Today’s Tip: The Left Knee and Throwing Out Base Stealers
August 7, 2010
Mike Scioscia demonstrating a powerful throwing position.
Here’s another catching tip…
In previous tips, I’ve talked about the importance of both timing and coming out of the crouch low (like an airplane taking off) when trying to throw out potential base stealers.
An additional movement that tends to enhance both the above practices has to do with the left knee. After the runner steals and the pitcher releases the ball, slowly push your left knee towards the right. Make sure that the rest of your body doesn’t rotate to the right, just the knee. You can mess around with the speed of this move to find a tempo that feels comfortable. Think of it as a timing mechanism that’s similar to how a hitter’s hands might push back to go forward before striking the ball.
This is an especially valuable tool for those catchers who have a tendency to rush or who’s first movement when a runner goes is for their butt to rise. Done correctly, this left knee “slide” will keep you back longer and help you “stay in your legs” as you throw. Which all ultimately leads to a catcher who throws from a powerful base with proper timing.
Till next time, good luck, have fun, and keep your eye on the ball…
I also see some catcher lower their left knee instead of moving it left…same thing?
Yep, pretty much the same idea. You can mess around with the movement, the main thing is that the upper body stays square to the pitcher when you do it….that way the catcher doesn’t rotate himself off a pitch to his left.
I have just messed about with your left knee movement from “my” “normal” catching position, which is a bit unorthodox, and just trying it in the movement in the front room of my house made it feel like the most natural movement and made my rise to throw to second must smoother and also for some reason kept me lower for the throw, I was standing up too straight for the throw.
Thanks for the tip if it works for a 47 year old catcher in AAA its gotta work for every one.
Andy
Oooops I am 48 now
This will also help those guys that tend to move too much to their left and open up. Combine this tip and your “stride on line” tip and we’ve got great mechanics. Thanks.