Instructional Friday: Catching

INSTRUCTIONAL FRIDAY 12/28/18
CATCHING: RECEIVING

It has been said that pitching is the most important asset for a baseball team.  Many championship clubs have been built on pitching and defense. Well, consider an often overlooked necessity to facilitate a quality staff – the catcher. Translation – the catcher is real important. In talking to coaches at all levels of play a constant theme seems to be the need to identify a solid performer behind the dish.  In short, finding a good one is difficult and puts the solution into one of two directions; search the land high & low, or develop one.

So many skills are important to being a high quality catcher.  The most obvious of which is to receive the ball. Sounds simple.  Just catch the pitches that the pitcher throws. However, it could arguably be the most important skill that a catcher will employ.  While throwing, blocking, and even tags have a place in the prioritization of tools for a catcher, the inability to catch strikes can hinder, even neutralize the most potent of pitching staffs.  So if receiving is such an important skill, it can be developed and should not be minimized.

As with any skill, a variety of approaches can be debated or used to bring the player into a more advanced stage of receiving pitches from behind the plate.  The focus here will be on the approach to frame balls on the edge of the zone by catching the “outside of the ball.” Thus, framing the ball should always put the mitt around the baseball with the ball emphasized to the middle of the strike zone.  More specifically catchers need to “stick” those pitches with some extension to the edge of the strike zone, while receiving offerings inside the frame with a softer give of the mitt.

With any skill, the development is enhanced by creating comfort of execution through drilling with supported instruction.  So many resources are available today to get quality drills and even instructional feedback. Here are 3 receiving drills to begin with the process to add value to the player’s game and team by becoming a quality catcher:

• Clock drill.  This is a great everyday drill for catchers.  It emphasizes those pitches referenced earlier that are on the edges of the zone.  The right-handed catcher will identify four receiving locations and use them to execute the drill.  The frame to the bill of the cap will be 12 o’clock, the throwing arm side frame will be 3 o’clock, the middle ball just below the knees will be 6 o’clock and the mitt side frame will be 9 o’clock.  Start with the catcher standing and having baseballs firmly tossed underhanded 3-5 times to each location. Focus on keeping the fingers on the outside of the ball except on the 6:00 pitch. Here, work the thumb under and either roll up to stick it or recess slightly into the zone.  The 12:00 ball should be caught deeper so the catcher’s head is reference point in the zone for the umpire. Preference dictates technique on the 3:00 & 9:00 balls; suggestion is that the elbow remain low on the 3:00 and while the trend is to catch the 9:00 deep with the ball inside the elbow, that tactic has its disadvantages and can tie up some catchers.  Most catchers will be served to get extension to “stick” the 9:00 pitch also. After the barehand round, repeat the drill with the mitt. Squat the catcher and do the sequence again both barehanded and with a mitt. In a matter of minutes a catcher has gotten upwards of 60-80 quality reps. Even consider alternating locations on a round (3:00/9:00 & 12:00/6:00) or do an “anywhere” round.

• Wall ball. This is just what it sounds like.  The catcher can be in a stance at a distance from the wall and will use the same fundamentals previous articulated to receive balls in the zone.  Having someone behind the receiver to deliver the balls is best and even gets the player into the vision training realm of development. Location, sequence, and even added skills (like blocking or throwing footwork) can be addressed by developing a plan.  Consider different sizes and types of balls to create different nuances to the drill. The point here is to have some fun, be creative and without even feeling like work, the skill will improve. (Note: Get some good drills in this category by following @handeyecoaches on Twitter.)

• Bullpens.  Undoubtedly, bullpens are the most neglected opportunity to improve receiving skills. Catchers should avoid the temptation to simply “service” the pitcher by squatting or sitting in the pen pitch after pitch during a session.  This is a great chance to RECEIVE the arms that the team is depending on to be successful. By doing a great job here and taking each rep with focus that catcher not only sharpens his skills but also gains the confidence of the pitchers.  The chemistry that can develop here goes a long ways to building that intangible skill of “handling pitchers” – something every staff and definitely every coach will appreciate. To keep things fresh in the pen a number of variables can be worked on without the pitcher even being aware.  While he’s working on his craft the catcher should be developing his also. Use different stances needed for situations, practice throwing footwork on some pitches, and by all means block in the pen. But most importantly, practice RECEIVING the ball as a strike.

Want to be more valuable to the team?  Want to be a more valuable player? Learn to be a catcher – and to do that, receiving skills are a must.