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How Baseball Is Rigged For Lefties

livescience.com — In the general public, about 10 percent of people are left-handed. In Major League Baseball, about 25 percent of players are lefties. Any serious fan knows some of the reasons why certain positions favor lefties, but David Peters has come up with a laundry list of reasons to explain this anomaly.

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  • holyreality, on 07/08/2008, -16/+2I'm ambidextrous.
  • EvilCan, on 07/08/2008, -2/+12I've always wondered why I only know a couple of lefties, and yet around half the pitchers in baseball are lefties.
    • mlbwebdesign, on 07/08/2008, -8/+4DID YOU REALLY???
      • EvilCan, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1YA I DID! YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
    • SolituSneiku, on 07/08/2008, -2/+0Yet ever catcher has to throw right hand
      • alphabetagaga, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Because if you are left handed and you can throw with any kind of velocity, you're immediately turned into a left-handed pitcher...
  • drizzlelicious, on 07/08/2008, -1/+18I'd think lefties have an advantage in numerous sports--their playing is more unique, and therefore difficult to deal with.
    • forcedfx, on 07/08/2008, -1/+9I'm lefty in hockey, baseball and golf but I do everything else righty. Playing hockey against my right handed friends was interesting. I think I had an advantage.
    • rblancarte, on 07/08/2008, -0/+7Not really. Just a quick list of the other big sports:
      Soccer - N/A
      Basketball - shooting is pretty hand-independent (though it can determine directions in which a person drives w/ the ball).
      Football - handed-ness would only apply to QBs, and in some way, lefties are a detriment (because you have to strengthen both sides of your offensive line to protect the QB blind side)
      Hockey - a lefty shooter might be difficult for defensemen. But if you play the puck and not the shot/shooter, then it might negate this.
      • imashmuck, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Shouldn't play the puck in hockey or you'll get deked out of your skates. Always take the man. I don't really see how being a lefty in hockey would really help you either unless you're coming off the wing with your stick in the middle of the ice instead of the side towards the boards. But, same thing with all the right handers.

        Just my two cents.
    • BOSyooper, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Tennis - Big advantage. All the slices and spins go the opposite direction of where opponents are used to. Slice serves go to right-handed opponent's backhand which is usually weakest. By the way, John McEnroe and Nadal are lefties.
    • eggsovereasy, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5It is an advantage in bowling as well. As the match continues the lane conditions deteriorate as the balls pick the oil up off the lane created a dry rut the ball rolls through. Odds are a lefty is the only left in the group playing so his oil lasts a lot longer (since the ball moves in a different track).
  • SQLserver, on 07/08/2008, -6/+9One day we left handed people WILL RULE THE WORLD!
    Then you'll see!
    • damonic, on 07/08/2008, -3/+10That's what they say about the other 10% group - gay people.
    • henrierose, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1we pretty much did with napoleon.. well atleast one of us did anyway
  • erichw1504, on 07/08/2008, -21/+13Lefties are smarter.

    I'm a lefty.

    Therfore, I am smart.
    • LoveWidescreen, on 07/08/2008, -1/+8Thanks a heap for making the rest of us lefties look bad. :P
    • PabloMac, on 07/08/2008, -1/+5You're not right.
  • Rudegar, on 07/08/2008, -10/+2wonder what fox news think about it :P
  • tman84, on 07/08/2008, -3/+26I wouldn't say rigged for lefties. It's more advantageous to be a left handed hitter because baseball was designed for righties. The article even says 10% of the population is left handed. Obviously baseball was designed around being a right handed person. So being a lefty will give you an advantage. it's not so much that its "rigged" and there is some conspiracy.
    • freebird09, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I agree. As a lefty and baseball player, lefties are restricted to a smaller number of positions; basically any outfield spot, 1st base, or pitcher, and pitching is really the only place where it factors in. Catching is ruled out like the article says, 3rd needs a righty so his glove is next to the line, and 2nd and short are no good because a lefty would have to do a 180 to spin a double play. Advantage? Yes. Rigged? Not really.
      • ccyr, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1A right-handed 3rd baseman would have his free hand next to the line, not his glove. 2B, SS, and 3B favor righties because the throw to 1st is more natural. Don't have to turn your body.
      • freebird09, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0meant to say hand, thanks for the catch.
    • BadAshe86, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3I'd say it's more likely the basketball is rigged for tall people.
  • pintomp3, on 07/08/2008, -2/+10first the media, now baseball.

