Chapter 5. Baseball Catching Secrets

A baseball team cannot function well without a good catcher. Strangely enough, not much effort is devoted to developing catchers and baseball catching in general among amateur players. If we were to guess why, we'd say this:

The job of a baseball catcher doesn't appeal to youngsters starting out because it looks too complicated.

It takes a lot of courage for beginners to get behind the bat.

Unfortunately, managers as a rule, don't know too much about baseball catching either.

Whatever the reasons, the baseball catching spot should never be neglected. The fundamentals are not too difficult and as far as appeal is concerned-it's one of the most fascinating positions on the ball club. Once a boy has had a taste of catching it's hard to get him interested in playing any other position.

What kind of a boy makes a good baseball catching prospect? A manager of an amateur team is rarely blessed with players who have "ideal" qualifications. He has to do the best with whatever material he has. When looking over his crop for a catcher, he knows he wants a boy with a strong arm, rugged body, courage and intelligence. Whether a boy has any great speed afoot, or whether he's big or small is not too important. The catcher, however, must have good hands and be able to move around behind the plate. (A heavy boy may not be able to run fast, but very often you will find him "light" on his feet. If he has the other qualifications mentioned, he's a baseball catching prospect.)

SHIFT THOSE DOGS!

The more you study baseball, the more you will realize that the game is played as much with the feet as any other part of the body. This is particularly true of catching. The catcher simply must learn-and learn early-that he has to "shift the dogs.*' If he doesn't, he'll constantly drop third strikes, have pitched balls go through him and find runners stealing at will.

Even before a manager starts his catchers working with pitchers, he would do well to go over the basic steps very carefully. Then, as the boy begins to receive, the manager or coach can come back again and again to the fundamentals, until the player movers instinctively.

Let's begin with the easiest body and foot positions.

To start play, the catcher first squats down and flashes a "sign" to the pitcher. This sign, usually given with the bare hand, "tells" the pitcher what to throw.

To give the sign, the catcher draws his feet together and sits on his heels with knees pointing outward. The body is supported and balanced on the balls of the feet. The glove is hung over the end of the left knee with the little finger pointing down, the thumb up. The throwing hand is brought deep against the crotch to give the sign.

Once the sign is given, the catcher hops to the Receiving Position. His feet are now wide apart, his tail low. His glove hand makes the target. Some catchers put their bare hand behind the glove, some next to it, the others apart from it. This is optional. The bare hand, however, should be loose, with the thumb tucked under the other fingers.

The shifting of the body to get directly in front of the ball is the most difficult thing for catchers to learn. The youngster will be thinking only of getting his glove on the ball and he will do that by reaching, not by moving the feet.

On thrown balls to his right, the catcher should slide the right foot toward 1st base and closes with the left. On thrown balls to the left, it's slide left, close right must be done quickly and smoothly. It would be well then for the manager to back off about 60 feet and deliberately throw the ball to left and right of the catcher and to throw it fairly fast.

When teaching the catcher these two steps, the coach or manager should toss the ball on one side then the other. Once the move seems to be mastered, it should be pointed out that it takes only % a second for a pitched ball to reach the plate. This means the slide-close to right and left must be done quickly and smoothly. It would be well then for the manager to back off about 60 feet and deliberately throw the ball to left and right of the catcher and to throw it fairly fast.

When pitch comes to center of catcher's body, he need only step forward with left foot to throw, as indicated left.
	Fig. 20

Shifting the feet enables the catcher to both catch the ball and throw. With runners on base, the proper shift becomes more important than ever.

Assume the batter is right-handed and the pitch is directly over the plate. What's the fastest foot-move one can make? Simple. Leave the right foot where it is in the Receiving Position, step forward left and throw.

Assume you have the same situation with the pitch going to the right, or "outside". Step right with the right foot. Instead of closing left, step diagonally right and forward with the left foot and throw.

On pitches that are "inside" to the right-handed hitter, step left for the catch and instead of closing right, step diagonally right with the right foot plant it, step left and throw. It's to-the-left, to-the-right, forward-and throw. If the pitch is far inside, causing the batter to jump back, a slight variation will help. Step left, bring the right foot left and plant it directly in back of the left, step forward with the left foot and throw. Use this step, too, if the runner is going from 2nd to 3rd, but throw in back of the batter if he's in the way.

