In 2008, when Pablo Sandoval was still playing in high A ball for the San Jose Giants, he was their catcher.
This might be the reason he is happy to be playing 3B in MLB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90CXJ3xabfY
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That sort of action comes with the position
I'm convinced the act of a catcher hanging onto the ball and holding up the ball after a collision is an INVOLUNTARY REFLEX! If you watch the video one knows he's out cold! 
I watched Pete Rose run over Ray Fosse. I know it's "part of baseball", but I don't like that type of play. The catcher is a sitting duck.
Fungo, the guy doing the video on that one, a kid you know, said it hurt watching it through the camera.
Aside from getting trucked, catchers get banged up by foul balls, pitches in the dirt coming up, and off balance backswings from hitters. It's a position you have to really want to play.
I truly liked catching and I have a number of crooked finers to attest to what RJM says
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
I truly liked catching and I have a number of crooked finers to attest to what RJM says
agreed 100%........I was born to be a catcher....and also have the crooked little finger to show for it....
old joke....why dont old catcher shake hands when they meet?....
because it takes 15 minutes to get their fingers untangled.....
quote:Fungo, the guy doing the video on that one, a kid you know, said it hurt watching it through the camera.
Now I see who posted this to Youtube. Great job!
Ow. Ow. Owwww!!!
quote:Originally posted by AntzDad:
I watched Pete Rose run over Ray Fosse. I know it's "part of baseball", but I don't like that type of play. The catcher is a sitting duck.
No doubt it's an exciting play, but I agree he's a sitting duck. Can base runners take out other infielders as well? For instance, can a base stealer take out a SS at 2nd base if the SS is standing in front of the bag with the ball? If not, what's the difference with a catcher holding the ball in front of home plate?
Catchers rule, it's as simple as that. More than any other position on the field, I love my catchers.
It takes a special player to want to be back there, in charge and ready for whatever the game brings. For those who do it well, the rewards far outweigh the costs the position inflicts on them.
It takes a special player to want to be back there, in charge and ready for whatever the game brings. For those who do it well, the rewards far outweigh the costs the position inflicts on them.
quote:Originally posted by AntzDad:
I watched Pete Rose run over Ray Fosse. I know it's "part of baseball", but I don't like that type of play. The catcher is a sitting duck.
I agree, he's a sitting duck.
That leads me to ask. Can a base stealer take out a SS if the SS is standing in front of 2nd base with the ball? If not, what is the difference if a catcher is holding the ball in front of home plate?
Danno I think the difference is that home plate is treated as first base in that you can go past it once you touch it (or not). At second and third or going back to first you have to stop at the bag so that makes sliding more beneficial than trucking a SS or 2Bman. If you remember Albert Belle pretty much did that several years ago. He was on first and a ball was hit that brought the 2Bman into the line. He caught the ball and tagged Belle who almost decleated him with a forearm to the chest. He was out because the fielder held onto the ball but he broke up the double play and he wasn't ejected. Plus the umps didn't call any type of interference on him.
When I was a senior in high school the other team had a runner on third who became an All American defensive lineman at a DI university. He was coming home and the throw was low to me. I dropped to a knee to try and scoop / block the throw but next thing I know there was a forearm in my face and I was bent over backwards completely. It hurt pretty bad. Our pitcher came over and tried to help me up but I got about halfway and decided I would rather lay on the ground for a few more minutes. I got up and went back behind the plate to finish the game. He got tossed because he could have avoided the contact. My left hip still hurts to this day on certain rainy days.
When I was a senior in high school the other team had a runner on third who became an All American defensive lineman at a DI university. He was coming home and the throw was low to me. I dropped to a knee to try and scoop / block the throw but next thing I know there was a forearm in my face and I was bent over backwards completely. It hurt pretty bad. Our pitcher came over and tried to help me up but I got about halfway and decided I would rather lay on the ground for a few more minutes. I got up and went back behind the plate to finish the game. He got tossed because he could have avoided the contact. My left hip still hurts to this day on certain rainy days.
My son lives behind the plate. We had always told him to get lower than the runner if the runner isn't attempting to slide. It had dramatic consequences in one game when he was 13. The runner didn't attempt to slide and my son tagged him on the hip as he came straight in. The tag happened to hit the hip at the same time the runner landed on that leg and the result was a dislocated hip.
