Portsider
Picture this: the crowd is roaring as we approach the plate, and this left-handed pitcher is standing on the mound, staring down at us. These lefties now go by a unique moniker in the baseball community: “portsiders.” The term is as awesome as it seems, akin to something from a pirate film. The catch is that because these pitchers toss with their left arm, they are called portsiders because the word “port” designates the left side of a ship.
- Go to a bookmaker and place your bets right now.
When facing a portsider in the batter’s box, the game is slightly different. When a right-hander is on the mound, everything is different, including the spin, angle, and way the ball is coming at you. It’s also similar to trying to smash a curveball with a twist for other left-handed hitters. But isn’t that what makes baseball so beautiful? Every pitch and every player offers a fresh narrative and set of challenges. So, raise a glass to the distinctive taste that portsiders provide to this fantastic game the next time you see them warming up. Just one more chapter in baseball’s never-ending narrative.