Calling A Game
October 28, 2008I know I’ve been wandering around lately on some random subjects (barefoot running, albums, etc.) so how about today we get into some of the nuts and bolts of baseball? You can do me a favor and let me know if you like the random wanderings or want a more specific focus on baseball. Not that I’ll do it, but I do aim to please and would greatly appreciate your feedback/suggestions. Today let’s talk about calling a game. I want to preface it by saying that my book “The Art of Catching” will go into the subject in more detail (buy the book, buy the book, buy the book), but here’s a quick overview of how I approached this facet of the game.
First off, let me establish what the goal is. The goal in my mind is to get as many outs as quickly and efficiently as possible. In other words, I want 27 outs with as few pitches as I can manage. That means convincing the pitcher to pitch to contact. I would much rather have 10 outs on 10 pitches rather than 10 outs and 30 plus pitches. Put another way, it only takes one pitch to get a ground out and at least 3 to get a strike out. As a catcher, it’s very important to keep the pitcher in this mind state and not let him fall into the trap of getting too fine, trying to fool everyone, and always going for the strike out. Pound the strike zone early in good spots and make the opposition swing the bat.
Secondly, always go with the pitcher’s strength. The very best pitch that can be thrown is the pitch that the pitcher can throw with conviction. Period. If I’ve got the greatest change up hitter of all time at bat but my hurler’s best pitch (meaning his best choice for throwing a strike in a good location) is a change, I go with the change up. Of all of the rockets I’ve seen hit in my day, 99% of them have come from problems with location. Even the “wrong” call in the right location is successful most of the time. The “right” call in a bad location is most often a failure. Location, location, location.
Ride the fastball as long as you can. There are no hard and fast rules on calling a game because the variables are always shifting and it’s impossible to say you have to do this in this situation. One thing is pretty true though – of all the guys I’ve caught, and that’s quite a few – I’ve only encountered a couple that could throw another pitch other than a fastball most consistently for a strike. Since we’re trying to get outs as efficiently as possible, my GENERAL guideline was to establish the fastball and see how deep into the game I could ride it (not neglecting or losing touch of the pitcher’s other pitches, of course). In other words, I would predominately use the heater to get outs as long as I could, sprinkling in the pitcher’s other pitches along the way to keep them available and sharp if needed. If I could make it through the batting order one time using mostly heat, I would. If that meant going through twice, great. If it lasted the whole game, all the better. For me this accomplished a couple things. One, it’s efficient and simple. Two, it allows me some cards to play later in the game when I need some help. Put another way, if I haven’t showed a hitter all of my pitcher’s offerings in earlier at bats (but have kept them sharp but using them here and there throughout the game) I’ve got an ace in the hole to get an out with a pitch the hitter hasn’t seen yet.
Do your work before the game. Establish a game plan with your coach, make sure you’re on the same page with the pitcher, make sure you know your staff’s capabilities and limitations. Be aware of game situations and maybe most importantly, get a feel for when to push your luck with the limits of what your pitcher can do and when to give in to the hitter. Put another way, walks suck. There comes a point where you’ve got to give in to the hitter and just hope the pitcher can locate a strike. The old 3 and 1 trick pitch to the number nine hitter is a beautiful thing when it works… the problem is it doesn’t work the majority of the time. In that situation, most of the time it’s best to avoid the walk and take your chance throwing the obvious. Again, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. I’m just saying try to play the odds and avoid walks, and many times that means admitting that the hitter has done a good job to get himself into an offensive count and he’s got the upper hand. Pitch to contact.
Put the sign down quickly and intuitively. There are so many different variables going on in between pitches and the catcher needs to process all of this information and put down a finger quickly and correctly. The game situation, the psyche of the pitcher (does he need to be patted in the back or kicked in the ass), the hitter and how you’ve approached him in the past, the umpire and his particular zone and temperament, to just name a few. Don’t over think it and lock up. Trust the work that you’ve done in the bullpen (you have been paying attention to your staff’s tendencies haven’t you?) and establishing a game plan with your coach and pitcher BEFORE the game. Understand that location, not the perfect choice is most important. Then just get back there and get into that groove with the man on the mound. When it happens – when the both of you are on the same wavelength and you’re putting down what he’s thinking – that is one of the coolest things in sports.
