Hoop...Blocking, by a catcher, of a curve ball, is a lost "art".
When I was catching, I was DETERMINED that that little white thing was not going to get by me and embarrass me and my pitcher and my teammates. I still don't understand why, when I was drafted as a "catcher", they wanted me to play centerfield and rightfield because I could run and throw. I was a catcher, dog-gone it!
Way to many Spaniards playing behind the dish today, i.e., guys that do the " 'ole" with the glove as the ball goes squirting by them!!...as if they are at a bullfighting contest in Spain or Mexico!