    /sarcasm
  • davdev, on 07/08/2008, -2/+24The major problem for lefties though is they can't play an infield position besides 1st base. Throwing across the diamond from 2nd, short or 3rd is too awkward for a lefty.
    • jspegele, on 07/08/2008, -0/+9Which is exactly why 1st base is on the right side of the diamond. Looks like the game isn't rigged for lefty batters as the author suggests; it's rigged for right handed fielders.
      • chris006, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0never thought of that but it's true
    • haydentech, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2I knew a baseball coach who had a lefty shortstop and lefty 2nd baseman. He said it was the craziest thing he's even seen when they try to turn a double play.
  • drastik21, on 07/08/2008, -2/+6I bat lefty and throw righty, I been trying to bat righty all my life. Switch hitters FTW
    • sanosuke001, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I'm the same way. Never understood why, though.
    • chris006, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1i throw right and, until high school, hit right also. as a righty i had lots of doubles and home runs but a horrible average. i switched to lefty and batted .415 and led the league in OBP...

      that thing about being closer to first base and seeing the ball better is 100% true
  • Linkin4, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2Maybe it was like this so many years ago, but many lineups feature at least 4 lefties (including switch hitters) and a couple of starting lefties. There is still a short porch in many right fields, although there is always fenway to counter that.
    • RizzoFrank, on 07/08/2008, -1/+0fenway has a short porch in right field dumbass. the green monster is in left field which makes it harder for righties to hit a home run in that park.

      EDIT: ***** boston sports.
      • jpmoney03, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Fenway is has a deep right field unless you are right down the line. It drops back really quick and is not a large area that is short in right field.
      • Linkin4, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Righties have more power to left field, I don't know what your point is. but yes, pesky pole is in right field, but the angle at which that fence juts into center makes it a righty friendly ballpark, but it is more a hitter friendly park.
  • thaglove10, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6A couple of those reasons are true, but a couple of them have equally conclusive counter-points.

    Lefties rarely play second base or shortstop because they would have to wheel their body around to throw to first as opposed to righties who are already facing the right direction when they field the ball.

    Right field is advantageous for a leftie as said in the article, but for the same reasons left field is advantageous for a rightie.

    Even if we lefties do dominate baseball, you righties dominate everything else. Let us have this one please :)
  • homah, on 07/08/2008, -0/+10"Not catching on: One position a lefty rarely plays is catcher; it is difficult for a southpaw catcher to throw over so many right-hand batters."

    This isn't the reason. It's because everyone would be stealing 3rd with ease and because it makes it more difficult to apply tags on plays at the plate.
    • rblancarte, on 07/08/2008, -1/+4Actually a bigger reason is little league budgets. When 90% of your players are righties, and catchers mitts are so expensive, you don't spend the money on a lefty mitt. You just tell the lefty kid - go to first. Lefties are really just not given much of a chance to learn the position.
      (heard this from coaches)
      • Maxmaxxwell, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2so you're saying that buying ONE lefty catcher mitt isn't economically feasible for most baseball organizations?
      • slvrbullet87, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2A decent catchers mit costs about $100-$125.
      • rblancarte, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Economically feasible for a LITTLE LEAGUE team? No.

        The main point - a $100 catchers mitt that will collect dust vs 3-5 bats that will get used, where do you think they will spend that money?
  • martynda, on 07/08/2008, -0/+12It seems like most of it has to do with the fact that first base is always to the right. To make it fair, just flip a coin before every game to decide if first should be to the left or to the right. Not that will ever happen...

    In tennis, lefties are hell to deal with because their ball spins the opposite way of the other 90% of the people you play against, especially on the serve.
  • Trifold, on 07/08/2008, -4/+5Wah.

