Pop Time

2.2 as a freshman

^^sounds like a nice hose to me..... as a freshmen.... keep it up!

Hey Knoc, what year are you in?

2.3 as a freshman

Getting better every day!

i lucked out this year, my freshman coach was a catcher and a local college last year, was going 2 play agian this year but the school he transfered to, he didn't like the program or something decied to quit for the year. He said his time was 1.8-1.9 constanly and I have learned so much from him in 6 weeks. At first I was around 2.5-2.6 and I changed afew small things.

Knoc,
When you say "use your legs", what should your legs do when your using them?

I have a 2.15 as a sophomore, but I am working everyday on getting it faster.

catc- probly stay low (not staniding up) and drive with your legs towad the bag while throwing

I drive with my legs really hard....it helps keep the ball low and on the line

I don't think driving with your legs is a good cue.

I know it's bad, but if I'm on the phone and eating a sandwich, or my hands are dry and I want to put lotion on, floss my teeth, etc.. how else am I going to drive? Info, I have a feeling you have some ideas on this, help us out. My younger son likes to catch and I'm interested in finding good advice.

Catching is not for everyone
He has to be mentally tough to catch.Chances are Coach will blame him for most things even if they arent his fault.

At the HS level,a catcher has to block the ball well.He cannot be sacred of the ball.Blocking in a way is a desire not a skill.

He has to be able to frame a pitch and not make it incrediply obvious.This usually works by breaking of the wrists versus moving the hand as a whole.

He has to be able to control the running game.Chances are if he wants to play varsity he needs to have a pop time to 2nd base of no more then 2.5sec(or most places have ideal times)

What would I reccomend?Have him go to the local HS or just any place that has pitchers for that matter and have him ask to work bullpens.He can work on all aspects of his game here and get used to catching game speeds.Throw him blocks 4 times a week if not more.Go 3 sets to the left,3 to the right,3 down the middle,10 throws in each set.Also Jump ropes to quicken his feet.

Aside from that have him read sites like this one we are on(see the catching section on the main page)and also read stuff like this and talk to guys like this.

http://www.brescia.edu/athletic/Project.htm

I have personally talked to him and several other coaches(even some D-1)who can give helpful and supportive advice.

He needs to want this because its completely different from any other position.Good luck!

Futurecatcher27 is right about blocking. It is more desire than skill. There comes a point where on every pitch your looking for that ball in the dirt where you can throw your body in front of it and have the good block. Alot of it is in the head.

Info.... well I was up @ UF and they taught us several drills on how to use legs, and different methods, you might replace feet but I put my foot toward second basing forcing me to use my legs.....think about it, do you really just sling it down to second base? And you no legs are at? what about when you get tired? i know when i get tired and my arm isnt all there and i try and throw, it pretty much sucks, what helps pitchers late in the game? thats all im saying...

If you'd write your post in English I'd be happy to respond.

Knocturnal, seems to me it worked for you. I think the legs play a huge role in throwing the ball. Try sitting in a chair and see what your pop time is, I'm guessing it would be quite a bit slower. Strong legs seem to help pitchers and hitters. I always thought that if you want to throw hard you need good legs and a strong core.

quote:

Originally posted by Infopimp:
If you'd write your post in English I'd be happy to respond.

everything is pretty much clear in my response, ask innocent bystander, if my methods are so wrong, explans whats wrong in using the legs? Is that in good enough english for you!?

since you asked i will say it

right before the season i was clocked at around 1.9

CLASS OF 09 BABY

woo hoo, go us frosh, im around 1.9-2.0 too. oh what fun. and i still am not starting, i think we are good or something

i've thrown between a 1.87 and a 2.0. i consistenly throw game 1.94-2.0's. i dont want to call anyone out and call them liars, but throwing 1.88's and 1.9's are pretty darn good as freshman. like top catchers as freshman. my question for you is who is timing you and is this at 60-90. i forget what year i moved up to 60-90. remember, im not calling anyone a liar here.

