What is a shortstop?

briankenobi

briankenobi

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have heard this term thrown out in pool commentary and on the forums. Can someone give me a definition? And I know it isn't a position on a baseball field. lol
 
briankenobi said:
I have heard this term thrown out in pool commentary and on the forums. Can someone give me a definition? And I know it isn't a position on a baseball field. lol
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A local player who is one of the best (if not THE best) players in town, unless the town includes some local pros. This player usually is the one to match up against road players, and sometimes might win. Not quite good enough to be a road player himself.

Definitions might vary a little depending on who you ask, but the gist should be the same.
 
So one is a shortstop just by being the best player in town, even if he's from Bucksnort TN where there are only 7 pool players and the only table in town is at the DewDrop Inn?

From the conversations on AZB I've always assumed it meant better than an A-player but not quite Pro.

In any case, my game is out in left field....way out in left field.
 
Where the term came from...

Where the term came from and what it has evolved to mean are two different things.

The term has pretty much become synonymous with semi-pro or one notch below the pros. A+, semi pro, short stop have (depending on the area you are from) become almost interchangeable.

Jaden
 
I've only seen the term used here, but I have taken it to be the equivalent of an "open" player. An open player shoots one step below pro. Another step below that would be an "A" player.
 
There were a lot of shortstops in the open this year!

Now this is just my opinoin, players like Wilke, kral, e.moore, B.Stolleymeyer, Pike and many more that play at or near their speed, i would consider them shortstops, they just are not constitent enough to win any big tournament as is Earl,Svb, Morris, Thorston H, Johnny, but boy i wish i could play like Wilke or the rest of em!

For example, SVB just spotted K Bennett the 8 and 9 ball playing 10 ball and SVB beat him, and Keith B can flat out play!

So if someone tells you you are about to play a shortdstop (gambling) you mite want to reconsider.
 
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Bambu said:
I've only seen the term used here, but I have taken it to be the equivalent of an "open" player. An open player shoots one step below pro. Another step below that would be an "A" player.
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Yep:: Pro level > shortstop > "A" player
 
richiebalto said:
There were a lot of shortstops in the open this year!

Now this is just my opinoin, players like Wilke, kral, e.moore, B.Stolleymeyer, Pike and many more that play at or near their speed, i would consider them shortstops, they just are not constitent enough to win any big tournament as is Earl,Svb, Morris, Thorston H, Johnny, but boy i wish i could play like Wilke or the rest of em!

For example, SVB just spotted K Bennett the 8 and 9 ball playing 10 ball and SVB beat him, and Keith B can flat out play!

So if someone tells you you are about to play a shortdstop (gambling) you mite want to reconsider.
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This is where the descriptions become blurry IMO.

Most of the players you refer to as shortstops are sponsored "Pro Players." I know Matt Krah is (or was) sponsored by Lucasi. Of course, we all know there is no actual definition of Pro Player.

IMO there are tiers in the "Pro" ranks

My understanding of the term shortstop has always been someone who can win money locally but not on the road. A shortstop would avoid the best player in his area unless getting weight.
 
According to The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards:

A player who can be beaten only by the top players. 1970 Fensch 161. An excellent player, but one of the second rank. 1967 Polsky 10. A professional who just misses championship form, i.e., one who "stops short." The term was originated by J. Frawley, champion billiardist of Ohio, in 1887. 1888 Thatcher, 1899 Souv 18, 1925 BM(Mar) 22. Competitions were often designated as "shortstop tournaments" to denote the caliber of players participating.
 
Eagleshot said:
I agree.

I am pretty sure Matt Krah, Shaun Wilkie and Brett S. would take offense if someone referred to them as shortstops.
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Matt is definitely a shortstop, IMO. I don't think he's ever even cashed in a national level event. He's from my area and I have know him for years. He's not even the best player in the area. This isn't an insult, just what it is.
 
D WEATHERSBY II said:
Most commonly used as a derogatory term synonymous to "wannabe" pro.

<----------- wannabe shortstop :)
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CJ Wiley has used the term on several occasions to insult AZers who he knows full well are only B players. If anybody else called them a shortstop they'd probably be flattered, but the way CJ used it he seemed to convey an utter contempt for players "stuck" at the shortstop level, implying that these "shortstops" should hold their tongue whenever a champ speaks.

I'm only 5' 6", so I have the "short" part down, and I stopped growing almost 50 years ago, so there's the "stop" part. That's about as close as I ever have to worry about getting to shortstop speed.:o
 
The term shortstop should be done away with. Over the years I've heard it mean different things to different pros in different parts of the country. DannyD said it meant someone a road player would stop in a town to play, get the money and then move on=a short stop. Johnnyt
 
All I know is this... You better play better than one if you wanna beat me!!

(Whilst giving me the 5 out, that is....)

"Short" Bus Russ
 
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