When Pitching and Catching Just Don't Jibe

I guess as a flip side to the same coin I'll share this. My brother is worried about facing this (as a catcher) in the future. He has never caught anyone on a regular basis that threw 85+ let alone 90+. When he attended an MLB tryout camp (after his HS sophomore year) there were a bunch of guys that he caught at 90+ with good movement and it was miserable. Imagine 3 catchers catching 60+ pitchers throwing as hard as they can without regards to strike zone in an unkept bullpen. He caught them okay, but lets just say they bounced a few. He came away from that with some bruises. This summer he's trying to get in contact with some of the hard throwers in the area from other schools to catch bullpens and work on it that way. His summer team is mostly kids from his HS team. I know he worries how well he'll be able to catch on a team that throws smoke. So far that aspect of his game is an unknown.

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Hmmm?

Let's see Krak...that's a tough one. Let me think about it a moment.

I know! I've got it! Try this! Send out this appeal now!



Folks,

I coach a group of American kids who are stationed overseas with their servicemember families. Budgets are shrinking and fundraising is virtually impossible overseas.

One thing these boys could really benefit from is an experienced catcher - especially one that can catch fastballs.

If any of you might know of a program that has an experienced catcher sitting around, or will be replacing one with a better one, we would be extremely grateful for a donation. I believe we could pay for the shipping so long as he isn't too loud or fusses too much...those cargo holds are lonely and cold.

If you have any leads, please don't hesitate to PM me. I will provide my e-mail address if needed.

Thanks,

Krak


Give it a try Krak...it just might work!

Krak,
Good question and I am familiar with it.

My son is extremely hard to catch, with much movement and high velo, he has to depend on his catcher to be able to handle the ball, well.

Although easier now, in college and in HS travel ball, on his HS team it was very difficult. No one wanted to catch to him. It was frustrating, finally one player spoke up and they worked extremely well together considering the circumstances. The biggest part was that son had to make the adjustments and keep the frustration level down.

quote:

He came away from that with some bruises.

He's a catcher, right? Those aren't bruises, they are badges of honor. Especially the ones where you can see the outlines of the stitches.

Krak - Its a fairly common problem at the HS level and I don't have any good answers other than practice, practice, practice.

I like Nighthawk's son's approach. I noticed in our area that the catchers who moved on were pretty active in volunteering to catch bullpens for the area's better pitchers during summer workouts. I believe his son will gain great benefit from doing just that.

Interesting. My son was at a mlb tryout the other day and they told the pitchers not to throw for the gun. One pitcher was clearly throwing for the gun and throwing everything in the dirt. They cut his pen short and got him out of there. I didn't see any pitchers that day who looked like they were throwing 90+ although there was one pitcher who looked like he was throwing fairly hard with good location of his fastball and off speed pitches that they spent some time talking to.

Practice is the best thing to try but sometimes you got guys who can't do it. It seems like it's an easy job - squat and catch a ball thrown - but it's very difficult once you get into it.

Have him catch a lot of bullpens with different types of pitchers - hard throwers, junk, lefty, righty - and then he sees the different types of movement. He can hopefully learn to anticipate the movement and adjust to it.

I knew when I caught a guy who had movement I would relax more so I could move my arm quicker but if I caught a guy who was pretty straight then I was a litle more tight to help stick a pitch on the corner. I even put my hand in my mitt differently for different pitches. Fastballs then I would pull my hand out as far as I could to help stick pitches but I would put my hand in my mitt normally when I caught breaking stuff to help get a "feel" for the ball.

quote:

What to do when your team simply doesn't have a catcher who can handle velocity and movement? It makes for an extremely frustrating experience for the pitchers, that's for certain.

Been there, watched it. My son stopped locating below the knees with runners on or two strikes in JV ball. He got tired of the passed balls. What do you think it does to a pitcher's effectiveness when he can't locate low or throw curves in the dirt?

I brought back Bob Uecker's saying with moderation about our catcher. How do you catch a pitch below the hitter's knees? After it rolls to the backstop, pick it up.

There's frustration on both sides...what about the catcher that spends most of his time digging balls out of the dirt to make your kid look good. Catchers are the least helped position on the team.
At least the teams that my son has played on. He learned all his technique as a young kid by taping and watching CWS and MLB games on TV--- over and over again.
Maybe you should talk to the coach about working with your catcher instead of complaining about the kid not being able to handle your sons pitches. It's the dirtiest job on the field and the least praised. My son always had this comment.."if my pithers name is in the paper the next day then I know that I have done my job. But when you've watched the game and watched your kid throw his body on pitch after pitch or dug numerous out of the dirt to get that pitchers name in the paper you have a different outlook. There are 2 sides to every story.

quote:

Maybe you should talk to the coach about working with your catcher instead of complaining about the kid not being able to handle your sons pitches.

I don't believe telling a high school coach how to do his job is a good way to handle a situation. It won't matter next year. My son will move up. This kid won't. This is a kid who can't catch. He never could. He can't block. He misses strikes with good movement. He throws into or behind runners stealing. He'll be beat out next year by a freshman or 8th grader moving up to JV.

Krak--I know it must be frustrating for you since you only have so many kids to pick from there. Catching is an underappreciated position and most people take a good one for granted and only really notice the bad ones. Not everyone can do it but I hope that whomever you have catching can pick it up.

I would recommend lots of bullpen/practice time for your catcher(s)so they can get used to the different pitchers and what/how they throw, etc. I know that last summer when my son caught for pitchers he had never caught for, the first time he did, it wasn't pretty--good thing it was just a scrimmage. But, he learned the quirks of each pitcher and then did just fine. Also, the more he got to know and catch the pitchers, the better they both played.

Good luck!!

Yes, very small pool, and the last few years our catchers have basically been 'volun-told' that they'll be catching. We have no choice. We look for a solid athlete to put back there, and then they do their darndest. I give them major props!

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Sanders:
My son always had this comment.."if my pithers name is in the paper the next day then I know that I have done my job.

"Volun-told"... I like that! I can use that one around the house!

Sometimes the answer to this problem is related to poor technique which can be overcome with a training video (see many of the videos recomeneded in the catching forum) followed by a video review of the kid your trying to help (show him both videos!). With enough attention you might be able to "turn-around" your catcher(s).

Many times kids catching will have difficulting catching the ball because they are "punching" (aka "Boxing") at the ball instead of letting the ball come to their glove. In other words they are essentailly "throwing" their glove at the ball and trying to catch it with their arm fully extended which leads to lots of drops/misses etc. Without seeing you player in action I am only guessing, however its very easy for this technique error to make the catcher appear as though he has an ability problem rather then a technique problem.

If nothing else works, "volun-told" the best defenisve/athletic player on your team to the catcher position. It will put a hole in your defense somewhere but it will be an overall plus move.