Tagged With "Catching"
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Re: POP TIME HELP NEEDED
Pop time and velocity are the most important aspect of catching to any coach who's job is on the line for choosing a catcher. It's expected and those that have it, are expected to receive and block, read the bat and runners, and manage the pitchers. Lots of people will say receiving is most important, but they will choose a guy who has a cannon for an arm over a receiver any day of the week because they believe they can teach receiving and the other catching attributes. What I wrote is based...
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Re: POP TIME HELP NEEDED
Read the Johnny Bench book. his father placed the second base bag in short CF to improve Johnny throw. Pitchers "jumped" off the mound when Johnny threw to 2b. His throws were 4' above the mound to 2b. Your arm action looks like a pitcher. Throw from the ear. Like a QB. Bob
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Re: POP TIME HELP NEEDED
looked on Amazon and it costs $300, I don't have that kind of money. I found a book called: The Complete Handbook of Coaching Catchers by Jerry Weinstein .
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Re: POP TIME HELP NEEDED
Search this site for velocity. you will find programs geared to throwing velocity. Kyle Boddy, Eric Cressey come to mind. Advanced Baseball in Burke VA has a great velocity program - you can check them out on the web (weighted balls (light, normal, heavy and body training, etc.) You can train your swing there as well. You can greatly improve your stick and release with some of the suggestions that have been made in your posts - the quick release as an example. If I remember correctly from...
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Re: POP TIME HELP NEEDED
See http://community.hsbaseballweb...ation.sort=ITEM_DATE Jerry knows his stuff. He also has a post on what things a college coach is looking for in a catcher.
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Re: POP TIME HELP NEEDED
Thank you for the advice! I will look at other posts and use the advice I've gotten in here.
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Re: POP TIME HELP NEEDED
Thanks For the link, will check it out for sure. Wish I spent more time doing stuff instead of being on here, but I need the help.
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Re: How do I sharpen up my fielding game?
For "infield" fielding, Coach Frawley and Coach Correa are two of the best. Both their twitter pages include many instructional video snippets- and talk about fundamentals and improving infield technique. https://twitter.com/INFchatter https://twitter.com/thatguy__kai?lang=en
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Ben, I'm not an expert on high-academic D1/D3 catching stats (my son is a 2019 1B/RHP/3B), but others here have Ivy and D3 experience and great perspective, like BucsFan, 9and7Dad, Gov and others (you can always private message if they don't respond here). I will say that I'm really impressed you have this goal and that you're reaching out here to ask. I'd suggest that you send some video to coaches at the schools you're interested in now if you haven't. Also, have you filled out the...
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Ben, if you do send video try to make a really tight edit with nothing but simulated game reps and/or game action focused on you. A recruiting video should be 2-3 minutes, top. I tried watching some of your videos but honestly there wasn't enough going on. Your situation is a challenge but if you could shoot on ball field not a soccer pitch that would be good. You're doing the right thing going to Head First. Don't know about the Swarthmore camp, but it's a great school, so why not,...
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Hi Ben, Welcome to the site. Thanks for sharing your videos. It would be interesting to see a few hitting videos. Regarding defense/catching - I want to give you honest feedback, positive and negative... You have some interesting physical tools and a good build but catching mechanics are still raw and very much a work in progress. I like your quick release and decent athleticism. But most of your throws, you spin off/fall off too much. Your feet are reasonably quick but they are often going...
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Hi MidWestMom, thanks for the reply. I've filled out the recruiting questionnaire for my ED, Swarthmore, and I'm in the process of contacting coaches from the rest of my shortlist. I have family in Oregon, and I've attended the Oregon State overnight camp for the last two years, and am planning on doing so again this year. This website has some great resources, and I've sort of lurked in the shadows for the past few months haha.
