question for people who have played baseball

Probably no right or wrong answer. I never played a 162 game season. 3B or the "hot corner", you're closer to the hitter, have to guard against the bunt, whether it be a sacrifice or just a speedy guy with the threat of a bunt.

SS, has the runner bearing down on him at least a few times a game trying to break a double plays. He has to start and turn double plays. 3B usually only has to start a double play.

Kind of comparing apples to oranges. Both positions have their own responsibilities.

i never played bb!

come on you are a big fan!  you know better!

ron cey can play ss???????????  or how about moneyball guy youkillis?

i expect more from op.............lol!

not a chance in hell of seeing miguel cabrera ever play shortstop....shortstop is usually the most versatile out of all the infielders

SS by far. 

Think about all of the running a SS does coving the bag and going left and right to grab balls.  A good SS also does a lot more running into the OF to track down shalow fly balls.   I played both and can tell you that I was rarely challenged by 3B other than the amazing speed of the ball at times.  It's a bit of a different skill set but I agree with the post above, good SS almost always can transition to 3rd but it doesn't seem to work the other way around.

Played baseball my whole life.  Basically at some point in my career I've played every infiled position with the exception of 1B.  Probably played 75% of innings at SS and, the rest split between 2B and 3B.

Shorstop is the 3rd most demanding psotion on the field behind the pitcher and catcher (actually caught for a while as well, catching sucks, thats why you see all the big beaners back there doing the dirty work.)

3rd base is probably the easiest of the the 4 infield positions.  Baseball is such a mental game, and playing 3rd base requires little mental attention and ZERO range.  Before every pitch you need to think of every situation and where you need to be.  3rd base really doesn't do anything outside of fielding their position.  Whereas, SS is basically do something on every play.  SS is the most fun position to play in any sport!  I was never a QB but I could see that being pretty awesome as well.  Too bad you only play half the game though, which is why football is easier than MLB, NHL or NBA. 

Rankings of MLB postions and overall difficulty.

P

C

SS

2B

1B

CF

3B

RF

LF

DH, lol

Holding runners on base is a BIG part of the game, again 3B doesn't really do this.  The P almost holds a runner on 3B more than the 3B.

The more I think about this the more I realize how little a 3B does.  They don't do shit actually. 

Only 13 third baseman are in the Hall of Fame, whish is the lowest total for any position with the exception of DH which has 1. 

That should tell you right there the quality of baseball player that plays 3B.  Not sure what A Rod is considered anymore but he'll probably go in the Hall as a 3B.