quote:Originally posted by Doughnutman:
On a related subject, whats the best way to make a knot with seams on it go away?
Only caveat, the remedy is temporary.
Only caveat, the remedy is temporary.
Only caveat, the remedy is temporary.
Great Post....my son was a freshman last year and was hitting 78-79...he played football this year and broke is collarbone so he just starting throwing again. he has been working with a new coachso just rcently....I had the opportunity to catch him...told him that either I was getting to old or he was getting much faster but I can't catch him anymore...most likely BOTH are true....
BOF
Exactly correct with the JD! I caught my son before spring training last year. My thumb was jammed from his two seamer and my shin is still bruised from his curveball. Thank God he was taking it easy!
Exactly correct with the JD! I caught my son before spring training last year. My thumb was jammed from his two seamer and my shin is still bruised from his curveball. Thank God he was taking it easy!
I last tried to catch my son when he was 14!
The kid that was supposed to show up and catch his "lesson" did not and since I was forking out $ for the private lesson I jumped behind the plate.
About the 3rd pitch after he was warmed up, I seemed to lose track of a tailing fastball and it hit me square on my left thigh... NEVER, EVER EVEN THOUGHT of catching him again. Just felt lucky that I had NOT made some sort of instinctive move to the left and lost "the boys"!
The kid that was supposed to show up and catch his "lesson" did not and since I was forking out $ for the private lesson I jumped behind the plate.
About the 3rd pitch after he was warmed up, I seemed to lose track of a tailing fastball and it hit me square on my left thigh... NEVER, EVER EVEN THOUGHT of catching him again. Just felt lucky that I had NOT made some sort of instinctive move to the left and lost "the boys"!
Yep.... a man has got to know his limitations. But then maybe after Lasik and some Pilates workouts??? I don't know..... NAH!
By the way BOF, the best thing about a temporary remedy is you get to do over again frequently!
After son's junior year - that summer - I was catching him and ended up with a small bone chip off my catching thumb (at the base).
I just received a cc: of his Christmas Break workout regimen from his pitching coach that is very extensive - and makes a lot of use of a catcher! I have no catcher for him! The military guy who used to do it was transferred out a couple weeks ago. I may have to tape my hand and hope for the best, but yeah -- my vision isn't as good as it used to be - eyes are now different strengths - and it causes some depth issues which make it scary. Not sure what we'll do -- a mat on the gym wall isn't gonna cut it!
I just received a cc: of his Christmas Break workout regimen from his pitching coach that is very extensive - and makes a lot of use of a catcher! I have no catcher for him! The military guy who used to do it was transferred out a couple weeks ago. I may have to tape my hand and hope for the best, but yeah -- my vision isn't as good as it used to be - eyes are now different strengths - and it causes some depth issues which make it scary. Not sure what we'll do -- a mat on the gym wall isn't gonna cut it!
Fungo has come through with the answer.....if you have a net, sit behind it. I think the 3rd or 4th post in on the thread. I mentioned this to my son and he ojected saying he would not hear the pop of the glove....my goodness what have I raised.....
I didn't catch my son at all this past season. We always had a catcher available. The last time I caught him he was the summer of '07 when he was 5'4" and throwing 75.
I caught him indoors twice this week. Now he's 6' and throwing 80-82. Indoors isn't bright enough. The ball was on me too quickly. I was more concerned about the safety of my nuts and teeth than his pitching. I took two in the leg. One didn't hit the ground first (ouch!). Tomorrow he throws to the target on the tarp if we don't have a catcher available.
I caught him indoors twice this week. Now he's 6' and throwing 80-82. Indoors isn't bright enough. The ball was on me too quickly. I was more concerned about the safety of my nuts and teeth than his pitching. I took two in the leg. One didn't hit the ground first (ouch!). Tomorrow he throws to the target on the tarp if we don't have a catcher available.
My sons a sophomore in college and at home on his Christmas break. Today I caught him for the first time since his senior year in high school (07). It took two fastballs, a curve, a change and I was done. Today I officially retired. It wasn't so much the speed, but the movement was just too much for me. It was both a little sad and relieving at the same time. Long toss was even a little scary until he was about two-hundred feet away. I'm done! 
My dad still tries to catch me. I'm in the low 80's. We found shin guards in the garbage can at the rec league field, and he bought a $5 LEFTY catchers mitt. I know he's scared, it's a good feeling.
quote:Originally posted by Krakatoa:
After son's junior year - that summer - I was catching him and ended up with a small bone chip off my catching thumb (at the base).
Your thumb? Are you sure? I could've sworn you said you Kraked A Toe?
This post has certainly made me laugh all the way through!
My freshman son who is home on Christmas break just reminded me after reading some of these to him that time he bounced one off of the driveway short, into the shin, and left baseball stitch marks for about a week! (like he HAD to remind me of that painful day!)
I remember thinking I was still "healthy" enough to catch him during his Senior year and bought some used shin guards and mask at a local Play it Again sports store. Little did I know that I would soon be told I had a astigmastism in my vision. Not only was the ball on me so fast, but it begin looking like I had 2 to 3 balls flying at me! I laid down the mitt, looked at son and simply said "That's it for me. I'm done". He just smiled.
I will say this however. Catching him was some of my most fondest and memorable days. I do miss it. But sitting at 92 now I would be a prime candidate for a mental institution somewhere!
My freshman son who is home on Christmas break just reminded me after reading some of these to him that time he bounced one off of the driveway short, into the shin, and left baseball stitch marks for about a week! (like he HAD to remind me of that painful day!)