MasseyCatcher7,
You must be ready for balls that don't go 6 feet 6 inches. It's that simple. it doesn't hurt when the ball hits your chest protector. When it hits your arms, well- it's cool to have seams on your arms. it's really about anticipating the ball in the dirt. After a practice have guy throw balls in the dirt and you block them. Focus on technique. You'll get it down. Then, when your in a game, be alert on every pitch and as soon as you see "the ball ain't reaching me" get front of it, and let the phrase "nice block" ring in your ears a little while.

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massey_catcher,
I am a senior catcher from Illinois and i know what you mean bout gettin in the habit of blockin balls...when i first got to high school i was hesitant about droppin down to block a ball in the dirt but now its just a habit...i drop down on everything even if there isnt anyone on base...you wanted to know bout some drills well one that helped me and i know it sounds crazy is my coach would have me in full gear and no glove and just whip baseballs at me until it just became a habit..sure a few would be stingers but you get used to it...try it out and i wish the best of luck to you.

quote:

Originally posted by KayMart4:
i've thrown between a 1.87 and a 2.0. i consistenly throw game 1.94-2.0's. i dont want to call anyone out and call them liars, but throwing 1.88's and 1.9's are pretty darn good as freshman. like top catchers as freshman. my question for you is who is timing you and is this at 60-90. i forget what year i moved up to 60-90. remember, im not calling anyone a liar here.

Tony Turek (scout from OPRF), and yes

lol ya you are if thats what your pop is

I hit 2.2,2.3 consistently
Not great, but blocking is my strength.

I am right at 2 seconds normally. I think I've gotten under once or twice, but normally around the 2.0-2.1 range.

I have found that pop times are alot like gun readings on pitchers. So many times I have heard about the kid throwing 90 only to show up and see 83-84. And just as many times I have heard about the 1.9 pop only to see it around 2.2. A consistent 2.0 pop is the benchmark. THERE ARE VERY FEW CATCHERS at the high school level that actually can throw a 2.0 pop. The ones that can throw a consistent accurate 2.0 and below are just as special as the pitchers that throw consistently in 90's. Ive been to a ton of showcase events and there are only a couple of guys everytime that do it. It has alot to do with who is running the stop watch thats for sure.

Coach May:

I can't claim your experience in seeing lots of showcases and high school games, but common sense tells me what you say is precisely correct.

I've timed many MLB catchers in game-pop situations (the wonders of TIVO) and they are routinely at or around 2.0 depending on where the pitch was.

So I take HS pop time claims with a grain of salt about the size of a baseball.

Yea, I time Major Leaguers sometimes when I'm watching games, and I forogt which team, i think Oakland catcher, had 2.3. It was one throw, but he actually got the runner.

quote:

Originally posted by massey_catcher7:
mjfenwick,

i see you are a scout and which team is OPRF?

no im not a scout, he was the one who clocked me, OPRF is Oak Park River Forest in Illinois

i use to throw a 2.2 with a terrible transfer time due to a huuuuge glove, but than i got a MUCH smaller one and im down to 1.8 with some exercises of course

yeah, im getting down around 5.8. really doin good. i almost threw out a guy going to second, but by the time the ball got to second, he was rounding third

bakstop007,
wat size glove did u use, and what did u change to?

I'll have to get my pop time sometime. Since i've never thought about going to college to play baseball i've never done it. Im strictly for the love of the game. Also being a catcher you should have the confidence to tell a pitcher to put that curve in the dirt 0-2 and know that you can block it. Nothing better then blocking balls in the dirt with a guy on third in the bottom of the 7th with the game tied. Its great knowing that at any time you could win or lose the game for your team. Pure Adrenaline rush. If you dont get that blocking balls and throwing down to second base getting a guy it isnt for you.

i dont know what size my mitt is right off the top of my head, it needs to be restrung cause i keep smashing my thumb, acuse it ends up in the pocket of my glove.

but i like a glove thats maybe an inch extension on the size of my hand

unless you have really large hands, you must be using like a 31 or something. One of the catchers on my varsity team, used a glovesmith mitt, it was a 30.5 mitt, I don't know how you could catch with something like that. It had a really deep pocket though.