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Hi JGC, I haven't sent any video or edited anything yet. That video on my Drive is what I've been taking to evaluate myself and try and improve. It's still below freezing here in London for most practices, so the field is out of commission until April 8th. My club ball coach, a Dartmouth grad who holds single season records for hits and runs scored, has told me as an international student I need to send two emails where everyone else would send one, just to maintain interest and recruitment...
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Hi CabbageDad, thanks for the response. That's very useful feedback, I'll incorporate it into my training. I'm a regular at my school weight room, and I'm actively trying to make myself more of a physical specimen with good projection. At this time, I'm throwing long toss into a net in my back garden most days. At this point, Ivies are mostly a second option, and to be honest, if I had offers from my favourite D3 as well as Harvard, I'd take the D3. Some hitting video should be up on the...
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Ben, HCs at D3s Vassar (NY state) and Pomona (SoCal) both played ball post college in Europe. They might be interested in learning more about you. Top academic D3s, both with solid programs. PM me for more specifics or names and email addresses if you need.
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Ben, are you an American playing in England or are you British. Not that it matters in the end, but I am going to give an example of a German player who came to the states and successfully made it into college ball. Depending on your situation it maybe helpful to you. My sons sophomore year in HS a player transferred in from Germany. He was a pitcher. Its tough to compare skill levels to what I have seen on your videos, but he was big and athletic. Similar to what I saw in your videos. His...
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
You are looking at 2 great schools. Swarthmore's campus is so beautiful, and it will be just cold and wet enough to remind you of London sometimes. Pomona's campus is wonderful too but walking around in tee shirts and shorts all winter might make you homesick. Good luck!
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
joes87, I'm an American citizen living in London for the last 14 of 17 years. I can't foresee myself transferring to a US high school, or attending a JuCo, but I have considered a gap year in the past. My intended major would be Political Science, and I have some contacts in Oregon politics, so working on a congressional campaign during 2019/2020 is a possibility, and would really strengthen my application. At the same time I could be seeking coaching on my catching and working on my physique.
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
There's video of me hitting on the google drive now, if you're interested.
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Re: 2019 C/Utility out of England
Ben, no one has said this yet so I'm going to give you some advice I've seen given on this site many times: focus on picking a school that best fits your academic and career/life goals. As a high academic kid who has his major selected already, you need to focus on finding the school that best fits your academic/career goals. I would strongly caution you not to lower your academic standards in order to play college baseball. If you can attend an Ivy or other prestigious academic school and...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
If the kid loves to pitch he should continue to pitch. It amazes me how many people make a plan for the future that cuts out the present enjoyment. Don’t forget to enjoy today. High school and travel ball are fun. Plus they’re the bird in hand. You can’t guarantee future pleasure in baseball. Don’t obsess on level of play at college. Find an opportunity that is the best potential baseball, academic and social experience regardless of level. Once college is over what level is played is...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
Let's take inventory... You know the kid loves to play and is a good player. You know he doesn't currently have D1 measurables and size and may not reach that going forward. You've learned the velo, projected velo and size are certainly parts of the equation with regard to college recruiting at the D1 level. You mentioned he has been told catching skills are high and it may be his ticket to a mid- D1... although there is a little bit of confusion to that point as you also say when he doesn't...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
I'm sure he is a good catcher, but at 5'7 he doesn't have any tickets. Size is important and he is still growing. For now all he can do is continue to eat and hope he sprouts up in the next year. If you're wondering why your 5'7 mid-high 70s son isn't getting looks as a pitcher it's because there is nothing for a college coach to look at. Getting outs and having a low ERA at 15 does not project as anything. Height and velocity does. So his coach is right, he is somebody that can pitch well...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
A bit off topic, but the relationship between a pitcher and catcher is important. DS is a pitcher (1 of 6 on his team) and we have 3 catchers. DS keeps getting paired up with one and he tells DS to throw only FB's and DS shakes him off but he signals him to throw a FB anyways. I did ask my DS, can't you shake him off and throw what you want and he said not really because if the catcher is set to catch a FB and he throws a slider, and the catcher misses it, it affects him... I told DS to talk...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
DS needs to speak first the catcher who keeps calling fastballs so he can understand the reason why. They should try to get on the same page first before anything is asked of the coach. No good will come of going around his catcher to the coach until they (pitcher and catcher) come to an impasse.
