Easy solution???

How about a pump system? Easier to see than individual fingers. And glasses for the pitcher.

Get some new pitchers.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
How about a pump system? Easier to see than individual fingers. And glasses for the pitcher.

Rob, can you explain what you mean by the pump system. It may be glasses for the pitcher or something between the ears....

We used several systems, from the traditional signals, signs like a coach would use, to location of the mit. Made it easy to confuse the base runners as to which set to try and steal.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
How about a pump system? Easier to see than individual fingers. And glasses for the pitcher.

You could also use inner thigh slaps.

If the pitcher can't see the signals then he shouldnt be out there. If the pitcher is disregarding the signals, or doesnt understand the signals thats another issue. In the case of the latter, he could start throwing rockets back at the pitchers shoes until he got it figured out. I doubt it would take very long to get back on the same page.

Has your catcher tried these?

Go on touches...outs +1 or first touch

Mitt = FB
Mask = CU
Chest = CB

Then do the same with locations on the knees.

quote:

Originally posted by TripleDad:
If the pitcher can't see the signals then he shouldnt be out there.

Not all fields have decent lighting...

If the lighting is that bad maybe nobody should be out there.
I was never a pitcher, but I played the middle, I could see the signals there & could see them as a runner on 2b. It aint that hard

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
Go on touches...outs +1 or first touch

Mitt = FB
Mask = CU
Chest = CB

Then do the same with locations on the knees.

(First of all I failed to mention that this was a HS summer ball game where they give a kid a shot at positions they havent played much.)

My son did the above which I thought was good - the outs +1 was more then the pitcher could handle. My son conservatively did about 15-20 mound visits in two innings.

I told him to take the kid out and do some pens today to work on this and he gave me a look that basically said it was the equivelent of trying to teach a frog to talk.

Glove signs:

Glove on top of thigh when hand goes between legs to simulate signal = FB.

Glove on top of knee when hand goes between legs = curve

Glove below knee when hand goes between legs = slider.

Signal and then adjust face mask = change.

I got this one from a former St. Louis Cardinal

Stick his finger in a hole on the right side of his facemask = fastball regardless of what he signed.

Stick his finger into a hold on the left hand side = curve. Pull mask out to spit and signal = 3rd pitch. Then the only real signal he gave was the change.

As always, thanks everyone...every time you think you have seen it all something else happens.

I think he's calling for a sinker!