I was informed that you can get more strike calls if you make your glove pop while receiving. What are your thoughts on this?
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I don't know about more strikes, but I do know I prefer to hear the glove popping and I know a lot of pitchers do too.
The basic way to make the glove pop is to catch the ball firmly in the correct part of the mitt. A lot of catchers try to catch the ball out in the pocket of the mitt, but I don't think this is proper (mitt won't pop, and I think the catcher will have less control and ability to "stick" the pitch). They generally, I think, prefer to catch the ball in the pocket because they want to be sure not to catch the ball in the palm because that can hurt.
I prefer to have catchers catch the ball in the area between the pocket and the palm, basically in the area of the mitt that would be between the pointer finger and the thumb. This is a stronger and more solid part of the mitt, and should also allow the catcher a little more control of the pitch (along with a nice little pop).
The basic way to make the glove pop is to catch the ball firmly in the correct part of the mitt. A lot of catchers try to catch the ball out in the pocket of the mitt, but I don't think this is proper (mitt won't pop, and I think the catcher will have less control and ability to "stick" the pitch). They generally, I think, prefer to catch the ball in the pocket because they want to be sure not to catch the ball in the palm because that can hurt.
I prefer to have catchers catch the ball in the area between the pocket and the palm, basically in the area of the mitt that would be between the pointer finger and the thumb. This is a stronger and more solid part of the mitt, and should also allow the catcher a little more control of the pitch (along with a nice little pop).
I doubt you get more strikes based on the sound. If so, the umpire must be very poor.
To work on proper receiving, catch the ball between your index finger and your thumb.
To work on proper receiving, catch the ball between your index finger and your thumb.
The glove popping means little to me---I have heard the glove pop with guys throwing under 80 as much as I have heard it with guys throwing over 85
Catching the ball where Emanski suggested will help the most if you want the mitt to pop. The web or palm won't give much pop to hear. Also, don't grab or snatch at the ball but rather recieve the ball with soft hands (alot more important than the pop).
Sometimes a mitt that isn't broken in properly won't pop no matter what you do. Typically mitts broken in with a box shape to the pocket pop more consistently from what I have seen.
To me the soft hands/receiving skills are the most important traits for a catcher. That will get you more strikes called than anything.
As far as the pop pitches getting more strikes calls....only if blue has a cane or a dog back there with him.
Sometimes a mitt that isn't broken in properly won't pop no matter what you do. Typically mitts broken in with a box shape to the pocket pop more consistently from what I have seen.
To me the soft hands/receiving skills are the most important traits for a catcher. That will get you more strikes called than anything.
As far as the pop pitches getting more strikes calls....only if blue has a cane or a dog back there with him.
The pop of the glove does little for me other than to tell me my catcher caught the ball correctly and not in the palm or web of the glove.
IMHO: Soft hands, great funneling, sitting as low as possible to give the blue a clear view (unless in the secondary position), and being polite to the blue!
I agree it wont get you any more calls but you can bet the opposing players can hear it pop and that can have an impact
quote:Originally posted by bigbeng94:
I was informed that you can get more strike calls if you make your glove pop while receiving. What are your thoughts on this?
With an Umpire??.......NO......Not a chance....
But if you want some psychological impact on the opposing dugout it may work on the weaker hitters.....(good hitters love fastballs...)
I had a team who would use a new glove for 1st inning pitcher warm ups.....lot of good sounding POPS.....then switch to the softer mitt for the game....
all head games....might work on some,....
But for me as an umpire...its not the sound of the glove that lets me know the pitch has velocity....its the sound of the ball coming in.......
If you ever caught anyone over 90....the ball hisses at you as it comes in....especially with a raised seam HS ball...
So is that a way to tell, whether someone is throwing high 80s to 90, if the ball hisses as it comes in?