Fig. 21	Fig. 22
	Illustrations show catcher moving to handle outside and inside pitches to right hand batter and inside pitch to left hand batter.
Fig. 23

For left hand hitters:

On outside pitches-step left, bring the right foot in back of the left, plant it, step forward left and throw.

On inside pitches-step right, hop diagonally left and forward on the right foot, step forward left and throw.

If the catcher wants to throw to 1st with a left hand hitter at the dish, he can throw behind the batter on inside pitches, from in front on outside pitches.

If a manager has two or three catchers on the squad, he can drill them as follows:

Have the catchers line up side-by-side with plenty of room between each catcher. Have them face the coach and assume the Receiving Position. The coach can yell out the pitch, then "shift", the signal for the catchers to go through the steps.

"All right boys/' the manager, or coach could say. "It's a right-hand hitter. Get ready for the pitch. Here it comes, low and inside Ready? SHIFT!"

He can repeat that line with all the variations. The teacher cannot spend too much time on this exercise. If a boy is having trouble with the steps, his Dad can help him in the back yard, cellar or attic.

After the Sign Position and Receiving Position have been taught, it's time to think about working behind the plate. Most 8-to-10 year-old catchers take the Receiving Stance much too far back. They are concerned, of course, about having the bat hit their noggins instead of the ball. But, here's something to remember: If the batter can't reach the catcher with his bat on the back swing before the pitch, he won't reach him when he tries to hit the ball. That's because the batter goes forward-away from the catcher-to hit. If a catcher stays just out of reach of the back swing, he's perfectly safe.

But, he must get as close as he possibly can for these reasons: If he's back an extra foot, he makes the pitcher throw an extra foot. If he's back an extra foot, the curve ball will start its break too late. By staying too far back, the catcher adds to the distance of his throw to the bases.

The beginner often closes his eyes when the batter swings at a pitch. He sometimes turns his head, too. Both of these are natural reactions, but dangerous! The catcher won't get hurt, if he keeps his eyes open, chin down and looks straight ahead until the ball is in the glove. His equipment will protect him.

The young catcher, by the way, will also flinch at balls thrown into the dirt. Here again he should use his equipment-drop to the knees, get the glove on the ground and block the ball!

THE CATCHER'S THROW

Once the basic positions and shifts are taught, it's only natural to start working on the throw itself. Like the out-fielders, the catcher must throw overhand with his hand directly behind the ball. He doesn't want the ball to curve and if the ball hits the dirt, he wants good back spin so it will hop high and sharply. Unlike the outfielder, however, the catcher does not have enough time to use a full arm swing. He must use a snap throw. To get the proper position for the throwing arm, hold the arm in the layback position described earlier for the overhand throw. Instead of holding the hand directly over the pitching elbow, bring it down to a spot behind the ear. Now, step forward and "snap"' the ball toward the target. A football player uses the same technique in throwing a spiral forward pass.

The catcher always wants to throw directly at the base to catch a runner stealing. If he's throwing to 2nd on the cut-off play (CHAPTER 7), he throws directly at the cut-off man's head.

The very first time a catcher puts on a mask, by the way, he should be taught how to throw the ball to the pitcher correctly!

The pitcher works very hard during a ball game. He shouldn't be put to the added effort of jumping for wild throws from the catcher. (It's not only bad for the pitcher, it's dangerous with runners on base.)

The ball should be thrown at the pitcher's glove shoulder, which, is in a direct line and at just the right height for the throw to 2nd base. The catcher shouldn't lob the ball back to the pitcher, nor should he fire it so hard it gives the pitcher a red hand. A medium speed throw is best- always at the glove shoulder! When the bases are occupied, catchers should form the habit of taking a quick look at the runners before returning the ball to the pitcher.

THE CATCHER FIELDS TOO

Like others on the defense, the catcher has an assignment when the ball is hit. Most of the time, it's guarding the plate. On pop-ups and bunts, however, the play for the put-out is very often all his.

