Pop times/HS teams

"Maybe some of you can answer this question that I was thinking about as I was watching my son's team last week....why is the number of passed balls a catcher allows in a season not a statistic people seem to be interested in? "

Passed ball or wild pitch?  This statistic is not very helpful because 1) most HS scorekeepers can't consistently identify either, and or the/coach or scorekeeper changes the scoring for other reasons.  AND/OR  2) A catcher working with a strong pitching staff will have fewer pass ball opportunities.  

CollegeParentNoMore posted:

"Maybe some of you can answer this question that I was thinking about as I was watching my son's team last week....why is the number of passed balls a catcher allows in a season not a statistic people seem to be interested in? "

 

Passed ball or wild pitch?  This statistic is not very helpful because 1) most HS scorekeepers can't consistently identify either, and or the/coach or scorekeeper changes the scoring for other reasons.  AND/OR  2) A catcher working with a strong pitching staff will have fewer pass ball opportunities.  

 

 

 

Kids mom made this observation.   Little Johnny is a much better catcher when the pitchers are good.  

CollegeParentNoMore posted:

"Maybe some of you can answer this question that I was thinking about as I was watching my son's team last week....why is the number of passed balls a catcher allows in a season not a statistic people seem to be interested in? "

 

Passed ball or wild pitch?  This statistic is not very helpful because 1) most HS scorekeepers can't consistently identify either, and or the/coach or scorekeeper changes the scoring for other reasons.  AND/OR  2) A catcher working with a strong pitching staff will have fewer pass ball opportunities.  

 

 

 

I'm not sure that it matters all that much. a bounced throw by the SS is not an error by the 1B but still coaches expect the 1B to pick pitches. of course many wild pitches are not catchable at all but a good catcher will still catch more of those borderline wild pitches. what matters in the end is how many pitches go to the backstop and I think a Coach can judge that quite well no matter how the scorer scores it. for example a pitch that bounces 2 feet left of the plate would be a wild pitch but some catchers can still Keep it in front.

that is not to say that Pop time doesn't matter, it is important but it is also a big plus to have a catcher that Limits balls to the backstop and can receive the ball well.

Ben ,

As speaking from experience , my son started this past season at Varsity as a freshman in 29 games , he started at the 8th spot in the line up then moved to the 2nd and 5th spot mid season, and ended up at the 3rd spot in our Region game, most of the advice is true, you have to work hard , you must treat framing and blocking like a art(take pride)! I wasn't so much on pop time for my son , as I was for arm Strength, he was @ 80 mph from the chute, don't know what the pop time is, ill find out next week at Area code tryout, we couldn't care less what everyone thought about size, they all said he was too short ,too skinny , etc, what they didn't know that he just started catching lol, he is a center Fielder by birth, speed kills , and I never had let him pitched till now, Weds will be his 1st pitching lesson( funny how things work)I know he throws hard, I always was about arm care, and bat speed and getting better, don't get caught up in anyone else ,stay within yourself.

if your were my kid , I would  say work on getting better at more than one position,  and if you can hit you wont sit!