Greg Maddux says that if you can throw a fastball where you want to and can sprinkle in another pitch, you can win 10 games in the Big Leagues. If you can throw two pitches where you want to, you can win the Cy Young award. That is a pretty amazing thing to say. As a catcher, if you can just convince your staff to locate the fastball….I’ll leave you with this great and telling quote by arguably the greatest pitcher of all time.
“I try to do two things: locate my fastball and change speeds. That’s it. I try to keep as simple as possible. I just throw my fastball (to) both sides of the plate and change speed every now and then. There is no special food or anything like that, I just try to make quality pitches and try to be prepared each time I go out there.” – Greg Maddux
I, for one, enjoy your multi-faceted approach to the blog. It’s more proof that catchers are the cerebral heavyweights of the game, the opposite of, say….closers. With the barefoot runner and the Prius and the grinning Indian marathoners, I have to double-check that I haven’t stumbled onto Bill Lee’s blog. Just kidding. Speaking of Maddux, I have a theory (with holes) that he, Glavine and Smoltz made a pact on a golf course somewhere that they would retire together so as to be inducted into the HOF in the same year. Am I crazy? Keep up the good work!
SS, thanks for the comment and confirmation that at least you think I’m going down the right path….it feels like the right path anyway. I don’t know Mr. Lee, but I hope that I’m a little bit more grounded. I like to picture myself as curious, not the spaceman!
While you’re at it let me know if there are any subjects you’d like to hear me ramble about….muchos gracias.
Great Stuff Brent. Put the sign down and go with it. No paralysis by analysis…..One of the most enjoyable jewels of the game is the instinctive “gut” feels players make.
How about I roll out my “Triple Contrast” Style of Calling a Game. I coined this phrase back in the late 90’s while Chunking Badens in the indoor baseball facility of one of my best pals…. The Triple Contrast style works like this: 1. Call for the heater up & in. note 3 characteristics of this pitch: fast, up, & inside. 2. Call next pitch changeup, down, & away. note 3 “Separate” characteristics: slow, low, & outside. Hence, the Triple Contrast. This concept supports the idea that if the hitter has to adjust to 3 separate characteristics of back to back pitches life can be tough. I most certainly agree with Brent’s idea of establish the heater and ride it until she bucks you, but in the latter stages of the game; why not drop a little “Triple Contrast” on em
Good idea with the triple contrast….by the way, what the hell is Chunking Badens?
Brent, Baden is a sporting goods brand of baseballs and other equipment. The word “Chunking” was used by me responding to a fellow coach at an indoor baseball facility. The coach asked me how I was doing and I just simply said…..chunking badens…just chunking badens. My way of saying throwing BP for 8 hours….Baden brand baseballs are cheaper in price and quality compared to Rawlings or Wilson.
Interestingly enough, Baden has come out with an “All Weather” baseball. The University of Washington uses this ball quite a bit since it rains so much in that area. Hey, now I can chunk badens even in the rain…Royce the Cherokee….I feel like I must know you from the minors. I signed for a peanut butter sandwich and a plane ticket to Boise, Idaho to play for the Boise Hawks in the summer of 1989, short season A ball. That was as high as I went, banged around with Independents for a few more years and hold the dubious honor of managing the worst record for a minor league team. 4 wins and a whole lot of losses. There is a great story to this though I will have to share with you and Brent sometime.
Gotcha, thanks for the explanation….yeah, I too would like to know where the Cherokee played.
Brent & Cherokee: I have a correction to make. I just looked it up we won a total of 8 games in 1996, I was shorting myself 4 whole games. Yes sir, 8 wins and 52 losses. I was auctually a player/coach and was asked to take over the team after 10 games in. We were 1win – 9 losses when I took over to be be skipper, so hey I posted 7 w’s…True story, opening day in Tullahoma, Tennessee we had less than 10 people in stands.
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