Catching back to back games?

I think it is OK to catch 10 innings. If your son is complaining about it, have HIM go to the coach, NOT YOU.

I agree with rebird, 10 innings is OK. Also agree with the other parent that he should not catch the game before he pitches, unless there are a couple of days in between. He should ice after every game the same as a pitcher would; he is getting a lot of throws.

I'm with Redbird here. Catching back to back games is fairly common especially in tournament situations and in summer ball. The legs usually get tired which is nothing more than fatigue. Kneesavers will help distribute the pressure away from the knees that will reduce knee injury. Be sure he drinks plenty of fluid prior to, and during the game especially during the warmer days. You mention he is also a pitcher. This is completley different than catching back to back games. If he is used as a pitcher then his catching has to be controlled (limited) to allow his arm to properly recover from the stress of pitching.
Best of luck,
Fungo

Thanks for your replies. I just wanted to get some points of view on the topic.
Redbird, my son has seldom complained about catching back to back. Some of those back to back games were extra inning games and his legs did get tired.
As for your advice of ME not going to the coach, I teach with his coaches and have a very good relationship with them. The high school coach is like family(he coached my oldest son) and my youngest son's jr. high coach is great. I was raised to respect what the coach decides plus I come from a family of coaches(football). The topic came up because last year the coach(high school coach took on the jr. high job) did not catch him back to back. I was just interested in how other coaches handle this situation.
My husband and I have NEVER gone to a coach to complain or question anything concerning our boys.

I think it is OK however, you need to keep in mind that many catchers are suseptable to Osgood Slaughter's Disease. I think that when you go to your family doctor for a physical etc. remind the Doctor that your son catches so he can monitor the knees. Also, get the knee savers. They help a bunch.

IF Mom,

No problem. I didn't know you taught with the coach. Knowing that, I would still encourage you to allow your son to talk with him. It would make it even easier for your son to approach him.

When he is sore...is it his muscles or his joints?

Redbird, the leg muscles were sore. However, he has not complained lately so maybe he is getting his "baseball" legs in shape. He is a 3-sport athlete(football, basketball, baseball), but each seems to require different muscles.
We played a very long(over 2 hours)5 innings on Tuesday and two games yesterday. My son played third(coach wanted to give his arm a rest)for most of the Tuesday game. Yesterday he pitched 4 innings of the first game finished out catching the rest of the afternoon. The boys then caught fly balls while the coaches were having a home run derby(lots of fun for the boys and coaches). He hasn't complained once about being sore. I would say he is getting into baseball shape. He also runs the bases when batting(no courtesy runner). He had an in the park home run yesterday! His second one of the season.
Thanks for your help Redbird.

First of all I do not endorse being a pitcher/catcher--be one or the other and that solves the problem

Secondly if I am the catcher I AIN'T sitting down-- 10 innings in one day--that is just warming up especially in the cool weather of spring.

When we were kids we played from dawn to dusk---

KIDS DON'T PLAY CATCH ANYMORE !!!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by AgentDad:
I agree with rebird, 10 innings is OK. Also agree with the other parent that he should not catch the game before he pitches, unless there are a couple of days in between. He should ice after every game the same as a pitcher would; he is getting a lot of throws.

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Is ice really the answer? My catching coach has told me to never ice. (Yes, I'm a player in the coaches board). He has always told me that after the game to take a shower switching between hot and cold every two minutes. I have never tried ice, but I have never been sore after doing it his way.

I wanted to catch every game. I was talented enough that the coach also wanted me to. So I did.

If a catcher can't catch both ends of a doubleheader he's not in good shape. Only exception is very high heat and humidity and if the catcher wants to play I still play him.

I caught 4-5 games in one day many times in fastpitch softball with 100 degree weather when I was in my 30's. Loved it.

If you have 2 equal catchers, giving them each one game of a doubleheader is fair to divide up playing time. But to the make the change and end up with less at the position is a mistake.

Lamber

Catching fast pitch softball games does not compare to catching a baseball game--- those softball games are 1-0 affairs and over in 60 minutes--wasnt it Eddie Feighner or whatever who played those fast pitch softball games with a only 4 players????? I think his catcher was in his 60''s !!!!