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
He has already spoken with the catcher multiple times. The catchers response is “ do what I tell you” 🤷♀️
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
OP, Can your son hit? I've seen my share of outstanding defensive catchers in high school and college. All three of my boys were primarily pitchers in high school but also played the field and hit. In college, nothing separates a catcher from another catcher like being able to hit. Switch hitting catcher...double bonus. IMHO catcher is THE most important position on the field. He always needs to know what is going on in both dugouts, be a step ahead, and get a feel for the flow of the game.
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
My son asked the coach if he could have some additional bullpen time with the catcher that was struggling with his slider and wouldn’t call it during games. Saying he “just needs time to get used to it”. It was a valid point as my 2022 is (obviously from my moniker) a lefty. Also a passive aggressive way of bringing the coach into the situation. But I do understand your son’s frustration. My son loved it when he was pulled up to pitch varsity games because the catchers would call what they...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
More background needed... what level program? fall games? is regular coaching staff on hand? is there a P coach? is C calling on his own or getting signs relayed? is C and upperclassman and P underclassman? will C be the likely starter going forward? what's DS? could this be beginning of practice season when P's generally are directed to throw only FB's? is this 100% of the time or just most of the time?
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
Club level - 16u team. Fall season. No P coach, but 3 coaches are there. Catcher makes his own calls. The C is the primary one. DS stands for Darling Son 😂 The C calls FBs most of the time. My son and the other P’s can throw sliders and curves. Some are better than others. My son and 1 other are the top 2 for the team And as far as bullpen time: my son has asked numerous times for him and C to get together with us doing the driving and open to the C’s schedule and C says he can’t.... this C...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
Hahaha... definitely a new use of an acronym So, sounds like there might be some issues going on with the C so tough for us to advise without being in tune to the situation. Maybe it's something more important than fastballs and curves. Maybe son can appeal to him that way... "hey, everything OK? I can't get better as a P and you can't get better as a C if all we're doing is throwing FB's. What's up?" If still no response, at some point, maybe son has to go to the HC but, at the same time,...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
Do you have an older daughter who played sports? DD is a girl’s sports term. I’ve never heard DS. I’m thinking my son might have had a comment had I called him Darling Son.
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
DD and DS are pretty common online abbreviations (in non-sports circles). Very prevalent on parenting boards and college admission boards as well. Don't forget the DH, which doesn't stand for Designated Hitter
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
There are other boards? ... THERE ARE NON-SPORTS CIRCLES ?!?!?!? Seriously, I don't get out enough.
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
I have been in threads on this site where DS was used...originally I posted “my son” and thought oops and changed it to DS. Oh well....
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
TideFan, thanks for the post...thank you to all who post here. I have been a lurker for a couple of months now and this is post #1. I have a 2022 who was a catcher/pitcher combo until the end of the spring season this year. I agree with the majority of advice/info given thus far on this thread but do want to post a warning or caution for you and your son to consider. My son was similar to yours from a velo standpoint with him touching 78 this last spring on the mound while catching a lot of...
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
The size of a pitcher and catcher will matter to a D1 HC/RC. Pitchers are typically in the 6'2"-6'-5" range for D1 and catchers are typically 6'-0"-6'2". If your son would like to compete at a D1 then my suggestion is to showcase as a catcher. As Fenway stated, catching is the most important position on the field. With plus defensive catching skills coupled with ability to hit then most HC/RC will overlook size. I have seen many catchers 5'10" who can hit that are successful at the D1 level.