    Become a switch hitter. Problem solved.
  • rolan1bp, on 07/08/2008, -0/+7So that's why I never made it to the big leagues. :D
    • CedEx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Yeah... THAT... and your lack of skill, I would say.
  • getjustin, on 07/08/2008, -0/+8Lefties have a huge advantage in individual sports like tennis or fencing because most players (being righties) are used to only playing righties while lefties are also used to playing righties. But when the righty meets a lefty, they are in a unique situation and have to change the way they play the game to compensate, whereas the lefty plays like they normally would. Of course, they're also like 100 times more likely to die in an accident, so karma bites them in the end.
  • tyree731, on 07/08/2008, -0/+11I remember reading a quote in the book "The Baseball Economist" that better explains why there are no left-handed catchers:

    'The biggest reason there are no left-handed catchers is natural selection. Catchers need good throwing arms. If you have a kid on your baseball team who is left-handed and has a strong arm, what are you going to do with him?' - Bill James

    Left-handed pitchers are more useful than left-handed catchers. Makes sense to me.
    • PooPsnooP, on 07/08/2008, -1/+3I think the real reason is that most batters are righthanded. When catchers need to throw to second base to get a potential base-stealer, most batters don't get in their way on throws if the catcher is righthanded. If the catcher is left-handed, he has to spend effort and time maneuvering around the batter.
      • bknoll22, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1^ This is the main reason. Also it is very hard to throw to third as well since they are throwing across their body making it easier to steel third which obviously is not good.
      • tyree731, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0If you read the article linked by LordoftheLoo (right below yours) you can see that it really doesn't matter. It's just baseball tradition really.
    • LordoftheLoo, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1This article explains why there are so few lefty catchers, the few advantages, and names the top lefty catchers
      (it also quotes the same Bill James quote)
      http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/top-10-l ...
  • PooPsnooP, on 07/08/2008, -1/+8Yet righties have the advantage by being able to play every single defensive position, while lefties are relegated to the outfield (and first base if you're tall).

    It sucked for me as a lefty in little league, being placed in the outfield where balls never go.
    • BigPapi, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Seriously, all I ever played in baseball as a lefty was outfield, first base and pitcher. Righties almost always played 3rd, middle infield and catcher.

      One time in Babe Ruth we were short an infielder and they asked me to play 2nd base. Even though I watched the 2nd baseman every day, I had no idea what I was doing.
  • Rippleeffect, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I noticed this at our local A Division team. Three of the players were lefties. I loved it since I kept getting their foul balls.
  • Sippi, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1For some reason Lefty's tend to be better "pure" shooters when it comes to basketball. If you ever watch basketball, pay attention to left handed shooters. When the ball comes off their hand it has extra backspin and a better arch in the shot. It is this reason that some of the best 3-point shooters in basketball where lefty's.

    In addition, it is much harder to block a lefty's shot because your so used to reaching to block a right-handed shot. Because of this they tend to get some shots off that a normal right-handed person wouldn't. This is very frustrating, especially for someone like myself who spent years blocking shots in the paint.
    • Elethiomel, on 07/08/2008, -1/+0"they tend to get some shots off that a normal right-handed person wouldn't"

      There's nothing abnormal about being left-handed.
      • Temo1, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3In the sense that 90% of the population is right handed... yea, they are.
    • BirthTax, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0I totally disagree with lefty's having an advantage on offense in basketball. I loved guarding left handed players because my strong hand matched up with their strong hand when they drove. Likewise, I didn't have to reach across their body to block a shot with my strong hand.

      On the other hand, left handed players make better defenders against right handed players for the same reason. In high school, our defensive stopper was a lefty... but, even with some speed and quick hands, he wasn't much of a scorer because he always matched up against right handers.

      As far as left handers being better pure shooters, I can't say I've really noticed this - but if its true its probably because they can't drive to the hole against right handers very easily and need to develop an outside shot to counter.
    • chris006, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0in baseball lefty's have a more "pure" swing, on average. for some reason their swing just looks more smooth than righties
  • dagnabbit, on 07/08/2008, -1/+14Rocky taught me that lefties are also better boxers.

    McCain and Obama are both lefties, and so is Bill Clinton, Bush Sr., Gore (and Perot).

    Us lefties will soon rule the world! Once we master the dreaded elementary school scissors. Always hated those things.
  • BaudiIROCZ, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1This article is dumb. It's favorable to be a lefty pitcher or first basemen and if you are facing predominately righty pitchers then of course it's good to be a lefty at the plate, but RIGGED?? ***** title and the article states the obvious for anyone who watches baseball.
  • totorototoro, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4"The left-handed batter has a 5-foot advantage over the right-handed batter," Peters calculates. "And that means the lefty travels the 90 feet to first roughly one-sixth of a second faster than the righty."

