Originally Posted by Golfman25:
IMO, the primary skill for a catcher is the ability to block. Blocking is unnatural and takes work. Good blocking solves a lot of issues -- it prevents runners scoring from third or otherwise advancing, it protects the umpire, and gives pitcher's confidence.
After blocking, then receiving. Are strikes staying strikes? Does he give the umpire the chance to call a borderline pitch a strike.
So, in your opinion, blocking is more vital than receiving....that doesn't make sense to me. Can you define "receiving". My observations have shown that the most vital thing is to catch the ball, then if you can't catch it block it. But the first step is catching...unless you mean "receiving" as the ability to get borderline calls based on how you caught...but again, catching the ball is the key....you can be the best in the world at blocking but if you are having to block the ball because you couldn't catch it doesn't that affect the ball/strike calls?