, is smaller than people think it is.
Watch your next game and notice that, from the left fielder's point of view, he catches two lazy fly balls, and throws in two ground-ball hits that went through the infield.
... I don't say that speed in the outfield means nothing, of course. I love speed in the outfield. I just don't think that, in LF and RF, it's as MUCH of a factor as people say it is. Baseball history has a lot of Barry Bondses and Ted Williamses in left, and not many Endy Chavezes.
If Michael Bourn could take away 1 hit every 3-game series with his legs in LF, then everybody would have a fast LF.
Add new comment
1