Catchers On Tournament Team In Pool Play

If you look at it just from the standpoint of wining a single game, there is a quality and continuity factor - go with your best.  But that is rarely the only thing in play with a HS age tournament.  If it is a travel org with a recruiting element, who's there to see who do what can be a factor.  From a player rotation standpoint, other mid-late game player insertions may affect the catcher position from a secondary/tertiary move standpoint.  Could be a pitcher/catcher pairing decision.  etc., etc.  These things aren't decided in a bubble or based on the personal preference of the catcher or any other single player.  

Too many variables. Is there a coach/school there to see a catcher? Does getting to the next day and playoffs mean there will be a coach/school there to see a certain player. If your coach is competent there are many things he's thinking about that you're not even aware of.

I will say, if you're in a local tournament where you're playing 3 pool games in 1 day, you're in the wrong tournament. 

I really have not seen the split game catching unless there was an injury

In the summer, my son was on Team 1. And, he was in Team 2 in the fall.

Like I said, I can see both sides of it and would not necessarily say one is right or wrong, better or worse, etc.

For sure, on Team 2, it was about making sure everyone got a look. And, personally, I saw it as an opportunity for the kids. No need to pace yourself if you know you're only back there for three. Plus, because you stronger, only catching half a game, it eliminates the injuries that come from being fatigued. Lastly, while this was the fall and it didn't matter, it beats being back there for the full game when it is 95 degrees out.

This all said, when the fall was over, my son said to me (1) I miss catching the whole game and (2) it's going to be weird next spring in HS ball because that will be the first time I caught a whole game since July.

I also think that catching the whole game gives you more chances to show more. If you are only catching three and you have an excellent pitcher out there who only faces 11 and allows just 2 base runners and zero runs, you're probably not going to have many opportunities to show your arm, blocking, field leadership, etc.

Francis7 posted:

Like I said, I can see both sides of it and would not necessarily say one is right or wrong, better or worse, etc.

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I also think that catching the whole game gives you more chances to show more. If you are only catching three and you have an excellent pitcher out there who only faces 11 and allows just 2 base runners and zero runs, you're probably not going to have many opportunities to show your arm, blocking, field leadership, etc.

You clearly are saying what you believe is right.....which is fine.

Get the most of your ABs. Yes pop time, and intangibles are nice, but showing you can hit is what will get you noticed.

I asked my kid this question, and he prefers to catch a few innings. He also wants to play OF and now pitch. However, NYCDad is right, it is all about hitting. 

nycdad posted:

Francis7 posted:

Like I said, I can see both sides of it and would not necessarily say one is right or wrong, better or worse, etc.

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I also think that catching the whole game gives you more chances to show more. If you are only catching three and you have an excellent pitcher out there who only faces 11 and allows just 2 base runners and zero runs, you're probably not going to have many opportunities to show your arm, blocking, field leadership, etc.

You clearly are saying what you believe is right.....which is fine.

Get the most of your ABs. Yes pop time, and intangibles are nice, but showing you can hit is what will get you noticed.

Sincerely, I don't have a preference. I never had an issue with splitting a game. Actually, I thought it was a great way to stay fresh - especially if you are a high energy and extremely active catcher. 

FWIW, some coaches have told my son that, if you are a brilliant game caller, a blocking machine that never allows a ball by you, and you have a consistent 1.8 POP time, college coaches will play you and not care if you take a collar at the plate every game. 

That said, personally, I agree that it's the bat that gets you noticed.

Francis7 posted:

FWIW, some coaches have told my son that, if you are a brilliant game caller, a blocking machine that never allows a ball by you, and you have a consistent 1.8 POP time, college coaches will play you and not care if you take a collar at the plate every game. 

That said, personally, I agree that it's the bat that gets you noticed.

This is really very interesting - a perfect example, I think, of interpretation of words while in the recruiting phase.

Based on the context of you replying to others saying you have to hit to get noticed and your response, I believe your interpretation is something like...  "if you are a really good defensive catcher, you don't necessarily need to be a good hitter".  I interpret those exact same words as …  "you better be a once-in-a-generation defensive whiz behind the plate if you don't hit well, and those don't exist.  So you dam well better hit".     

… not meaning to pick on you specifically, Francis.  This just struck me as I was reading it as something that happens a lot.  We hear words and make them fit into our box.

Me? To be candid, we go watch some local D1 programs. And, for sure, all their catchers excel at receiving, blocking and throwing. They all look like defensive studs to me. So, you have to have those skills if you want to stick at catcher. And, FWIW, at least around us, none of them are batting above 6th. So, there might be something to what those guys are saying. HOWEVER, you better be a great hitter at the HS level. Kids hitting. 225 in HS ain't playing in college, defensive stud or not.

Francis7 posted:

FWIW, some coaches have told my son that, if you are a brilliant game caller, a blocking machine that never allows a ball by you, and you have a consistent 1.8 POP time, college coaches will play you and not care if you take a collar at the plate every game. 

That said, personally, I agree that it's the bat that gets you noticed.

I'm calling BS on this. Not that they didn't tell you this, but that they meant this. Was the next sentence "Come to our camp?"

The top MLB pop time is 1.88 (baseball savant). 

No one cares if you can call a game if you can't hit. Heck, how many colleges let a catcher call a game?

"FWIW, some coaches have told my son that, if you are a brilliant game caller, a blocking machine that never allows a ball by you, and you have a consistent 1.8 POP time, college coaches will play you and not care if you take a collar at the plate every game." Said a "coach" who swears Bigfoot is real and has an internet site selling live Unicorns. 

Again, we are interpreting differently even though saying sorta the same thing at times.  Hitting in the bottom half of a decent D1 lineup does not at all indicate that you are not a good hitter... you have beaten out countless other very good HS players to first earn the roster spot and second, earn the starting spot at the highest level of college baseball.  As you said, all of the catchers at that level generally excel at receiving, blocking an throwing so you better hit to create the necessary separation and to be able to contribute on both sides of the ball.    

And again, more factors come into in play here.  College coaches will often place a C down in the lineup so that they can give sufficient focus on working the defensive side and working with their P's in pre-game warm-ups and between innings, mentally reviewing opposition scouting info on hitters, etc..  Another factor is that C's have to sacrifice time working on their hitting more so than others during practices in order to provide the necessary support that the typical program needs from it's C's.  So, they better be a good enough hitter going in that they won't be too much of a weak link in the lineup despite the sacrifices.

It also depends on who the pitcher is. Some catchers pair up better with some pitchers. 

Maybe there could be a lights out defense F2 that gets time at a D1. However with only 299 D1 schools, we are talking less than a 1000 catchers spots. The supply is way to high not to take a catcher that can mash too