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Catcher or Pitcher, what's best for the team

PU Pop Up Hitter dad1,000+ posts
Son's HS team is about to go into league play, he is starting catcher who also can pitch. Can a team with average pitching do better with a good catcher or a good pitcher? Son relieved for three innings recently, had not pitched in a game since last July. Gave up no hits, K'd 5, walked one. Parent had radar gun, he was throwing 86, with good control and had several pitches working. Once we go into league play we play two to three games a week. The one factor here is coach's son is #1 pitcher, no surprise right. Good pitcher, does not throw as hard and has some command problems. Son is not complaining, comments (other team) after that game about him was they liked him better as a catcher. He has only been recruited as a catcher. Coach's son of course will be pitching all the "big" games. We have a good team, of course like most HS teams, hitting is something we need to improve on, especially Pop up. Any opinions on is it okay to catch Monday and pitch on Friday? I sense coach is reluctant to pitch son, because it might take some of the spotlight off his son as a pitcher.

Pop up Hitter Dad

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ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
I sense coach is reluctant to pitch son, because it might take some of the spotlight off his son as a pitcher.

Maybe he is reluctant to see your son's arm fall off so that is why he is pitching him less

Catchers probably throw more than any other position on the team. I realize some kids can do both but at least he is getting to play. I wouldn't try and figure out the coach's motivation. Enjoy the fact he is playing and let the other worries go.
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
I wouldn't particularly encourage the coach to have your son both pitch and catch. That is a very heavy load and it does take a toll on arms. As CD said, I wouldn't worry too much about the coach's motivation, I would worry about your son being the best he can be - on the field and in the classroom. Control what he can control, and don't worry about the rest.
O Orlando1,000+ posts
A good catcher can make the whole staff better, not to mention what he can do to control/prevent runners. Catching also gives him a chance to hit for the team, not to mention ongoing development that skill for his own future.

The arm motion for both types of throws is very different and can be hard on the arm. Having said that, my son has done both --- an additional challenge is maintaining the pitching motion; catchers who pitch tend to short-arm.
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
POHD, as the father of a player who was used heavily in high school as both a catcher (primary position) and pitcher (secondary position), and whose baseball playing days were shortened due to a serious elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, I'd strongly recommend that you not worry about him doing both, and be happy with whichever of the two he settles toward.

Now that we're headed toward Easter break, I can well remember a day during son's easter tournament his sophomore year where the coach had him pitch the first game of the day, and he threw a 99 pitch 1-hitter. The second game was 30 minutes later and he put on the gear and caught 7 innings. His arm was hurting and pretty tired for a few weeks after that. I still think that day was the single greatest contributor to son's arm injury. I'd far prefer to still be able to watch my son play baseball, than to remember that day in the easter tournament.
B BBB0810+ posts
Pop Up Hitter Dad: I hate this if he really would rather pitch, but the most important is that he does not blow his arm trying to do both. I have a young pitcher and from our experience (even being young), we have always told our pitcher to be grateful to your catcher. A good catcher can make him look alot better. Your son must be a jam up catcher if the coach picked him to catch for his own son. Good Luck!

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