rz1,
My son holds his catchers in high esteem and we as parents always make an effort to thank the catchers parents when our son "looks" good. And we even manage to thank them when they both had an "off" day.
My son has had two summer league catchers that had a tremendous impact on his game. One is For the Fun of It's son who plays for FAU and the other who plays for UF. He misses them both!
As the parent of a high school pitcher I really don't get too nervous when he pitches. I played alot of baseball and I realize that there is nothing I can do from the other side of the backstop to help him. I really enjoy seeing him pitch - especially those games where he hits well too.
Now, I will tell you when I do feel nervous - when he plays quarterback on the football team. I never played that position so I can't relate to it. And I constantly worry about his physical health and have held my breath many times when he has had to peel himself off the turf. It is hard to remain calm when you have to watch 250 boys trying to annilehate your son and make him hurt. Not to mention when the team is playing on the road and the opposing fans applaud loudly whenever he makes a mistake or gets planted. Now THAT's hard to watch.
I'll take pitching any day.
Now, I will tell you when I do feel nervous - when he plays quarterback on the football team. I never played that position so I can't relate to it. And I constantly worry about his physical health and have held my breath many times when he has had to peel himself off the turf. It is hard to remain calm when you have to watch 250 boys trying to annilehate your son and make him hurt. Not to mention when the team is playing on the road and the opposing fans applaud loudly whenever he makes a mistake or gets planted. Now THAT's hard to watch.
I'll take pitching any day.
I too have PMS (Pitchers Mother Syndrome). I hold my breath with each pitch, say a little prayer and hope for the best possible game. I have total faith in my son and his pitching. Now my hubby on the other hand, paces, talks to himself and is the one standing behind the radar guns. Drives EVERYONE crazy. Especially my son. 
I'm one who chooses to stand well down the 1st baseline fence...well out of my son's line of sight. Fortunately, that fence in Chapel Hill is only about 5' tall; so, it offers an unobstructed view of the game.
When I find some special way to reduce my anxiety, you all will be among the first hear.
P.S. Don't hold your breath!
P.S.S. I invite any visiting HSBaseballWeber to come say "hello" if you're there.
When I find some special way to reduce my anxiety, you all will be among the first hear.
P.S. Don't hold your breath!
P.S.S. I invite any visiting HSBaseballWeber to come say "hello" if you're there.
I've met Prepster down the first base fence line many times.... As for myself, I will do anything except sit. But I prefer to pace. I try to keep my hands busy, so I will frequently keep a book. When I don't have a book, I snack constantly..... I need to find a replacement for sun-flower seeds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a pitchers parent I know I can be a Royal Pain for my son. I start stressing out in November. When his coach tells him he's the teams Number 1 starter, I'm trying not to jump on him about imperfections in his mechanics. When the coach says he looked great in the outfield all I can think about is the one hit that a good dive might have caught. When he hits a hard grounder for a single, all I seem to remember is that he rolled his wrist on the swing.
I drive a race car for a team that has competed for National Championships on TV in front of 50,000 fans in the stands, yet I am way more stressed out when he's on that mound. The reason is I have no control over the situation.
This may not be politically correct, however, I have found that one single beer before the game can be just enough to take the edge off and allow me to enjoy the game a bit more.
I drive a race car for a team that has competed for National Championships on TV in front of 50,000 fans in the stands, yet I am way more stressed out when he's on that mound. The reason is I have no control over the situation.
This may not be politically correct, however, I have found that one single beer before the game can be just enough to take the edge off and allow me to enjoy the game a bit more.
quote:
This may not be politically correct, however, I have found that one single beer before the game can be just enough to take the edge off and allow me to enjoy the game a bit more.
That's why the Good Lord created styrofoam cups.
