Calling pitches from the dugout

I'd love to hear some other simple but effective methods to signal signs to the catcher.

Our catcher never gave signs.  Our pitches were verbal.  4 numbers with one being pitch, one being location and 2 being decoys.  Changed which were which during the game.  Made the game go very quick and no work on the catcher.  I gave sign normally immediately after catcher caught pitch so the pitcher could work at his pace.  Never felt like anyone picked them up but a few tried. 

Typically 1&5 were FB, 2&6 were CB, 3&7 were Changeup, 4&8 were slider and 9 was FB,  If you mix your numbers up enough, it is hard to pick up but easy to understand. 

Ole Ball Coach posted:

I was not a big fan of coaches calling pitches when I was still coaching, but it is just a fact of life now.

Beyond the mechanics of calling the pitches, make sure that you use that as a teaching opportunity to let the catcher know the "why" of what your calling between innings, teach the infielders to make their adjustment based on the catcher's or coach's signals, the outfielders to look for their cues from the infielders, etc. It always is, but especially early in player development, teaching them the "why" of defense is extremely important and its good to get them thinking and talking baseball throughout the game.

Like HR04 said, it's a great thing your doing; be patient and I hope you enjoy it every step of the way!

OBC

I'm with you.

Only thing that I might like to call is a pick off, or pitchout, if I smell something about to happen. In general, I like the boys to call their own game.  The catcher has the best seat in the house for gauging the pitcher's stuff and making calls, IMO. If he can use a bit of coaching regarding strategy then you do it in between innings, at practice, or if there is an emergency at a mound meeting. 

 I used to love calling games as a catcher...to me, it's part of the position.

57special posted: I'm with you.

Only thing that I might like to call is a pick off, or pitchout, if I smell something about to happen. In general, I like the boys to call their own game.  The catcher has the best seat in the house for gauging the pitcher's stuff and making calls, IMO. If he can use a bit of coaching regarding strategy then you do it in between innings, at practice, or if there is an emergency at a mound meeting. 

 I used to love calling games as a catcher...to me, it's part of the position.

I’m with both of you. “Usually” in baseball, major changes in how the game is played are based on some kind of factual evidence. For example, the shift is employed more and more because it can be proved it works. But that’s not what happened with pitch calling moving from the catcher to the dugout.

As far as I know, there’s never been any kind of study done to use as a basis for calling pitches from the dugout. Instead, its assumed coaches calling pitches produce better results. But even if that were true, you’d think those brilliant coaches could teach catchers how to call pitches before they got to professional baseball.

Well, in the majors they probably have all sorts of equipment to view the pitches, and info to help them with their pitch selection, so I can sorta go with it. There is nothing happening in youth, HS, and some college besides some guy sitting on a bucket touching his body parts. I did coach with a guy who was a really good baseball man, and he called everything for 13yo's...he was right, most of the time about what to call, but most of the kids couldn't execute his calls anyway.

   I would also argue that calling your own pitches makes you a smarter player. My youngest(P) complained about some of the pitch calls the other day when he was on the mound .

  I said, "Did you shake him off?"

  Him, "No."

I simply held my hands up and shrugged.