No matter what the play, the catcher ought to toss his mask aside as quickly as possible.

To field the bunt, the catcher (presumably right-handed) should always try to go to the left of the ball-make a little circle if he can-so he'll be in good position to throw when he comes up with it. If the ball is still rolling when the catcher reaches it, he should stab his glove down in front of it to stop the roll, then scoop his glove and bare hand together for the pickup. If the ball has stopped, the catcher can make the pickup with the bare hand.

CATCH IT WITH YOUR NOSE

On all pop-ups, the catcher wants to get under the ball as quickly as he can and be waiting as the ball comes down. Since pop-ups to the catcher are caused by a sharp undercut of the ball, the ball spins at terrific speed. The spin will make the ball "move" in one direction or another but usually toward the infield. The catcher must be careful of this drift as the ball comes down and not try to catch it with the arms extended, else he will suddenly find that his arms are two inches short!

To keep the ball from floating out of reach, the catcher should keep his nose right underneath it. "Catch it with your nose/' the pros say. (It's a good idea, too, to blink eyes rapidly as they follow downward flight of the ball. This helps prevent "blind staggers.")

On pop-ups that go in back of the catcher, the spin caused by the undercut of the bat often makes the ball curve as it goes up. As a general rule, it will curve toward the batter if he undercuts an outside pitch and away from him if the pitch is inside. Thus, if the ball goes up over the catcher's left shoulder, he should turn to his right to go back and under. That way, he will usually find the ball curving toward him, making the catch much easier. If the ball goes up over the right shoulder, the catcher should turn left to chase it.

Catchers Cover 3rd

There are three times when the catcher covers 3rd. The first and most important is part of his assignment in the bunt defense with a runner on 1st. (See Fig. 40.) The catcher charges into the diamond on the bunt, but if the third baseman fields the ball, he circles to his left and hustles to 3rd. If he doesn't do that, the base will be open and the runner advancing from 1st to 2nd can continue to 3rd.

The catcher also occasionally finds himself on 3rd during a run-down between home and 3rd, as described on page 105. He again goes to 3rd when both the shortstop and second baseman chase a pop fly directly in back of 2nd with runners on base. (Third baseman takes 2nd, pitcher covers home.)

It's a good idea for catchers to back up 1st when the bases are unoccupied and the batter hits a grounder to the infield. This is especially important in a close ball game. The catcher, to make this back-up play, should start running at the crack of the bat and head for a spot at least 20 feet to the foul side of 1st. Thus, if the ball gets by the first baseman, the catcher and ball will arrive at about the same time and the catcher will be able to either hold the runner on 1st or nip him going into 2nd if he tries to advance.

CALLING THE PITCH

A basic part of the catcher's defensive work is the simple act of giving the signal for the type of pitch he wants thrown to the batter. He doesn't do this casually, though. Like the pitcher, he should always study the hitters to pick out weak and strong points. After playing a team once, the catcher should jot down in a notebook whatever he has learned about the opposing hitters. Before the second game with a team, he and the pitcher ought to go over these notes. That might sound a little too "professional" for youngsters, but it really isn't. As we've pointed out before, the younger the player, the more glaring his weakness. There are some 12-year-olds, for example, who simply cannot hit an outside pitch. And, furthermore, they can't resist swinging at it-even though they can't reach it. We can certainly expect a 12-year-old catcher to remember that kind of a weakness in a hitter.

The catcher can learn a great deal about hitters by watching their foot movements. Does the batter step away from the plate when he strides forward for the swing? If he does, pitch him outside. Does the batter stand too close, or too far away? Is he deep, or up in front of the batter's box? The catcher should look for other clues too. Can the hitter get "around" on the fast ball? Does he wear glasses? Does he have a bad wrist? Is he a nervous hitter? Where does he hit in the batting order? Has he ever gotten a hit off the pitcher? If so, was it a curve ball, or a fast ball?

Oh, yes, there's more to calling for the pitch than just flicking the fingers. But, some of these weaknesses are very obvious and even the eight to 10-year-old catcher should be taught to observe them and make his pitching signs accordingly.

