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The Catchers Role
Anyone can put on the catchers gear, sit behind the plate, play catch with the pitcher, and call themselves a catcher, but they are wrong. There is much, much more to catching than that.
The catcher is the field captain for the obvious reason that he has the best view of every baserunner, and every defensive player, plus he is close enough to size up the batter's approach and faults.
The best catchers combine brawn and brains. They have the muscle reactions and agility to react quickly whether to a stray pitch, a quick bunt, or a charging runner. And they have - or should have - the best memory of what has already happened in the game, from what each batter did in previous at-bats to who is the greatest threat to steal, or try to take an extra base on a hit.
Catching is not for everyone, but if you like to be in the heart of the action on every pitch and every play, then take the responsibility, and an opportunity to excel. Do it - take charge.
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The 3 Stances for Catchers
Your position is determined by the game situation.
Position #1: Sign Giving
Purpose: Relaxed, comfortable position that gives the pitcher a good view of the signals but blocks first and third base coaches for stealing signs.
Description:
Rest on balls of feet with your heels up and your butt on your heels, supported.
Keep your knees tight (slightly closed) and face the shortstop (or towards the left front corner of the plate) - assumes RH catcher.
Use your right knee to block the view from first base, your glove will block third - keep the glove forearm relaxed so the wrist is down, and rest it on the knee, glove hanging over.
Signalling hand should be tucked in tight to the cup - so it isn't down below the thighs.
Keep the signalling forearm relaxed and resting on the thigh - you don't want the arm tensing or moving - let your fingers do all the inside outside movement.
Position #2: Receiving
Purpose: With no runners on, your role is to provide the best target for the pitcher, the best chance to get the calls you want.
Description:
Feet spread wide, down on the inside edge (toe to heel contact), with knees close to the ground.
Keep the chest vertical, don't slouch.
Present a flat target with the wrist pulled back, fingers up. This is tiring so once the pitcher has the target, drop the glove briefly to relax - for a soft-hand catch.
Keep the bare hand back behind the body, out of harm's way.
Upper body needs to stay loose for sideways lean to get square to the pitch.
Frame pitches only when close and almost always with the ball inside.
Position #3: Blocking and Throwing
Purpose: With runners on, you need to be ready for both blocking pitches and making a consistent transition for the thrown down.
Description:
Set up with the knees out, feet flat, but keep the weight inside for leverage.
You want your hips higher - level with the knees, and you can cheat the right leg back slightly (on the throwing side for RH).
To get into this position from the sign-giving stance, try to do it with a two foot hop. The hop is harder to read from the side (i.e. bench or coaching box) so it isn't as obvious if you've set up for an inside or outside pitch. (In a shuffle the first leg lift would always be to the side you're shifting.)
Keep the throwing hand in contact with the back of the glove (so it doesn't drift into vulnerable spot), and keep the thumb tucked in just in case.
Blocking balls in the dirt is easier from this stance.
Finally, this is the position you want to be in for a jump-turn or step-turn pivot to Throw Out Runners.
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Selling Strikes
As much as you'd like to put all the onus on the pitcher to throw strikes, a lot of the responsibility rests on the shoulders (and the hips) of the catcher.
Let the batter call the pitch...
The strike zone is batter specific. So check where the batter stands - up in the box? down in the box? away? or crowding the plate? Does it change after the first pitch? Did the batter move back indicating he thinks he's too close for the pitcher's fastball and is expecting another. Or did he move up in the box, waiting on the pitcher's changeup? It can tell the catcher exactly what pitch to call.
But not to extremes
Lateral positioning is not reliable. A smart batter standing away from the plate may be protecting the inside corner - knowing he has good extension to the outside. Or he could be waiting on an inside pitch. A batter crowding the plate could be trying to force the pitcher to throw outside. Or he could be waiting for an inside pitch - his strength.
Let the previous swing call it
A batter who uppercuts may have poor perspective on low outside pitches. Or he can be pitched up and in - causing him to miss or pop out. A batter with a predictable, level swing may drawn into an unnatural swing on a low and away pitch.
Frame it to get the call
Not all strikes are swings and misses.
Often to get called strikes, you may want to frame the pitch. However, very important, frame only the close ones or the umpire will ignore your efforts.
The (2) types of framing methods that will be taught:
- Glove Framing
- Body Shift Framing
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Blocking
When pitches go astray, catchers become blockers.
Set up in the proper stance anytime there are runners on - feet wide and flat, hips knee high, two-foot hop to get centered on the expected pitch.
STRAIGHT BLOCKS
Mitt should be right to the ground, bare hand behind it, both tucked back so the mitt doesn't act like a scoop (doesn't deflect the ball up).
Knees drop second. If you were in proper blocking stance with ankles outside hips, the knees should come straight down either side of mitt.
