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Advice for catchers

catcher09catcher091,000+ posts
Advice for catchers

I had a very interesting conversation with a local umpire evaluator at our game. I asked him does framing a pitch become less important as you go up levels – his answer was it becomes more important but its not an arm movement its that subtle twist of the wrist – I’m probably explaining that poorly.

Then I asked him about “sticking” the pitch – catching at out front and leaving it there so the ump “will get a good look”. That’s what our HS coaches teach. He told me that if a catcher does that he will politely say do that again and its going to be a long day.

Just so you know the evaluator was a great guy and wasn’t arrogant or anything, he was just giving advice from his perspective – HS and College ump.

What do you all think – any other do’s and donts that you can think of for a catcher.

PS – he told me he gets paid twice the amount for a UGA game then his counter parts at the pro single A level and still has the time for a regular job – interesting!
To our military men, women and families - You are all awesome - that flag is yours and I thank you for the opportunity for giving me the honor of removing my cap prior to every baseball game I see.
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Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
I believe you asked one question and he answered the other.
As the levels go up what you want your catcher to do, and this is probably what the coach is teaching, is to catch or stick a pitch instead of pulling it. What the umpire is taught to do is watch the pitch all the way into the glove. If the catcher is sticking the pitch he gets a good ides of what the pitch did. If the catcher pulls the pitch then he told the ump, and all others at the park, that he thought it was a ball and is trying to buy a strike. This can lead to the catcher taking pitches away from the pitcher.
Holding a pitch is what the ump was talking about. This is where the catcher sticks the pitch, the PU calls a ball and he continues to hold it to tell everyone he disagrees. This is showing the ump up and will make it a short day for him.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
MST nails the explanation for me too...

give me a good look, stick it...great..dont pull a ball into the zone or hang your glove out there well beyond "a good look"....would be a long day for you and your pitcher....

advice?.......hustle in, know how many pitches you are allowed to take, throw it down with out being told.....
U 505 Ump10+ posts
I appreciate a catcher that stays down and does not bounce around when the pitch is coming. It gives me a chance to see the zone better.

Pulling the pitch in to try for a close strike just tells me it's was out of the zone. Better to just stick it where it was and maybe he'll get the close call.

Hold it for a second for effect, ok. Hold it longer and it will not be appreciated

I really appreciate a catcher that extends his hand at the start of the game and says hello and introduces himself. It sets a great tone to start the game!
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
I was doing a JV game the other day and the catcher had a tendency to stand early, even on strikes, when there were runners. This makes it very difficult to call balls and strikes. Tell him to stay down unless a runner is moving.
If your oitcher is throwing breaking balls have him catch it early instead of waiting and catching it close to his body. It makes the pitches look bad even when they aren't. These are skills to learn before getting to the varsity level.
Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
Totally agree with the umps here.

My son, as he takes the field, mask off, approaches the plate ump and introduces himself, shakes hands. If the base ump is there, he introduces himself to him as well.

There is a subtle but distinct difference between "sticking" a pitch to show the umpire the pitch and "sticking" a pitch to show the umpire up.

If I ever saw my kid hold the glove on a called ball long enough to show the umpire up, I would kick his butt, but I would have to stand in line. His coaches would do it first.

But showing the umpire where he caught the pitch is perfectly acceptable. Just long enough for the call.

Moving the glove after the catch into the zone? Nope. I've seen it done, even in the majors. I've even seen it appear to get a call now and then. But my son has been taught that the umpire/catcher relationship should not be risked by such histrionics.
Last edited by Rob Kremer

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