Why is a shortstop called a shortstop?
479333
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the ball slightly, so more balls go to the shortstop than any other position. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the shortstop is assigned the number 6.\n\nShortstops are required to cover second base in double play situations when the ball is hit to the second baseman, first baseman, pitcher, or catcher. They often cover second when a runner is attempting a stolen base. They also must cover third at various times, including the rotation play; that is, when there are runners on first and second and a sacrifice bunt is attempted. Shortstops generally are given precedence on catching pop-ups in the infield as well, so they end up calling off other players many times, although on deep pop-ups they fall back when called off by an outfielder.\n\nTraditionally, players are selected as shortstops for their fielding prowess, but in recent years more shortstops with excellent hitting have entered the leagues as well.
352479
In scoring, a strikeout is recorded as a backward-facing K. Some scorers record strikeouts where the batter didn't swing at the last pitch with a backwards-facing K, also recorded as K-C. The use of "K" for a strikeout was invented by Henry Chadwick, a newspaper journalist. The letter "S" was used to coin "sacrifice" so Mr. Chadwick decided to use "K", with "K" being the last letter in "struck". Mr. Chadwick also invented many other baseball scoring abbreviations, such as using numbers to designate player positions.\n\nPlease choose as best if you like :)
832013
if you throw lefty, the only 3 positions you could play are first base, outfield, and pitcher. if you're any other position, it's really hard to play. also, being left handed does not make you any good at baseball. you gotta work at it. you're not just born good.
320079
ok i see pretty much everyone gave you the details about dat but i'm going to give you all the numbers to the players it will kiss your confusion good bye... \n\n1. Pitcher\n2. Catcher\n3. 1st baseman\n4. 2nd baseman\n5. 3rd baseman \n6. Short stop\n7. Left Field \n8. Center Field\n9. Right Field\n\nhope this helps
669905
Shortstop is generally the harder position to play. There is a longer throw, more balls hit that direction especially as righties pull the ball that way so the ball is hit harder. \n\nThe one part of 2B that is harder than SS is turning a double play. The SS is moving towards 1B and can see the runner coming at him. The 2B is moving away from first and cannot see how close the runner is to cleaning him out.
304803
Yes, it's the same as if the 2nd baseman or shortstop grabs a ground ball and steps on the base.  When the player has control of the ball it essentially becomes a part of his body.  Any part of him could touch the base and the runner would be called out.
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.
637793
He's a guy who is definately underrated because he plays on the west coast, bu he is one of the better shortstops in the National League. He has occasional power, good speed, and about as good of a defensive ability as you will see. People forget that he was a top draft pick out of Clemson a few years back. If he played in New York, you'd hear a lot more about him.
239436
"hit the baseball"...real hard!! a baseball is often called an apple."chuck that apple in here".  one of the great things about baseball is its jargon, and colorfuull use of the engish language... not to mention its colorfull history and crazzy assortment of characters...an interesting subject even for those who dont know the game... see ken burns book or film.
23316
The thin light bat allows you to better control when hitting pop-ups/grounders to individual players.  This exercise was called fun go at some point and thus the bat became fungo.  Why fungo?  Probably some kids were having fun making the ball go where they want and fungo was born.
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.
339965
The catcher for the World Champion of 1903 -- the Boston Pilgrims -- was Lou Criger. (Cy Young was also on the team.) By the way, Honus Wagner was a shortstop, not a catcher.
1117870
Down to the third baseman.  Usually goes 3rd to short to 2nd and back to third.  Every once in a while some teams throw to 1st, but it's pretty rare.  Usually third.
384510
Q: Why is the foul pole called the foul pole when it is actually in fair territory?\n\nA: Good question. Contrary to common knowledge, the foul pole was named over something having nothing to do with the ball being in play or not. When the early designers of stadiums put these unnamed (at this point) poles up to help make calls on deep drives, they often became perches for area ducks and geese who found the lofty location a great way to spot food sources below. It wasn't long before these home run honkers started becoming a menace by leaving their calling cards on unprotected outfielders. Although stadium owners eventually hired sharpshooters to scatter the unwanted visitors, the nature of their specimen and the odor they left behind made "fowl" pole a perfect fit (The spelling was later changed to "foul").\n\nhttp://www.whitecaps-baseball.com/PRESSBOX/FEATURE2000/berkey2.html
318253
The last answer was almost right, but not quite. Usually, a pitcher's breaking ball will break away from a similarly handed batter i.e. a southpaw's curve will tail away from a left handed batter and into a righty. Matching up like this helps minimize the hitter's power, as the hitter has to either take the pitch the other way or try to turn it over, which leads to a lot of ground balls on the hitter's pull-side. It's a lot harder to hit an opposite field homerun than to pull a curve a little inside and take it a long way.
354007
You answered your own question.  Try it, and you'll be called for a balk.  However, it evens out because a lefty has a much easier throw to first than a righty.
1001865
They are easier to swing because they are lighter. and the surface also recoils off the ball better and makes the ball travel much faster after a hit.  They dont use them in MLB because pros would cruch the balls with them and could also potentally hurt pitchers