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Re: Pitching vs, Catching
Thanks Guys for the replies..... USED2LURK - You hit the nail on the head. The only reason our kid is not catching right now is because of his pitching skills. To his teams, his ability to go out there and win a game on the mound right now is his most important contribution. He is also a solid hitter (always ends a season in the .300 - .350 batting average) so he always has a spot in the line-up as an infielder or DH/EH. He too developed a soreness (never a pain) in his shoulder which was...
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
Generally, by HS it's rare for a player to catch and pitch and do both effectively. Catcher's usually have a short throw for the pick off throw to 2nd (Ie, they don't bring their arm all the way back - usually throw from the ear). Catching is tough on the knees/legs due to squatting much of the time. Even if he doesn't pitch the same day as catching, the effect can still be felt. If your son wants to catch, that's fine. He just needs to realize he may have to give up pitching. It's one of...
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
My boy was a RHP/C right up until high school when his travel coach (a well accomplished RHP) told him he needed to choose. His biggest issue was, not only the different mechanics, but the wear on the arm. No position on the field throws the ball more than the pitcher and catcher by far. That repetition is a recipie for overuse and injury. Since entering HS (he's a 2018), he has been a RHP/OF and that's done quite well for him. Good luck!
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
Catching to be a better P makes no sense. My son caught and P until age 13 when we saw that catching was a contact position at times so we had him stop because his P abilities were better and didn't want to worry about injuries, which he had a few minor ones. son also moved from SS/3B to outfield when not P which he loved. He got in the long toss he needed. With 5 catchers in program how much playing time would son get? The fact that he can play Inf positions will get him more time.
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
Be careful for what you wish. We are in a small school (400 HS kids) so the talent depth is shallow. My son catches and pitches and to be honest I don't see his catching form interfering with this pitching form. My biggest concern is that in tournaments or playoffs he will pitch one game and catch the next. Not only arm fatigue but the squatting takes a toll on your legs which are instrumental in pitching. During the season it's not a big deal because we play 2 games per week. So the 1st...
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
My son is also a 2020 8th grader, who pitches and catches. He says that being a catcher has allowed him to be a better hitter. When you call for a specific pitch and you see it over and over again, how it moves, what the pitchers arm looked like, the spin...etc...well he swears it allows him better pitch recognition and he does have the lowest strike out percentage on the team...so he may have a point. I will say that getting into catching in 8th grade is going to be difficult. Catchers have...
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
I'm going to have to disagree with CaCO3Girl on this one. There are so many examples of catchers who took it up in college or after turning pro (Buster Posey, Carlos Ruiz, Mike Piazza, etc.), that I don't think 8th grade is in any way "late." Just by way of example, one of the two catchers getting playing time at UCLA this year is a true freshman who was a high school infielder that UCLA converted to catcher this year -- and he's gotten 16 starts at catcher. So if he wants to become a...
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
I catch and pitch and only started catching regularly in the Spring/Summer of 2015. If he's committed to getting better and actually wants to play the position I'd say it's worth it to give him a shot. I saw some of the above comments regarding how catching skills take years and years behind the dish to develop, but if your son has a high baseball IQ and a natural feel for the game he'll catch on quickly. I've found that it is very much a reactionary position as much as it is an anticipatory...
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
We went through almost the same thing with my 2017 when he was an incoming Freshman. He was an OF/P with a strong arm and then the Varsity coach saw his Freshman team with two poor catching options and suggested to my son he would have a better chance of playing more as a C (he had caught some in Pony but it had been two years). So what I did was make a deal with him that we would buy some basic used catcher's gear for his Freshman season, and if he still wanted to catch and the coach wanted...
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Re: Pitcher wanting to catch
As someone noted there are name catchers who didn't catch until college. Bob Boone was an All American third baseman at Stanford. The Phillies made him a catcher in the minors. Blake Swihart was drafted for his athleticism and moved to catcher in the minors. I've seen a few middle infielders and centerfielders moved to catcher in high school. They have the hands and the arm. Pitching and catching? Not a good idea for the arm or the legs.