I've never measured my sons pop time. He just works on his foot work, does long toss and throw guys out. stays up till 11:00 doing home work some nights and has a 3.6 GPA not bad for a sophmore starting catcher on the high school varsity.
POP time usually reveals good mechanics and arm strength. Both are great to have but neither has much to do with being a great catcher. Good evaluators look deeper.
quote:Originally posted by Drill:
...But if the pitcher isn't around 1.5 it doesn't make any difference...
If a pitcher is 1.5 to the plate, we are off to the races.
Correct me if im wrong, but a pitcher should be 1.2 to the plate or lower. That's what my coach has always said.
No that is low. 1.5 in high school is pretty darn good.
Hm. Well my coach always makes our varsity pitchers get to the plate in around 1.2.
He may be defining things a bit different. Time to the plate starts at break from the stretch and ends at the pop of the glove. 1.2 is very low. A 90 mph fastball will get to the plate in right about .5 of a second. A .7 release is pretty fast.
I don't think many high schoolers are at 1.2. It is considered a good time for a major leaguer.
I don't think many high schoolers are at 1.2. It is considered a good time for a major leaguer.
Rob,
I have seen many HS pitchers in the 1.2-1.4 range (1st movement to C). Far more in that range than 1.5+.
Again, a 1.5 time and we are off to the races, regardless of the catcher.
I have seen many HS pitchers in the 1.2-1.4 range (1st movement to C). Far more in that range than 1.5+.
Again, a 1.5 time and we are off to the races, regardless of the catcher.
Yesssssss!!! I threw 2.16 today in between innings once. Lowest time yet!! I know a lot of you wont be impressed by that but its pretty exciting for me.
Congrats this guy. Keep setting goals for yourself.
Yes. It is. Good HS pitchers shouldn't have to take their time to the plate for a good pitch with velocity. They should be able to push off the rubber and throw good. all our pitchers on varsity pitch 70 at lowest. You have to have a good fastball to set people up for the changeups and junk pitches.
Yes. It is. Good HS pitchers shouldn't have to take their time to the plate for a good pitch with velocity. They should be able to push off the rubber and throw good. all our pitchers on varsity pitch 70 at lowest. You have to have a good fastball to set people up for the changeups and junk pitches.
Most kids that get recruited to play d1 or d2 college baseball usually have their times at around 1.7-2.0. Austin Maddox, Luke Bailey, Max Stassi are all easily around this range.
That's quite a range!
The goal should be to consistently pop 2.0's in games. I have stated this before on similar threads: I have personally measured DOZENS of MLB in game pop times using 64 frame per second frame-by-frame.
Lots of them were a touch above 2.0. Only one was below 1.95.
I see lots of simulated times showing 1.85's and the like, and while I don't doubt they are accurate, they also are not game pop times. There are ways to decrease your time in a simulated situation.
If the best catchers in the world are in the neighborhood of 2.0 in games, do we really believe that D1 and D2 college guys are all popping 1.7-2.0?
No way. The fact is, if the pitcher does his job, a 2.0 will throw all but the fastest guys out.
A 1.7 pop time requires a 90 mph release velocity and a .66 release time. There may be one or two guys every few years who can throw 90 from the crouch. And .66 is pretty darn quick too.
I'm just saying that so many people hype the pop time statistic it has lost a lot of its significance. MLB catcher average is 2.0, and the standard deviation is very low.
The goal should be to consistently pop 2.0's in games. I have stated this before on similar threads: I have personally measured DOZENS of MLB in game pop times using 64 frame per second frame-by-frame.
Lots of them were a touch above 2.0. Only one was below 1.95.
I see lots of simulated times showing 1.85's and the like, and while I don't doubt they are accurate, they also are not game pop times. There are ways to decrease your time in a simulated situation.
If the best catchers in the world are in the neighborhood of 2.0 in games, do we really believe that D1 and D2 college guys are all popping 1.7-2.0?
No way. The fact is, if the pitcher does his job, a 2.0 will throw all but the fastest guys out.
A 1.7 pop time requires a 90 mph release velocity and a .66 release time. There may be one or two guys every few years who can throw 90 from the crouch. And .66 is pretty darn quick too.
I'm just saying that so many people hype the pop time statistic it has lost a lot of its significance. MLB catcher average is 2.0, and the standard deviation is very low.
I definitely agree with what your saying. I should have been more specific in a showcase type of event such as the Perfect Game National many of those guys are easily in the 1.7-2.0 range. I should have said the top level high school amateur kids. In terms of colleges every coach I have spoken to is looking for a sub 2.0 pop time. I do agree with you that pop times are somewhat menial at this point.
Catch, what you missed in what Rob said was that there are ways to lower your pop in a simulated setting. Now, I know Maddox, Bailey, and Stassi are great, and have great pops, but I would bet their game pops are around 1.9-2.0. And with that and their great arms and quick feet, they will throw out almost every runner.
This guy... I just threw a 2.16 today also! (in between innings) new personal best! ... my best before that was 2.25
