Receiving position

there is really one paramount reason for this stance and that is to steal the low pitch for a strike (it works!)... you also catch the ball close to the body rather than out away and frame. The benefits of this approach should be obvious.

with a runner on you have to be more "up" IMO both for blocking and getting rid of the ball. Others feel differently.

The main reason for this stance is to keep the heels on the gournd. By doing so, you use the larger muscles in your legs (hamstrings and quads) to support you rather than the smaller muscles (calves). This will keep you from becoming tired in the later innings.

TG - it's really all about being "balanced" and athletic. Your weight should be around 40/60, with your heels on the ground. Try to think about your weight as "neutral", with the pressure of your weight on the inside of the foot. This is a stance to shift into AFTER you've given signs and moved to your location, NOT before. PM if you have some specific questions. BTW - How's the garage BP going???

GED10DaD

Spoken like an true professional with experience. Nice post GED10DaD.

Up north, batting cages in garages tell me one thing about a player's will too succeed as a hitter; nothing stops the process of repetition with the swing. Cold, sleet, or snow doesn't stop a winner who has the will to succeed.

Weight on the inside balls of the feet of a baseball player is one of the keys to becoming great in many baseball related movements. Pitchers and hitters should also engage the larger muscle groups which generate power for velocity, as a pitcher, and batspeed for a hitter.

Glad to see a baseball mind with knowledge sharing with the board. God Bless you sir for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

Your heart is golden, and you care for other human beings. Quite evident in your willingness to give back what you have been given. God Bless you again.

Thanks Shep, back-at-you. GED10DaD

Back at cha' in PM.

I teach three positions / stances to my catchers

First - the sign position. This is the basic squat to give signs. Flat back, up on the toes, with knees slightly apart to help hide the signs and mitt down by the left knee

Second - nobody on position. This is what you guys are talking about. Inside part of the foot, inner thighs trying to touch and back on the heels. It does two things - 1) rest the big muscles and 2) make you smaller to give umpire a better look

Downside is its hard to block from here so should never be in this position with runners on or a third strike situation

Third - runners on position. Feet spread apart, butt higher up, back hunched over, elbows out and slightly up on the toes. Way easier to block or come out throwing.

I may not have explained these the best but I think you get the picture of what I'm talking about.

Alright guys, thanks a lot for the help. Looks like I found a my new stance.

GED10:Garage hitting is going well, haven't been in there in a while because the weather has thankfully stayed nice up until today --a toasty 34--. Glad my dad likes throwing. haha. Will be back in the garage in a few days probably. Weatherman saying that it's supposed to warm up to the sixties next week. Maybe enough for a few last rounds of live BP. Still video taping. Trying to get things right. Watching as much video on rotational hitting as I can. Not too many quality videos on youtube that I can find. I'll shoot you a PM.

I've never been a fan of sitting on the inside of your feet for any situation. If knees are in the you have to reach out more both receiving and transfer. Also if you are extended and going out to get it then then ball will take your glove put of the zone once it hits the glove. I always teach feet flat with knees out to create larger area to throw to and to receive and transfer close to the body

I also do not like the knees pinched in. Limits movement side to side and doesn't let the glove get out in front to receive as well as I like. Here are our 2 stances, man on, and no-runners on.

Catcher looks a little stiff having both arms extended out in front... i haven't seen the throwing hand behind the glove in a while either. But catching is a comfort thing so what works for some might not work for others

I will take some pics next weekend from my catching camp in memphis and post on our website to see.

www.eastcoastgrays.org

This pinched stance...When done properly the thighs will come together at a vertex, forming a pyramid type shape correct?