Hunch shoulders forward and collapse chest in - this will make the chest protector loose so it absorbes the ball, deadens the bounce back. Remember you aren't trying to catch the ball.
Bring your mask to chest (a chin tuck) to protect your neck and also to deflect higher bounces back downward.
BLOCKING OFF THE PLATE
Kick the leg out first in the direction of the bounce. This doesn't work for everyone - some catchers will tend to counterattack the leg kick (in an attempt to maintain balance) and so their body will actually lean away from the ball - away from the position they need to get to.
Options:
Kick Away - pushing off with the opposite leg will get the proper leg out better - but it is not instinctual to see a ball bounce right and drive the left leg first. Takes practice.
Glove first - this usually results in an attempted backhand stab - remember you shouldn't be a catcher here, but a blocker.
Upper body first - if the feet are still firmly planted, you will get limited lateral movement.
Hips first - The hip shift will help fling the leg over and bring the lead knee down. The upper body will be relaxed and can hunch over easily. And the trailing leg will drag enough so the body turns to face the plate and the ball. (A good catcher will have developed flexible hips for the swaying catches required in the lower, non-blocking, receiving stance.)
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Catch & Transition
Before you can throw, you have to have the ball. Review the Runners-On stance to be in the right receiving position for a quick transition.
Keep the butt below the ball till the catch - to ensure the umpire has a good view of the pitch.
Keep the glove hand soft and the bare hand tucked behind (thumb in). As soon as you know the ball will be in the glove, slide the throwing hand open.
The transition should be from where the ball is caught, a stop and deflection to the throwing hand. (Old style rake-back of the glove to the shoulder makes for as easy a transfer, but you'll seldom get a strike call. Also, don't jump out to get the ball early, this interfers with a good strike call - and could result in batter interference.
Bring the throwing hand back on a direct line to the launch position. No arm circles, even small circles, just straight back with the fingers on top and the thumb under the ball.
Footwork to 2nd
Jump Turn - Most challenging, requires both front and back feet to reposition at same time so that knees, hips and shoulders are all in a line towards the bag. Stay low - slide the feet around clockwise - turning on a dime. With no stride forward, rotation of hips, torso, and shoulder generate all the launch power.
Step-back Pivot - Alternate transition brings the back leg (usually right leg for RH throw) back and behind so hips and shoulders line up. This transfers the body weight back to allow a wider stance and put more lower body power into the throw. But the extra ball speed may be lost in the time to move back.
Stride Throw - Most forward momentum but also most risk. On ball transition to bow and arrow, back foot steps forward, then left foot strides through the plate on the throw. But you are stepping into the batter's turf - if he swings you could be called for interference or get hurt. Also tendancy to come up on this move - blocking umpire's view, losing the 'strike' call.
Knee Throw - Only for the exceptional. You stay in low, receiving position and bring your hips up over your knees on the catch, or you start from runners-on stance and drop to your knees. In this case, you are throwing without legs or hips - it's all arm.
Complete the Throw
Loading up may be short, but make sure the throw and follow-through are full. Extend the elbow just before release and sweep the arm fully through to the opposite leg to avoid bullwhipping injuries.
Throws to 3rd
The approach, especially with a RH batter, depends on the pitch location, also on where the batter is in the box.
At younger ages best is the step-back pivot - throwing behind the batter, more for safety reasons. (If the catcher thinks he has to step in front he may move the glove and himself forward too soon, risking contact and injury should the batter swing.
Older ages
- If the pitch is way outside (against an RH batter) then momentum will take catcher into the lefthand batter's box so an in-front throw is required.
- If the pitch is over the plate or inside, step back and throw behind the batter.
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Guard the Line
It's the most dangerous situation a catcher will face. If you are properly taught by experienced instructors/coaches how to deal with this situation the risks are minimal. This cannot effectively be taught by books or videos only by experience.
The runner is charging around third and down the line, ball sailing in from the outfield. The catcher has to keep one eye on the runner and both eyes on the ball. The runner, meanwhile, is aware of you but focused on home plate - and he has no idea when or where (or even if) the ball will arrive.
Body & Foot Placement
Position yourself about 5-10' up the line.
Left foot points towards 3rd base, never across the line. That way, if the leg is hit straight on , the knee will bend up naturally and you can still come down on the runner for the tag.
Glove out and body weight on the right leg.
Show glove-side daylight to the runner, then take it away.
On the two-handed catch, transfer the ball to the throwing hand tucked inside the mitt like a fist - knuckles to padding.
Move the glove to the line, low, but let the runner come to you. (Don't reach out - extending the arms could lock the elbows.)
After the tag, take the hand with the ball out and show it to the ump.
Catchers should always be in a crouched position to recieve or make the play on the runner.
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