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14 replies

Bad catching display at MLB level

Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
I'm watching the Seattle/Baltimore series this weekend and have repeated poor defensive plays by both catchers. I just saw one play that took the cake.

Richie Sexton is on first and a double is hit to the left-center gap. Sexton (no speed demon) gets waved all the way around.

The throw comes in on a bounce, and Baltimore's catcher Hernandez fields it cleanly on one hop with Sexton at least 10 feet from the plate. I watched it in frame by frame several times and couldn't believe what I thought I first saw, but the TIVO replay confirmed it.

Hernandez got the ball when Sexton had just arrived at the perimiter of the round home plate dirt area. The field dimensions put that at 13 feet from home plate. Hernandez is straddling the plate just as he should be.

Sexton comes in for the slide.... Hernandez literally shrinks from the play, does not put a tag down, and Sexton's foot hits the plate as Hernandez tags him on the upper thigh. The go-ahead run.

I don't think I have ever seen an MLB catcher actually shrink from a play at the plate. It wasn't as if there was a collision about to happen - Hernandez was in perfect position, just had to put the glove in front of the plate and Sexton was out by 10 feet.

He must have a great bat.
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Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
Well then many its not laziness, but rather the technique that works for that particular catcher. You have to remember what works for one person may not work for another.

I haven't seen much of Mike Matheny since he left the Cardinals Frown but when he was here, he was by far my favorite. I have come to like Yadier a lot too, but I'd still rather see Mike in there.

A good catcher is a good catcher whether he appears lazy or not.
H Hardball16210+ posts
about Jose Molina squatting on one knee, that is not neccasarily bad form, I do it as well sometimes. It is just emphasizing to the pitcher that you want the pitch low, and aslong as there's nobody on, I find it to be fine. The main tiem I use the one knee approach is when there is no-one on, and my pitcher ahead in the count and I call for a change-up, I want to make sure he doesn't give the hitter anything to hit. I have also seen Mike Matheny use this approach
AC Adam Carlton100+ posts
Pudge is about halfway complete. He is one of the best catchers I have ever seen at throwing out runners and framing and blocking, but what he lacks is the ability to call a game well. He doesn't watch tape and study the opponent like many do. That is why the Rangers got rid of him and got Laird and Barajas. They may not throw out as many runners, but they are better at calling a game, that is a very important aspect of a good catcher in my opinion.
AC Adam Carlton100+ posts
I know this topic is beginning to get outdated, but I just saw another one tonight, astros vs. rangers, play at the plate, and ausmus had clearly enough time to get in front of it, but he was on both knees, semi blocking the plate, and the throw, not perfectly on line, maybe a foot to the 3rd base side, he tries to pick it and misses it, lettin the runner score, and the other runners advance. He should have moved in front and blocked it, in my opiinion.

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