What is the hardest position to learn in baseball?

United States
May 10, 2008 5:27pm CST
I think it is catcher. He has to know which pitch to call and when.And he has to have a good enough arm and the right instinct to throw runners out at second.
2 responses
• United States
11 May 08
I have to agree with Walterhero. While being a catcher is difficult to learn as far as the signs and things likes that, a pitcher must also know all those signs as well as know when not to throw the pitch the catcher calls. If a catcher is calling a low-and away fast ball, and the pitcher knows that he has given up a home run before to that batter on a similar pitch then he has to check it off and have the catcher call another one. Your assessment is true though, that a catcher has to have a strong enough arm to throw to second, but think about a pitcher, he is the closest infielder in front of the batter so they have to have good reflexes (how many times have you seen a line drive that was miraculously caught by the pitcher? thats a little luck and a whole lot of skill) Also as far as the arm strength, we are talking about a guy who goes out there and throws 80 or more fast balls and other pitches. And a curve ball! That pitch will kill your arm faster than anything so to be able to throw that with consistency is very hard to learn and do. I played every position before and the hardest was definitely the pitcher. Catcher was probably second though because if you don't have good knees then squatting for an entire game can become excruciating.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 May 08
Thank you. As you can tell I am just a fan and I never played baseball. I like to see a pitcher that can field and hit so I prefer The National League over The American League.What was your favorite position to play?
• United States
16 May 08
I have bad knees to start with so I know I couldn't crouch just once , yet alone half the game.
• United States
12 May 08
I prefer the National League also. My favorite position was probably 1st base but I loved pitching too, I just wasn't good unless I was throwing fast balls. My curve usually resulted in a wild pitch. But I enjoyed every position except catcher because it killed my knees.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 May 08
I disagree, it is harder to become a pitcher. Pitchers must have the ability to locate an array of pitches wherever he wants. A pitcher must have perfect form to pull this off.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 May 08
I think a true pitcher can get the job done even when his form isn't that perfect.I think a pitcher in the National league is second hardest. Why? He has to pitch And hit.