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE !!!!!

You can always count on TR to talk before he thinks.

Please explain, from a catching standpoint, the difference between catching baseball and fastpitch softball..........I didn't think you knew.

Reaction time is less in fastpitch than it is in baseball. Amount of ball movement is much greater in fastpitch. You either have to drop to block, or, on occasion, jump to catch the high rise. It's much more stressful in fastpitch than in baseball. Very few baseball pitchers have the heavy fastball down and in to right handed hitters. Some do. But it's standard with the hard drop ball from fastpitch pitchers. And that is the pitch that tears up catchers glove hand/thumb. No time to turn the glove over to catch it the way you'd like so you have to back hand it and it hits directly on the end of the thumb often.

The required effort level is much higher in fastpitch than in baseball. The quickness needed is much greater also. Thus, the fatique factor is much higher.

And for the length of the games, I can tell you've not seen any fastpitch. You're just talking like you know something. It's the slow pitch games that take only an hour and are scheduled on the hour. Fastpitch is just like baseball. A seven inning game is an hour and a half to 2 hours.

And, by the way, The King and his Court was a circus act. Yes, he could pitch. But, all they did was exhibitions.

Lamber

I will ignore your opening remark--not worth a response

You should,not be so quick to judge others from you site in Texas

Catching a Fastpitch game is like sitting in a rocking chair--fast pitch pitchers are machines and accurate.

I respectfully disagree with your thinking on required effort

As for not having seen any fastpitch games you are so off base it makes me laugh--I grew up on Long Island where FastPitch softball was THE KING at Jones Beach all summer long--standing room only games-- until 7 years ago I lived in a city in Westchester County NY that was a fast pitch softball crazy city ---was there for 25 years and saw a lot of fast pitch softball at night after the boys games ended-- one local tavern owner fully sponsored a ladies fast pitch team that won national titles and they were good

Most 7 inning baseball games are over two hours and played in daytime under the sun-- fast pitch softball is played mainly under the lights up this way-- much cooler

King and His Court, at least you got that right, may have been a circus act in your mind but they rarely lost to 9 or 10 man squads and The King had only three other player with him

Have a good one

Call the doctor, please.

The King and his Court never beat any top notch fastpitch team. Ever heard of Professional Wrestling? How about the Harlem Globetrotters?

There's a sucker born everyday. What is your birthday?

I guess there are no baseball games played under the lights in your neck of the woods.

And.......no weekend fastpitch tournaments that run all day long both Saturday and Sunday.

Please, just once think before you type.

And for the time of a 7 inning game, I coached high school ball and summer select ball. Our high school games start at 4:15 around here so the game can be completed before it's too dark to play (few schools have lights). 6:00p is all you can count on. Our summer games start at 5:45p. 9 out of 10 end by 7:30p. A major league tv game averages around 3 hours for 9 innings and that includes two 2 minute commercials each inning. That's 36 minutes of commercials. You do the math.

And what the hell does "fastpitch pitchers are accurate" mean. Should everyone throw underhand if they're a little wild? Sounds like it's automatic. Throw underhand an you'll be accurate????? You sure it doesn't have anything to do with how good they are? Just like anyting else.

Doctor, please admit him.

PS For those of you who do not know, the King and his Court was a very good fastpitch pitcher who made a living traveling the country putting on exhibitions with his 4 player team. Himself, a catcher, a shortstop and a first baseman.

They could beat any ole group of local yocal church league players and were used as a fund raising mechanism for charities. They'd sign up to be in your town on such and such a date and they'd play the "town" team. The community would come out and pay an admission and raise money for new lights or uniforms or a tractor.

Most of the time the King would beat these local yocals. He was an amazing pitcher. I saw him strike out many a local while pitching from second base (part of his act).

But..........he couldn't beat any top notch class A team, class AA team or any Major team.

TR wants you to believe his 4 man team could beat a 9 man team that is basically made up of former college players (studs) who happen to have a pitcher (or two) just as good as the King.

How many times are you going to pick these fights? Will you ever learn?????

