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Umpire: "Don't frame the pitch"

Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
Yesterday, second game of a doubleheader, our backup catcher was catching. He is very good receiver, quiet and solid behind the plate.

The umpire told him "If you frame pitches with me, I will call it a ball."

I'm trying to figure out what he meant, to give him the benefit of the doubt. If what he meant was "don't pull the ball into the strike zone after catching it," then OK, no problem. What is curious to me, though, is this kid never does that. He catches the ball, and tries to keep the glove right where he caught it for a beat (just like he's taught.)

Nor does he hold the "stick" position more than that one beat, which is a pet peeve of mine, and which I don't blame umpires for getting annoyed when they catchers do it.

The best I can tell, the ump was actually telling him not to do precisely what catchers are taught to do. Maybe I am misinterpreting it.
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B Bear1,000+ posts
Maybe Umpire should not quit his day job.

Suggest first teach receiver to catch strikes in the strike zone. Dah. Yet, not as easy as written.

Appears that umpire wanted to distinquish a movement of the mitt from outside the strike zone to inside the strike zone, and if the ump observed, would make the decision based on movement.
D dash_riprock1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
The umpire told him "If you frame pitches with me, I will call it a ball."

That makes me cringe. Not a good way to start the game. Shut up and call the pitch what it is.

quote:

Nor does he hold the "stick" position more than that one beat, which is a pet peeve of mine, and which I don't blame umpires for getting annoyed when they catchers do it.

"Sticking" the pitch is like saying "that's a strike, Blue - ring that up!" I have no problem with that. I have a problem when they hold it there after I have called it a ball.
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
Some catchers circle a pitch and that may be what he meant. By that I mean they come from the side or top and catch toward the zone. It's not really pulling the pitch but it causes the same thing. It is less noticable than pulling but is the same result. Next time have your catcher have him clarify what he meant. Tell the ump he wants to get as many pitches as possible and doesn't want to jepardise his pitcher's zone.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
quote:
I'm trying to figure out what he meant, to give him the benefit of the doubt. If what he meant was "don't pull the ball into the strike zone after catching it," then OK, no problem. What is curious to me, though, is this kid never does that. He catches the ball, and tries to keep the glove right where he caught it for a beat (just like he's taught.)

Nor does he hold the "stick" position more than that one beat, which is a pet peeve of mine, and which I don't blame umpires for getting annoyed when they catchers do it.



This is exactly what I am looking for in a catcher......as long as the dont "pull" a pitch from out of the zone into the zone, I wont say a word.....

I have told catchers who pulled a borderline pitch that should have been a strike in to dead center over the plate that I wont be calling those strikes again........if he does not think it was a strike then neither do I.......

Most times you see this in the youth leagues where a coach will teach a catcher to pull pitches up, down or in to be in the middle to try to steal a strike.......
W Will1,000+ posts
a good catcher who sets up well receives the ball well is worth a lot. there is the proper way to catch certain pitches inside outside low high etc etc. doing it the right way makes it easy for the umpire to call those borderline pitches strikes rather than balls.
Back when sometimes an umpire would tell me if my catcher was making it tough. just a comment.
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
I have worked with some excellent catchers in our local men's league. They pull a pitch, slide in your way or fail to thumb a low pitch and they just throw the ball back and say sorry for taking a pitch away from the pitcher. I have worked with some very good catchers at all levels I work and also bad at all levels. I worked a 9/10 LL allstar game and I had a catcher that was doing everything right. I was so impressed, I went to his manager and told him the kid has a future if he keeps it up.
Last edited by Michael S. Taylor
PooseyPoosey10+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Michael S. Taylor:
I have worked with some excellent catchers in our local men's league. They pull a pitch, slide in your way or fail to thumb a low pitch


Explanation, please.

quote:
and they just throw the ball back and say sorry for taking a pitch away from the pitcher. I have worked with some very good catchers at all levels I work and also bad at all levels.


Talk about an easy day, a good catcher who understands the relationship between PU and himself. It is truly a joy.
Last edited by Poosey
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
There are several things that can take a pitch away from the pitcher or make it easier to call a strike.
Pulling a pitch: This is taking a borderline pitch and pulling closer to the zone. This generally causes it to be a pitch to be a ball because otherwise it looks like he is buying strikes. What should is stick the pitch and hope it close enough.

Slide in your way: Pretty much what it sounds. He slides at the last minute into your line of vision and you can't see the pitch.

Good catchers know when they break the rules.

Thumbing a low pitch: This is a method a catcher can catch a low pitch to actually fool the ump into calling a pitch a strike.
Last edited by Michael S. Taylor

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