I remember thinking I was still "healthy" enough to catch him during his Senior year and bought some used shin guards and mask at a local Play it Again sports store. Little did I know that I would soon be told I had a astigmastism in my vision. Not only was the ball on me so fast, but it begin looking like I had 2 to 3 balls flying at me! I laid down the mitt, looked at son and simply said "That's it for me. I'm done". He just smiled.
I will say this however. Catching him was some of my most fondest and memorable days. I do miss it. But sitting at 92 now I would be a prime candidate for a mental institution somewhere!
This thread is the best!!My son is very young compared to some of your boys and as much as I love to work out with him,I kind of look forward to the day when he throws so hard that I have to stop catching with him.That would mean that he has progressed to the point that he has dreamed to be.Until that day comes,I will enjoy every single minute of playing with him that I can.
Keep those stories coming and good luck to all your sons!
Keep those stories coming and good luck to all your sons!
What is just as scary as catching my son is standing at the plate as a righthanded hitter. First, when I played I hit lefthanded, so it looks weird to me. Second, the two seamer just keeps coming (tail) at the righthanded hitter. The curve takes a lot of faith it's going to break. He plunked me a few times with the curve before he got better command of it.
i caught my son most of the time till his soph year and mid 80s then cut back (no gear) a few times as a jr and maybe once as a sr. freshmen in college now no thanks. nothing he throws is straight and with no fence lots of walks to go get the ball as it zooms past me haha!! would get old quick. i might pay someone to catch him a little while he's in for christmas, "if i can find somebody that will"
It's all fun and games until some dad gets hit in the mouth catching his son around dusk in the winter time. Let's be honest here...it's not worth the risk. You behind the net isn't a terrible idea but it wouldn't kill your son to take that bucket of balls out on his own. Occasionally have him throw into the net by himself and have him work on his visualization. With no catcher at all...it forces him to see the situation in his mind. Having a catcher is ideal but you gain some mental development by doing without. Make sure he knows he doesn't have to rely on anyone else in order to get his work in.
My older son is a pitcher in his second year with the Astros organization. When he starts up prior to spring training I have to catch him if my younger son is not around. It scares the h.. out of me with the movement. However, I can't let him know but I try to make sure my younger son is around.
Ouch! Tried catching son today. He promised he was only throwing 60% but that is still hard as far as I'm concerned. Last season he threw low 80's and dad refused to catch, so that left me and I vowed never to do it again. Well new season and I think he saw "sukker" written on my forhead. As I was bailing away from his change up, Bam! right in the backside. I think I am definitely too old for this. You'd think with arguably the best hs catcher in the country at his hs, I'd be immune from this. Son is just to chicken to ask. Do you think if I called he'd be embarassed???? 
I have recently just started wondering when I ought to stop catching but my pride won't let me. The kid is a senior HS, throws 87+ and I can't pick up the ball in the lighting conditions inside.
All I use is a catchers mask and a five gallon bucket which I kneel down behind. Sliders in the dirt are hard to catch without bruising your forearm on the bucket. It's amazing if you trust the bucket how it will save you every time.
My son has gotten his freshman catcher to meet him for bullpens......I think he's trying to tell me to quit before I get hurt....again!
All I use is a catchers mask and a five gallon bucket which I kneel down behind. Sliders in the dirt are hard to catch without bruising your forearm on the bucket. It's amazing if you trust the bucket how it will save you every time.
My son has gotten his freshman catcher to meet him for bullpens......I think he's trying to tell me to quit before I get hurt....again!
When did I stop? Yesterday! I tried to catch him indoors, doing a velocity ball bullpen. The welts on my thighs tell me it's time to stop.
He's only 15, and is only in the high 70's; but nothing flies straight, and every pitch seems to shift gears about 2/3 of the way in. Sometimes they seem to down-shift and cut; sometimes they seem to shift up a gear, and run on me.
I watch Catchers who are not familiar with him fighting to stay with the ball. When he was knocking on the door of 70 the ball flew more predictably, and I had more time to adjust. Now that he is knocking on the door of 80, I'm catching more on the body, and they hurt more.
Yesterday I found myself thinking "I can't wait till this is over." Thank you all for the great suggestions about "catching" from behind a net, and other body saving ideas. That seam mark mid-way down my left thigh still stings.
He's only 15, and is only in the high 70's; but nothing flies straight, and every pitch seems to shift gears about 2/3 of the way in. Sometimes they seem to down-shift and cut; sometimes they seem to shift up a gear, and run on me.
I watch Catchers who are not familiar with him fighting to stay with the ball. When he was knocking on the door of 70 the ball flew more predictably, and I had more time to adjust. Now that he is knocking on the door of 80, I'm catching more on the body, and they hurt more.
Yesterday I found myself thinking "I can't wait till this is over." Thank you all for the great suggestions about "catching" from behind a net, and other body saving ideas. That seam mark mid-way down my left thigh still stings.
Ole Ball Coach-
Don't forget about us Moms!! We bruise just as easy
Don't forget about us Moms!! We bruise just as easy
BBFAM,
Noted.
OBC
Noted.
OBC
quote:Originally posted by Ole Ball Coach:
This is my favorite thread!
I still have two that still play this great game. While my oldest is a catcher, he throws in the mid 80's (topped at 89 at his last Ripken camp) and I confess that even playing catch with him has become a bit unnerving. My younger boy is also a position player (too early to tell what will be his position), but I make him move back a bit before he opens up. Between my declining vision, the poor indoor light, and my declining courage, I encourage a lot of outside long toss (I can always buy more underarmour =)).
On a serious note, I honor all of the moms and dads that are out there taking the bumps and bruises. Yes, your boys will light you up a bit (and I imagine that they will strut like peacocks for a while), but they will honor you years from now for taking the time. Well done.
