Comments on: Today’s Tip: “11 Reasons to Let the Catcher Call Pitches”

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:13:41 +0000

I have been a catcher for seven long years and this is right on the money! The pitcher I have been with for six years is so great at just hitting the location he really just slams it in my mitt. Another pitcher who I recently met has gelled so well with me and he just knows if he gets in trouble I am calling fastball. The coach has never once given signals to me or anyone behind the plate and in turn he and I bonded and I have been with him since I was nine years old. He has been in the championship almost every year and I am coming back when I am all done playing to help him coach.

By: Joaquin

Joaquin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:17:56 +0000

Thanks Brent I appreciate you responding and so quickly too.
What about not having a starting job, or not one at all?
this could be an issue, besides the obvious answer of working hard.
Another thing I wanted to mention was just sort of whats going on right now with my school situation…. I would like to move schools, but living in a city (Charlottesvillle, VA) i’m not allowed to move to a county school, and I cannot go to a private school without losing a year of eligibility (sports) which i just think is absolutely ridiculous. What can I do?

By: Brent Mayne

Brent Mayne — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:37:14 +0000

Hey Joaquin, here’s a past “Art of Catching Tip” I wrote which might help answer your questions…

Part of organized sports is having a coach. Chances are, when it’s all said and done, you’ll have crossed paths with dozens of them. It’s not discussed much, but trust me, it’s in your best interest as a player to know how to deal with them.

Just like a snowflake, every coach is different. They all have different methods, techniques, and styles. And just about all of them think they’re way is the right way. Fair enough. It’s your job to play anyway, not coach. The question is, how do you process the (often conflicting) information of different coaches, while at the same time play “your” game, while at the same time remain “coachable?”

Tough question. It’s a razor’s edge you’re going to have to walk. You don’t want to be the guy who talks back and has all the answers. You want to be the guy who plays hard and listens. That being said, you have to know yourself and know when to stick to your guns.

So here’s my suggestion. Listen respectfully with open ears to the coach…and keep your mouth shut. Maybe he does have a point. Honestly try what he wants in practice. Give it time. Ask yourself if his technique is making you a better or worse athlete. After a while, evaluate and adjust.

The fact is, you’re never gonna find success if you’re flip flopping techniques all the time anyway. Just as seed will never mature if you keep digging it up to see if it’s growing. You’ve got to commit to a direction and honestly evaluate if you’re getting better or worse after a while.

For you, nothing will speak louder than improvement and success – regardless of how you got there. And trust me, no coach is going to mess with success.

Till next week, good luck, have fun, and keep your eye on the ball.

By: Joaquin

Joaquin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:08:22 +0000

I am 16 years old…. and as a catcher I couldn’t agree with you more Brent, I wanted to ask you a couple questions about catching and dealing with managers, I do not stand my manager, but I guess my question would be, how to handle a manager that calls pitches and how to approach him about it?
And my other question would have to be about not starting or catching at all, my team has a freshman catcher that started over me last year, i’ll make a run for it this year but his father is an assistant which makes it tough. how could someone handle that type of situation and maintain a good level without playing everyday?

By: Jose Lima « Brent Mayne

Jose Lima « Brent Mayne — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:15:56 +0000

[...] had many games where the game calling, the signals between pitcher and catcher, were like butter. I almost didn’t need to put down [...]

By: Brian Bates

Brian Bates — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:17:05 +0000

As a catcher for 13 years in the ’70s and ’80s (PeeWee – high school) I never had a coach call a single pitch. By default, I had the responsibility to call the pitches that had the best chance of getting the hitters out. Because of that I paid close attention to the different players’ tendancies. If I saw the same teams 3 or 4 times, I had a running “book” on most of the hitters that I could exploit.

I think catchers today don’t know how to call a game, because they never had to. Get them started in little league – my son has been calling (location and change-ups) his own game since he was 9. I just spent the time in practice, between innings, and while watching higher level games explaining and quizing him on, “what should the catcher call here?”. Give ‘em a chance. If your catcher doesn’t have the mental capacity to figure it out, you’ve got the wrong kid catching.

By: Pitching Thoughts « Brent Mayne

Pitching Thoughts « Brent Mayne — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:45:22 +0000

[...] of the teams in amateur baseball right now, it’s quite possible that Strasburg has never called his own game before. In other words, he may have no clue on how to attack hitters…much less big league [...]

By: Brent Mayne

Brent Mayne — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:54:14 +0000

Drew, thank you for your input. Keep up the good work…at least you’re trying!

By: Drew Osborne

Drew Osborne — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:47:41 +0000

Brent,

I coach high school. I’ve found that high school kids are in love with the curve ball. It’s more than an fling, it’s an infatuation. I use the wrist band system and the numbers to call pitches. However, I don’t call all the pitches. I know our catchers are capable of calling a strong game. Our problem is, we start using the curve to much. We have some kids whose strengths are using the fastball. It’s hard for us to be consistent with our fastball if we throw to many curves. I usually don’t call pitches until we get to that point.

The other thing we do with the wristbands is call pitch outs, coverages, and pickoffs. We don’t limit calls to this, but it’s a good system for our boys.

I’d love to let my catcher call every pitch, and hopefully we get there, we just aren’t to that point yet.

By: Mike Schuett

Mike Schuett — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:35:31 +0000

i do enjoy the tips. i’m starting to coach my 10 year old’s team and putting him in some catching gear!! we’ll see what happens. i’ve even had him watch the athletic posture video. that has helped him with sports across the board – basketball, soccer, etc. talk to you soon!