Skip to main content

6 replies

Umpire prohibiting certain catcher's stances?

tres_arbolestres_arboles1,000+ posts
I was working with the catchers on my PONY 12U team yesterday, making suggestions on shifting positions slightly at different points in the count. In particular, we're looking for the boys to give a higher target when looking for a four-seamer up and out of the zone, a pitch that many 12 year olds find irresistable, but hardly hittable! My suggestion was that they rise out of the squat slightly and give a letters-high target, as I've seen more advanced catchers do thousands of times.

The larger of my two catchers told me he was instructed to do the same by his coaches last year, but was regularly warned to "get down" by the umpire (one of the most experienced umpires officiating our league).

So my question is, how much latitude does the catcher have when shifting stances and is there a rule prohibiting rising out the squat as the pitcher breaks?

Keep in mind these are rec baseball kids at an age level where they are just learning how dynamic the catcher position is, and that more will be expected of them than merely receiving and returning pitches. Thanks for your assistance.

David
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

T twotex1,000+ posts
I can't answer your question, but I do have a couple of observations. As 15 year old catcher, my son has consistently been instructed to be lower, not higher, in his stance. He has been instructed to never set the target above belt high on the batter. That being said, he can easily catch a high pitch from a low stance. I wonder if these kids will need to "unlearn" this high stance at the next level. Maybe my son's instructors just have a different perspective on stances.

Second, I've read that if the catcher inhibits the umpire's visibility of a pitch, it will be called a ball, regardless of where it is. I don't know if it is true, but I wonder if given the age the ump is giving the instruction instead of continually calling the pitches balls.
K kevins1100+ posts
Tres I like the fact that you are having the kids call high fastballs, but I do it is in the signs instead. Say for instance that I want the fastball high for a swinging third strike and the pitcher has other three pitches...
1) 4-seam
2) curve
3) change up
I will make four fingers when I am giving signs a high fastball, so that when I am giving my signs the pitcher is aware what I want as well as no one else on the other team knows. I have had coaches from other teams call it out when I was standing up.

Make sure that both the catcher and pitcher know what is going on, last thing you want is the pitcher and catcher get caught think that they are two different pitches.
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
Good catchers don't 'rise up' when asking for a high fastball. They can signal it, or simply flash a high mitt target. Staying low offers the umpire a better look at all times, and doesn't tip off the batter like rising up would do. Teaching a catcher to rise up is bad instruction, in my opionion, and hinders an umpires view and none of them like that.

When I am umpiring, I will tell a catcher that he blocked my view and isn't going to get a call if I can't see the pitch well, just work with me and I'll be able to do my best job of calling balls and strikes.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
There is no rule prohibiting a catcher from rising up.........but the catcher is instrumental in getting the best view of the strike zone for an umpire...

A smooth catcher who transitions well and stays down throughout the pitch will give me a clearer view of the zone thus resulting in a better called zone....

Now, at the HS and college level the catchers are usually quite adept at fielding the position and understand the relationship they have with the umpire in getting the pitchers called strikes.

Youth catchers who sway, and/or rise up into my view will cut down on the view of the plate, causing me to adjust, usually by moving back and up in my stance and that will affect the quality of the zone I will be able to call that day....

A catcher who brings his glove up in the zone and into my face as the pitch is coming is going to find it hard for me to call that a strike....and believe me I would rather call strikes....I can only call what I see....if the zone is blocked its got to be a ball.... (got no one to go to for advice/help)...

Add Reply

Post
Catching Camp

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×