[DC 86]

Also, I guess what bothers me about SS being so much more important than 1B is that SS rarely, if ever, "erase" errors by first basemen.  First basemen do that a lot for infielders, including shortstops.

Players play first base because they aren't good enough to play another position. If Brandon Crawford played first base he would be the best fielding first baseman in baseball, but Brandon Belt couldn't play shortstop given the amount of range and agility that's required there. That's really the essence of it. Which is no disrespect to Belt who is a very good fielder and adds value on defense; but if he could play another position well he would be playing it.

Every baseball team at every level from little league through MLB puts their best athlete at shortstop. At some point some shortstops have to move to second base or third base or centerfield because they can't cut it or because there's someone better at shortstop. And those who can't play those positions become corner outfielders. Try to imagine a first baseman executing routine plays for shortstops (going into the hole to field a ball and throwing out the runner, or quickly pivoting to turn a double play) which come up frequently in every game.

There's a reason that first basemen need to hit extremely well to be paid at the same level as shortstops who are merely good hitters.

[DC 86]

Also, I guess what bothers me about SS being so much more important than 1B is that SS rarely, if ever, "erase" errors by first basemen.  First basemen do that a lot for infielders, including shortstops.

Players play first base because they aren't good enough to play another position. If Brandon Crawford played first base he would be the best fielding first baseman in baseball, but Brandon Belt couldn't play shortstop given the amount of range and agility that's required there. That's really the essence of it. Which is no disrespect to Belt who is a very good fielder and adds value on defense; but if he could play another position well he would be playing it.

Every baseball team at every level from little league through MLB puts their best athlete at shortstop. At some point some shortstops have to move to second base or third base or centerfield because they can't cut it or because there's someone better at shortstop. And those who can't play those positions become corner outfielders. Try to imagine a first baseman executing routine plays for shortstops (going into the hole to field a ball and throwing out the runner, or quickly pivoting to turn a double play) which come up frequently in every game.

There's a reason that first basemen need to hit extremely well to be paid at the same level as shortstops who are merely good hitters.