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deckardcanineI asked my dad what subject to write on for his birthday. He wanted something baseball related. This isn't quite among the topics we discussed, but I think he'll like it.
In major league baseball, few catchers have ever
Worn mitts on their right hand and thrown with their left.
The last one played thrice on the ’89 roster.
It’s not like no lefties have ever been deft.
It’s one thing to have the third basemen and shortstops
Be righties in light of the widdershins runs,
But catchers don’t deal with the same limitations,
So why are there almost no left-handed ones?
Some think righty hitters adversely affect
Lefty catchers, but righties’ majority’s slim.
Besides, catchers thwarting the stealing of bases
Do equally well with the left throwing limb.
It’s true that a lefty has trouble in throwing
Out runners at third, but let’s note the reverse:
A righty must pivot to throw to the first base,
So why would a lefty be markedly worse?
It’s thought there’s more “tail” on a left-handed throw,
But we don’t have statistics to back up the claim.
A lefty may have an advantage for catching
The curveballs and sliders that righties will aim.
Admittedly, lefties will struggle to tag out
A runner who comes all the way to home plate,
But that rarely happens, and basemen have managed
Some back-tagging methods that work out just great.
Perhaps the best reason: The hard-throwing lefties
Are typically trained to be pitchers instead.
If not, then it’s simply a foolish tradition
Or habit that keeps them from getting ahead.
In major league baseball, few catchers have ever
Worn mitts on their right hand and thrown with their left.
The last one played thrice on the ’89 roster.
It’s not like no lefties have ever been deft.
It’s one thing to have the third basemen and shortstops
Be righties in light of the widdershins runs,
But catchers don’t deal with the same limitations,
So why are there almost no left-handed ones?
Some think righty hitters adversely affect
Lefty catchers, but righties’ majority’s slim.
Besides, catchers thwarting the stealing of bases
Do equally well with the left throwing limb.
It’s true that a lefty has trouble in throwing
Out runners at third, but let’s note the reverse:
A righty must pivot to throw to the first base,
So why would a lefty be markedly worse?
It’s thought there’s more “tail” on a left-handed throw,
But we don’t have statistics to back up the claim.
A lefty may have an advantage for catching
The curveballs and sliders that righties will aim.
Admittedly, lefties will struggle to tag out
A runner who comes all the way to home plate,
But that rarely happens, and basemen have managed
Some back-tagging methods that work out just great.
Perhaps the best reason: The hard-throwing lefties
Are typically trained to be pitchers instead.
If not, then it’s simply a foolish tradition
Or habit that keeps them from getting ahead.