baseball Catching

Catching

Catching may be the most demanding position in baseball, both physically and mentally. To be a quality catcher, you need to know more than how to catch the ball and how to throw the ball to second, you need to know the game of baseball. When we talk about knowing baseball, we mean knowing it as a coach tries to know it. As the catcher, you're the onfield coach. You have the entire field in front of you. Your team depends on you to make split second decisions that can determine runs vs. outs, wins vs. losses.

To illustrate this point we will set up a game situation:

• Late in the game
• Your team is up by one run
• Runner on second
• 1 out
• Number 3 hitter is up

What goes through the mind of the catcher before calling a pitch? Here are some possibilities:

• What has this hitter done in his previous at bats?
• What has the 4th hitter done? Maybe the 3rd hitter has hit the cover off the ball and the 4th hitter has struggled.
• Is the hitter a dead pull hitter or does he spray the ball?
• What does your pitcher have left in the tank? How is his control?
• Is the runner on second a threat to steal?
• Based on all that information, what pitch are you going to call and what location?