Thats about the dumbest post Lamber has spewed up in a long long time. LOL

Heres a local team for you.
How about Mays, McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Killebrew and Clemente.

Feigner struck all of them out in one game - in a row. They never touched the ball.

Feigner threw 104 mph.

Lamber talks and writes 104 mph. (and probably never saw Feigner either)
All gibberish - but its fast. LOL

As for comparing "catching" fastpitch softball vs. baseball - thats also a joke. I should know - given that I played fastpitch for 13 years.

Lamber - just adrift in the "Lamber world".
Completely useless bandwidth.
LOL

Ahh.....the merry men have arrived.

Not only TR, but his merry men believe a team of 4 can beat a team of 9 because the pitcher throws 104mph.

First, I never disputed the Kings ability. I do believe I mentioned he struck out hitters while pitching from second base.

Second, it was your side that states "the King seldom lost to 9 or 10 men squads". (as an aside, fastpitch is always played with 9......don't get your games mixed up TR.....slow pitch is played with 10) How far will you stick your neck out? If it was a real game, and not an exhibition, don't you think the 9 man team would bunt the 4 man team to death? If in fact the King was throwing 104mph from 40 some feet?

Thirdly, this discussion was about the fatique factor of catchers and how much they should catch in one day. My point was simply that catching either sport is demanding. But, if in shape, the catcher can catch both games of a double header with ease. A case can be made that fastpitch is more demanding. Closer pitcher, less reaction time, more movement on the pitches. For those who haven't played or seen, the pitches in fastpitch don't come straight. They either go up or down. And they go up or down with top speed, unlike baseball where almost all pitches that move are offspeed. Ok, ok, a fastball can move. But I'm talking about movement up or down of 6-8" or more.

Finally, the merriest man now claims he played fastpitch for 13 years. Convenient. Doesn't say he was (and never has claimed to be) a catcher. But, he can tell you that it's more difficult to catch in baseball.

I really get a kick out watching you guys line up behind ridiculous premises simply because you don't like me. And, from the private conversations I have with other posters, they laugh at you and chuckle with me about the length you go.

I can play you like a drum.

Rat a tat tat

PLAY THE DRUMS LOUDLY

Isnt it strange that Lamber feels I don't like him ?

How can you not like someone you have not even met?

For all I know Lamber does not even live in Texas-- he may not even be real-- it is like this site is his sanctuary to get away from the real world where he probably is truly not liked.

It used to be we could debate for days on this site and nobody got sensitive about it-- it is only a screen on a computer--

Why is it those who have trouble dealing with people on here always come to the conclusion they are not liked-- Perhaps that is the new copout when someone does not agree with you-- I AM NOT LIKED BY HIM/HER !!!! I would think they would run out of forums to post in very quickly

And yet he comes back to play his drum--RAT A TAT A TAT--

Lamber I sincerely feel for you--it must be a lonely existence thinking the way you do.

When the facts aren't on your side change the subject.

Infield Mom

Getting back to the original post. You said another 'baseball parent" suggested etc etc. Not his call. coaches call. Is there a backup catcher. Maybe he should be getting time. After all this a Jr. High team. got to prepare all the kids.

Catching the ten inning game shouldn't be a problem,use the advice given from some very knowledgeable people.
I had to be away from the site for a few days to my computer having the "flu" and when I return I see there is still a Lamber disagreing with everyone. Lighten up lamber your not always right, no one is.

The question isn't how often I'm right. The question is how often TRHIt is wrong yet supported by his merry men.

If they weren't wrong so often then I wouldn't be right so often.

Will,
There is a back-up catcher, but there is a definite difference in my son's ability to block balls and quickness behind the plate. As the coach says, my son is probably the #2 pitcher, but definitely the #1 catcher. I understand that this is jr. high ball and it is geared toward learning. I just put the question out there because of an experienced baseball parent's comment(his oldest son is now playing college baseball). I prefer that my son not pitch and concentrate on his catching skills as he is the high school coach's pick to step into the varsity position this summer. But I understand the coach(who happens to be like a family member) makes the final call.