why is a shortstop called such?
343329
because it gets stopped short.......versus going a long distance
474715
Because in the beginning (Late 1800 & Early 1900's) they were both manager and players... As more and more coaches became ex-players or non-players (some owners) the tradition continued.  Baseball is steeped with it's tradition!
1061400
Apparently this has been done quite a few times.  See the link.  Some of the people who did it are quite famous, like Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Cochrane and Lou Gehrig.  There are 23 Hall-of-Famers on the list.  Others are quite obscure.  The most unusual name I saw at first glance was Yankee pitcher Mel Stottlemyre (July 20, 1965).  Randy Winn is the most recent player to do it.\n\nHonus Wagner did it five times.  Shoeless Joe Jackson did it three times.  Jimmy Sheckard did it on consecutive days in 1901.  Note that most instances were in the "dead-ball" era, when batters had to do a lot more running as balls that would go over the fence after 1930 stayed in play before then.  (That's when most of the records concerning triples were set, too.)  Also many ballparks had huge outfields, such as the Polo Grounds, the original Yankee Stadium, Forbes Field and the National League park in Philadelphia.  Today centerfield distances of 450 feet or more simply do not exist in MLB.\n\nAnother surprise is that so many catchers are on the list, including Cochrane, Tim McCarver, Wes Westrum and Dan Wilson, the latter recently retired from the Seattle Mariners.
628693
The answer is it's from the pitcher's perspective. If you face home plate from the mound you'll understand. On TV the camera is behind the catcher and that is why they look like they're on the left. \nAlso, right-handed batters are actually swinging left handed. It's the bottom hand that is the control hand when you swing. The reverse is also true for left-handed batters. I came up with this question ages ago, and this was the explanation I got from one of the MLB Scouting Bureau scouts during a tryout.
668015
Each position is numbered as follows:\n\n1-pitcher\n2-catcher\n3-first baseman\n4-second baseman\n5-third baseman\n6-shortstop\n7-left fielder\n8-center fielder\n9-right fielder\n\nSo, when they say a 6-4-3 double play, it indicates a play where the ball went from the shortstop to the second baseman to the first baseman.  1-u indicates the pitcher recorded the out unassisted.
507732
Since when is doing cute and entertaining back flips the criteria for being the best shortstop in the Hall of Fame?\n\nHONUS WAGNER (correctly pronounced hon-iss - as in promise)\nwas clearly the best.  Exceptional glove work and no other shortstop comes close to his batting prowess (batting average and power).  Wagner was one of only 3 National League shortstops to win a batting title.  The Wizard of Aaahhhhhss was not one of the other two.
651181
The "Mendoza Line" is named after Mario Mendoza, a slick-fielding but weak-hitting shortstop who played for nearly a decade at the major-league level because of his glove and not his bat.\nMendoza's career average finished at .215 - which established the benchmark for mediocrity in hitting (though most use the simpler .200 marker).  An everyday player who cannot cross the Mendoza Line may find themselves back on the bus to the minors or headed to the waiver wire...
1079490
No.  Better shortstops include Jeter, Tejada, Furcal, Crosby, Guillen, Renteria, Young, Rollins, Lopez and A-Rod. Comparable players include Greene, Hardy, Peralta, and Hanley Ramirez.\n\nHe is somewhere in the middle but is very young and will pass many of these in the near future.
391170
Whatever it is it is probably overrated just like the player. I would rather have David Eckstein for a shortstop.
667879
why is this question under baseball?
1011027
That's a nickname he got in his native country, Cuba. It was used to indicate that they respected him as a very good pitcher.
670469
The numbers refer to the players involved in the play.\n(e.g. 6-4-3 double play, would be a ball hit to the shortstop (6), thrown to the second baseman (4) for the first out, and then to the first baseman (3) for the second out.)\n\nThe complete list:\n1 - pitcher\n2 - catcher\n3 - 1st base\n4 - 2nd base\n5 - 3rd base\n6 - shortstop\n7 - left field\n8 - center field\n9 - right field
248835
Baseball rules are tricky because there are so many ways to itterpret them. This is what I've figured out so far...\n\nIf the ball bounces infront or is nowhere near the plate, it is considered a wild pitch (And believe me, there are jokers out there who will swing at something like that if they think it'll get em to first).\n\nIf the ball is caught by the catcher, the batter is just out. If the catcher drops the ball, it is considered just a passed ball *UNLESS* it is a third strike and results in a base. In that case, it is indeed an error on the catcher.
483487
Here's one with some info for you.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catcher
964651
Historically, left field is the postion that is the "easiest" to play in the Majors.  In sandlot baseball, right field is often where the worst player is placed because there are fewer people that hit the ball towards right.\n\nLeft field is often the smallest field with the fence closer.  It is a shorter throw to third base than the other outfield position.\n\nFirst base has been used as a postion for good-hitting outfielders that can no longer run as fast; but Gary Sheffield will tell you that it is not an easy position to play.\n\nCatcher, shortstop, and centerfield are the hardest defensive positions to play as they have responsibilities beyond their own position.  All three require quick feet and a strong throwing arm.
51269
Other than the skip (captain) and vice-skip, the team members have no special name of title.  Announcers sometimes call a player who is sweeping a "sweep" but this is not official.\n\nSee the offical rules below:
634818
Looks like a bunch of folks here are just looking for points... \n\nThe person asking the question knows that "K" means strikeout. \n\nSo what's with the one-word answer 'strikeout'... lazy-a** people out there...\n\nYes, "K" is the official scoring symbol for strikeout, since "S" was already being used to denote a sacrifice.