    This is why Ichiro learned to hit left handed (even though he's a righty)-to be just a bit closer to first base after his slap-hitting style. Seems to work for him :p
    • chris006, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0ichiro bats like he's playing girls fast pitch softball... and i still love him
  • Sippi, on 07/08/2008, -1/+4Supposedly the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. If this is true, only left-hand people are in their right mind.
    • Kolbeck10, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I bet my grandpa knows that joke.
    • eggsovereasy, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4I love that joke... the first time I heard it I laughed so hard I fell off my dinosaur!
  • bknoll22, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2This article is just bad. First of all, they are talking to some aircraft engineer who has not expert knowledge other than being a "Devoted fan" then one of his arguments is that lefties have an advantage at first base and right field...so then what about 2nd, 3rd, short, left, center, and catcher...odds seem against them there. I agree that Lefty hitters are better against Right handed pitchers but it goes the same way for right handed hitters against lefty pitchers. True there are some advantages for lefties in baseball but there are also advantages for righties as well...buried
    • chris006, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0"it goes the same way for right handed hitters against lefty pitchers" is generally true once players get to the majors because they've seen so many lefties in the minors but even in college almost all batters have trouble with left-handed pitchers because you only see them a few times in a season
  • Duositex, on 07/08/2008, -3/+1Buried for being dumb. The entire premise is stupid.

    It's like saying gas pumps are rigged for cars with the filling port on the right side.
  • JQP123, on 07/08/2008, -0/+9That's funny, I always thought baseball was rigged for Yankees.
    • SreyaNotfilc, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1No, that's just for time on SportsCenter :/ .
  • awtripp, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2So what? Lefties only pop up 25% of the time. When you get a lefty pitching, all of a sudden its harder to steal, so, it's not like you deal with that every inning as a baserunner. ***** deal with it. The Yankees built Yankee Stadium so The Babe could hit all his homeruns with a short porch in right, that's the Yankees fault for babying Babe, not the game's fault. But look at Fenway, short to the green monster in left, as a lefty you can't be a pull hitter if you want to use the wall. It varies park to park. I'm pretty sure Coors Fields is almost symmetrical, but the walls are still relatively close in comparison to other parks. Big deal. Its not rigged, the damn game was just designed in a right handed world. Why don't you run left, clockwise, out of the batters box? Then people would be saying it was rigged towards right-handers!
    • Temo1, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Actually Coors Field has one of the largest outfields in the game. Hence why so many doubles and triples are hit there and why defense is so important to winning there. Imagine how many homers would be hit there if they hadn't built the walls so far back.
    • SreyaNotfilc, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Well, it may be short to the green monster but you still have to hit the ball a ways up. Baseball players are soo strong these days that a left hander can just drill a line drive over the Right Field wall as oppose to popping the ball up with a bit of power to get over the green wall. To me, it seems balanced. More of an obsticle course than a design to give righties an advantage. Then again, I've never met the man who built it, so who knows.
  • cadmiumpaint, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Rigged is a horrible word to use here. Nothing is rigged, we just live in a world where a lefty is an exception and not the norm There is no cheating or conspiracies.
  • Dunnion, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1That is a totally lame article, the only real advantages noted are the shorter right field fence, and the "5 foot" head start.

    He highlighted 2 out of 8 (not counting the pitcher) positions on the field that favor lefties, but guess what, the other 6 favor righties, so much so that you never see a southpaw 3rd, SS, 2nd, or catcher. Yet you see rightie 1st and RF all the time.

    He brings up how its harder to steal off a leftie pitcher, but then forgets the huge advantage he gave leftie hitter against right handed pitchers. So for the small "advantage" of a leftie's pick-off move (no one really gets picked off anyways) they have to have a disadvantage against 75% of hitters? that doesn't sound worth it.

    edit: what would you rather have a team full of righties, or a team full of lefties?
    • SreyaNotfilc, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Lefties, and a case of Bud Light. Get ready for some good ol' confusion!
  • darladoon, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0you can't say "is rigged" and not provide a subject.

    who is doing the 'rigging'?
  • wiihuck, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Fielding?