This is really right up my alley....my son pitches, and I can't watch...oh I am at the game and I do watch our teams' offensive half of the inning, but when my son gets out on the mound, I sit in my chair and I look down at the ground, and I listen...I listen to hear the umpire's call - ball or strike...I can't help it...many of the parents will walk by me and let me know I'm missing a good game...I actually watched an entire game my son pitched without seeing him pitch one pitch...After the game, in the car on the way home, he talked about never having faced a team with seven left hand batters in the line-up...I didn't even know!!!!! Because I wasn't watching, I was listening...I hope next year when he is in college I can out grow this...but I can't help it...its a sickness...but, I have heard a lot of good games that he has pitched (ha ha)
Yesterday, my son came home from practice and told me that the team had watched the video tape of his pitching debut. The coaches graded him out and gave him a rating.
Let's just say while I was watching him, during the game, I saw many more flaws then they did.
But apparently, that's what nervousness does to you.
Let's just say while I was watching him, during the game, I saw many more flaws then they did.
But apparently, that's what nervousness does to you.
I can empathize with catcher's parents, being a former catcher and a coach who is usually connected with the catchers. My son is now just a pitcher, though.
Catchers have enormous amounts of responsibilities and expectations placed upon them, but pitchers are held accountable and removed from the game if the opposition is scoring too many runs.
Catchers have enormous amounts of responsibilities and expectations placed upon them, but pitchers are held accountable and removed from the game if the opposition is scoring too many runs.
Prepster, good to hear from you again - - wishing y'all & Robert a great season
TPM, BeeMom just believes that pitchers are needed so the catcher has someone to throw the ball back to - lol
I've also had the priviedge and pleasure in college baseball, of meeting some "pitcher parents" who were just great fans and focused on other players on the team during the game more so than their own - - truely great folks to be around
TPM, BeeMom just believes that pitchers are needed so the catcher has someone to throw the ball back to - lol
I've also had the priviedge and pleasure in college baseball, of meeting some "pitcher parents" who were just great fans and focused on other players on the team during the game more so than their own - - truely great folks to be around
quote:
some "pitcher parents" who were just great fans and focused on other players on the team during the game more so than their own -
For the parents of starting pitchers, we better be able to focus on other players ... ours are only out there once every 5-7 days whereas the regular starting line-up is in every inning of every game.
As far as catchers and an appreciation for them ... I believe that they can make or break a game depending on their ability to lead. My son loves being part of a "battery" on the scoresheet ... he uses his right hand to pitch and considers his catcher his "right arm" !!!
TigerPawMom:
I wish I lost weight watching my kid pitch, I seem to be putting it on (maybe it's those peanut M&Ms that I shove in my mouth)
Just Baseball: We hear Erik is doing well!!! Wish we were there at Sunken Diamond, too!
Go Cardinal!
I wish I lost weight watching my kid pitch, I seem to be putting it on (maybe it's those peanut M&Ms that I shove in my mouth)
Just Baseball: We hear Erik is doing well!!! Wish we were there at Sunken Diamond, too!
Go Cardinal!
Thats a great point about the catchers by all. I was a catcher and thoroughly enjoyed it...and when my sons have played catcher, I have not found myself as nervous...maybe because I played it.
But there is NO doubt whatsoever that a pitcher cannot be at his best without good work by the catcher. Yes, they have my utmost respect.
But there is NO doubt whatsoever that a pitcher cannot be at his best without good work by the catcher. Yes, they have my utmost respect.
lhpmom - Less than a year away before yours is there too! YAHOO! 
Hopefully we can meet in Omaha this year!!!
In the meantime, make sure you eat some of those yummy garlic fries for us!!!
In the meantime, make sure you eat some of those yummy garlic fries for us!!!
I love this thread and am particularly glad that the catcher role has been highlighted, too. I have always thought that my son pitches much better when he had a catcher that understands his strengths and limitations, is able to act as the leader on the field, call smart pitches, manage the psyche of the pitcher, and (perhaps most important of all) be a great 'framer' .
In my opinion, a good #2 is equally if not more important than a good #1.
. In my opinion, a good #2 is equally if not more important than a good #1.
Blue,
Your avatar is KILLING me!
Your avatar is KILLING me!
The pitcher-catcher relationship does go both ways. A good pitcher can make a catcher's job real easy.
Actually, grateful, a bad pitcher can make it even easier....the ball never gets to him 
.
.