Mixed coaching

I think its best always to leave the mask on. Especially with the hockey style mask. I mean think about it, if you can catch pitches with the mask on and you see fine when receiving pitches, you should be able to have a clear view when getting that throw for the play at the plate. However, I am not that familiar with the two piece mask(the old school one), but I have worn it to try it on once and I felt the view was somewhat restricted. But helmet should definitely be on with the hockey style without a doubt. Another benifit of leaving the mask on is for that one hop throw. With the mask on you look it all the way in and dont have to worry about taking one off the face.

I guess you did not see the play the NYY Texas game other day where Pudge got taken out at home plate. He had his mask on and I am sure he was happy that he had it and all his other equipment on. Pudge got it on the knee but it also looked like the heads may have met. Both players went out of the game.

notes from the game:
"But Rodriguez actually came away in better shape than Murphy. While Rodriguez may be back in the lineup as soon as Thursday, Murphy is headed to the disabled list with a strained posterior cruciate ligament -- plus a black eye he took from the collision."

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=200...y&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Though you are most likely in high school and you should not have those kinds of collisions, you never know when you are going to get a helmet, knee, or cleat to the face.

You should always keep you mask on, if possible, for plays at the plate. You'll be able to see the ball coming in just fine, as well as the other players involved in the play. You keep the mask on for protection in the event of a collision, always.

Mask on. Its not the spikes getting you in the face, it is the runners elbow "finding" your face/nose.

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8591034941/m/5931036581

This was a discussion about a year or so ago on here and the opinion was pretty split down the middle.

I say leave it on for the reasons mentioned above. The hockey mask was the best invention for catchers since the hinge style mitt used today to allow recieving the ball one handed. It is much lighter and allows for a bigger range of vision than the old two pieces.

I think why some people stick to the take it off philosophy is they were around during the days of the heavy two piece. I used it as late as the early 90's when I was in HS. The mask was so heavy that any real sudden movement could possibly cause the mask to come off. So if you were setting up for a throw from the OF and had to adjust the mask had a chance of coming off. Plus the vision was pretty much straight ahead. I remember blocking balls in the dirt and looking straight down and have no idea where the ball was until I took it off.

Another reason for keeping the mask on is the one hop throw to the plate. About 6 or 7 years ago there was a play at the plate and my catcher sat up and the ball took a bad bounce and hit my catcher in the eye. He had to have a few stiches and that is what got me to change my thinking of keeping it on.

I would take it one step further and make sure your catcher has it on during pregame. There are more throws made to him during pregame than during the game, thus more chances to take a one-hopper to the chin! I also begun teaching mine a few years back (when the hockey style became mandatory) to keep it on to catch pop-ups.

I agree to leaving the mask on whenever possible. My son uses the Wilson Hinge FX mask and says that his peripheral vision is better with it than any other mask that he has used in the past. He feels confident that leaving it on during plays at the plate does not hinder him from seeing the runner at first.

With todays masks I have always trained catchers to keep it on except for pop ups. The hockey style mask allows for great vision. I used the old style all my playing days and had many bruises on plays at the plate, to the face and head. The thing weighed like 10 pounds on a 90 degree day. The newer masks are a big advantage for todays catchers and they should be left on except for pop ups.

Keep your mask on. The jury is still out on the hockey style mask in professional baseball.There are concerns that the incidence of concussions are greater with the hockey style mask. This is currently being studied.Also some catchers feel reticcted by the hockey mask because the lower extension gets caught up on their chest protectors when they are throwing.

JW