That was the only time my son was in a collision where he didn't come away with an injury.
He still loves the position and hopes to play it in college somewhere.
That was the only time my son was in a collision where he didn't come away with an injury.
He still loves the position and hopes to play it in college somewhere.
Getting plowed is rare and likely the least of a catcher's worries. Repeated foul balls to the mask are of much more concern, just ask Mike Matheny.
The last time my son caught full time was 12U travel and LL all-stars. When the all-star season ended in August his arms were black and blue. He lost all his power. He said it hurt to lift his arms. He got knocked into a daze when a hitter lost his balance and clubbed him in the back of the head with the backswing. It was also 90 degrees and humid every time he caught. On the way home he said he planned to never catch again. He was wrong. But he was never a regular catcher again.quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
I truly liked catching and I have a number of crooked finers to attest to what RJM says
The varsity coach watched him catch a game in 8th grade. He told him he needed a catcher and it would be the fastest way to varsity. My son smiled and acknowledged the coach. Then he turned to me and mouthed, "No way!" When he was nine I couldn't convince him not to catch. He thought it was the coolest position on the field.
quote:Getting plowed is rare and likely the least of a catcher's worries. Repeated foul balls to the mask are of much more concern, just ask Mike Matheny.
Amen! Ask my son too --- post concussion syndrome is dangerous!
My son caught all through High School and summer teams until he got injured, not from catching but some yahoo mounted a base post in a can at 2B and he tore up his knee when he did a hook slide into the base. He was recruited as a catcher to his college and the H.C. has made him in to a pitcher. He misses catching and wants to get back catching, but hasn't gotten the chance.
He has been trucked, run over, cheated, dinged from foul balls and anything that can happen he's had it done to him.
He feels that now he is not as connected to the game like when he caught and really made him wanted to do it again when he was pitching and he blocked the plate when the catcher had a pass ball last week. No gear on and blocked the runner from scoring. He stood up, laid the ball on the plate and walked back to the dugout. One of the asst. coaches told him he did a great job and all he said is that's what I do best.
He has been trucked, run over, cheated, dinged from foul balls and anything that can happen he's had it done to him.
He feels that now he is not as connected to the game like when he caught and really made him wanted to do it again when he was pitching and he blocked the plate when the catcher had a pass ball last week. No gear on and blocked the runner from scoring. He stood up, laid the ball on the plate and walked back to the dugout. One of the asst. coaches told him he did a great job and all he said is that's what I do best.
coach2709 thanks for the clarification. I agree about having to stop at 2nd or 3rd, but if its legal for a runner to lower the boom on an infielder in order to jar the ball loose, why not give it try? If a runner realizes that he will be tagged out, why not drop a shoulder and take out the defender too...especially if its not against the rules. Maybe the collision will allow another base runner to advance to another base?
coach2709, my apologies. I just re-read your post and you answered my question...twice 
The rule will probably never be changed, but I hope its amended some how. I think runners should make every effort to avoid contact, unless the base is blocked. Incidental contact is forgiven, but if the runner extends his forearm or lowers his shoulder, then that could be grounds for an ejection or some sort of consequence. My opinion anyway.
The rule will probably never be changed, but I hope its amended some how. I think runners should make every effort to avoid contact, unless the base is blocked. Incidental contact is forgiven, but if the runner extends his forearm or lowers his shoulder, then that could be grounds for an ejection or some sort of consequence. My opinion anyway.
I know it usually starts a fight, but if a runner's trying to bowl the catcher over, I have no problem when the catcher hard-tags him with two fists to the chops. It's only fair.
Infield dad:
In the video, the plate umpire's mechanics indicate he is making a call on some action at third, possibly obstruction.
He points and says something, gets into position to take the play at the plate. After the play he immediately calls time and starts to step toward third...then the video stops.
Since you see to know the videographer, I'm curious as to whether or not he ever referenced the action at third.
In the video, the plate umpire's mechanics indicate he is making a call on some action at third, possibly obstruction.
He points and says something, gets into position to take the play at the plate. After the play he immediately calls time and starts to step toward third...then the video stops.
Since you see to know the videographer, I'm curious as to whether or not he ever referenced the action at third.