    Lefties CAN'T play 4 of the 9 positions. That's almost half! You will NEVER see a left-handed third baseman, shortstop, second baseman, or catcher. Righties can play every position.

    This guy is a quack.
    • bryantee, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Exactly. How about that a right handed batter has a significant advantage when facing LHP over lefties. While a LHP might be able to hold runners at first better, he won't be able to do the same at third, making a squeeze a bit more likely.
  • freebird09, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1What's with the thumbnail?
  • cathpah, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1My father used to play semi-pro ball, and although I am naturally right handed, he taught me to bat lefty just for the advantages. I now play hockey, golf, and baseball as a lefty.
  • rblancarte, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1The biggest issues i have w/ this article is the fact that outside of the stadium factor, the game is a very symmetrical game. I would have to say that any advantage is due to coincidence and not because the game is stacked. The points:

    The ballparks - true, it seems more common to have a short right field than a short left.

    Seeing the ball - I agree here. From a right-hander, a pitch can be easier to pick up. But that is nothing to stack the game in favor of the lefty (like I said coincidence). In fact ...

    Pitching (stealing) - the article cites being able to watch a runner at first to not allow him to steal. But the fact that a lefty throws a ball easier to pick up by a right hander. Advantage righties?

    Getting going (lefty is already headed to first) - coincidence. IMHO, this is why lefties have better looking swings though, because they can let their momentum take them to 1st. Right-handers have to almost fight the momentum to get moving.

    Fielding (First base and right field favor lefties) - 2 positions out of 9? And the game is stacked?

    Just being different - I agree, but again coincidence, not stacking the game in their favor.
  • boardthis, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1really? baseball treasures crappy run of the mill lefty pitchers until their arms fall off at age 50? myself and every other sports fan had no clue!

    that article was a complete waste of time.
  • pitchblack16, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1yup lefties are more dominant, and i say this because i too am a leftie, yes people I AM A LEFTIE
  • Ribsbroken, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I am left handed but I bat right handed and throw right handed I even prefer to rub one out right handed. But left handers in baseball don't affect me. All my home runs I ever had came from right field never left field even though I bat right handed.
  • mlvassallo, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1This is a stupid article.
  • scamper22, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0About the only one that is actually an issue is:

    The ballparks: Right field in most parks is shorter than left field because of the preponderance of right-handed hitters.

    The rest are just realities of the position and player. Right field being shorter in most parks... that's definitely pointless rigging.
    • bryantee, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1First of all, that's not true. Lot's of parks are sporting the symmetrical thing now. Hell, Wrigley is a relic of the past and it's 355 to left, 353 to right. Advantage there? Minute Made is 315 to left 326 to right. I guess they "rigged" it for righties! Nationals Park 336 to left, 335 to right. Dodger Stadium, 330 to left, 330 to right. Chase Field, 330 to left 334 to right. Do I really need to go on?
  • Wartz, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1lefties can never be infielders. Thats rigged for righties.
  • gkiltz, on 07/09/2008, -0/+0Let's face it!
    All Else being equal(It never is!) the ideal lineup would be 4 lefties, 4 righties and a switch hitter, who hits depending on the pitcher!
  • Yuska, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1This list is pretty *****.

    1)Right Field is shorter in about the same amount of ballparks as Left Field is.

    2)Seeing the ball easier comes from facing a pitcher that throws from the opposite side as you do, not just for Lefty v Righty. Only a few batters, Ichiro and the newly-imported Kosuke Fukudome come to mind that really take advantage of getting out of the box quicker than a righty, as they actually step towards first in their swing (btw, all of a righty's momentum is not going towards third, most is going towards the shortstop part of the field, lefties toward the second baseman's position, as you step forward when you swing, not towards your pull side).

    3)As fielding 1B and RF favor lefties, fielding LF and 3B favor righties.

    4)As for the "Right-handed batter not seeing a left-handed pitcher" argument, most MLB right-handed batters do better against left-handed pitchers.
  • lorisa, on 07/12/2008, -0/+1Lots of sports favor lefties - tennis, for example. I have this one forehand shot that absolutely confounds my right-handed husband.
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