Curve Him Joe

At the beginning of this chapter, we talked about the Sign Position and mentioned that the signs for the pitcher-and the rest of the defensive team, by the way-are given with the throwing hand held deep against the crotch. Many young catchers drop the signaling hand so low that the fingers pop out from underneath their tails. When that happens, of course, everyone in the ball park knows whether it's going to be a fast ball or curve. Keep the signaling hand just below the top of the thigh and be sure the glove hides it from the 3rd base coach.

The signals should be simple. It is suggested that the catcher show one finger for the fast ball, two for the curve and waggle the first for a pitch-out. He can sign for high, low, inside or outside pitches by using his thumb. For example, if the catcher shows the index finger, then points his thumb at the batter then at the ground, he's calling for a fast ball, low and inside. Again this may seem too advanced for a 12-year old, but the manager who follows this course, is teaching his catcher and pitcher to think. He may not expect the pitcher to put the ball low and inside, but he's making him try.

With a runner on 2nd base, the catcher must change his tactics. The runner can see the sign as easily as the pitcher and he can relay it to the batter.

From high school on up to professional ball, catchers give signs in a "series" with a runner on 2nd. Prior to the game catcher and pitcher may decide:

In a series of three, the sign that shows up once, is the sign that counts. (If the catcher signs 1, then 2 fingers and again 2 fingers, he's calling for a fast ball. If he signs 1-1-2, he's calling for a curve ball.)

In a series of three, the sign that shows up twice, is the sign that counts. (If the catcher flashes 2-2-1, he's calling for a curve ball, etc.).

In a series of three, the middle sign counts (or the first or the third).

Light and Dark

To keep runners from stealing signs, the receiver uses two other methods. One is called "light and dark." If the catcher holds the glove elbow away from the body, the pitcher can see daylight between the arm and body.

That could mean the curve or fast ball, whichever the battery mates agree upon. If the elbow is against the body-"dark"-it could also mean "curve" or "fast ball." The catcher sometimes uses his glove for the sign. If the glove is held with the little finger pointing down, as it normally is, that's the fast ball. If turned so that the palm faces the ground, that could be the signal for the curve.

Naturally, if the catcher uses "light and dark" or the glove, he still gives signs, false ones, with his throwing hand.

COVERING THE PLATE

Catchers and managers should pay particular attention to the fundamentals involved in guarding home plate against the runner trying to score. The catcher wants to "know" where the plate is located as he watches the ball wing toward him from the outfield or infield. To do this, he should straddle the plate. If the ball is hit to right, the catcher leaves the right field corner open. This forces the runner to slide in front of the catcher, with only a small area of the plate to touch. If the ball is hit to left, the catcher again faces the throw, but leaves the left field corner of the plate open. (Figs. 24, 25) The catcher-like the second baseman-should never stand in front of the plate to await the throw, nor should he stand up the line toward third.

		At left, catcher leaves corner of plate open as he awaits throw from RF. Third base side of plate is left open when throw is from LF.
Fig. 24	Fig. 25

This writer never likes to use the term "block the plate" when teaching catchers. It gives catchers the impression they are to hold the runner off. If a catcher attempts to stand between home plate and the runner with, or without the ball, he's going to get hurt. The runner has no place to go, but right through the catcher. Very often, the runner won't slide because there's no room to slide. Furthermore, if the catcher doesn't have the ball in his possession and the runner makes contact with him, the runner scores on the interference rule.

PLAY THE BALL - THEN THE MAN

Give the runner a place to slide. If the throw is late or wild, go after the ball and forget the runner. If you have the ball in time and the runner slides, block the foot reaching for the base with a knee. If the ball is coming from right field, drop the left knee-after the runner starts his slide, not before. If the throw is coming from left field, drop the right knee.

Naturally, the throw isn't always going to be exactly where the catcher wants it. Ball and runner occasionally arrive at the same spot at the same instant. This may mean a collision. Again, though, the catcher should not try to hold the runner back. If the runner is standing up, he should make the tag and roll with the runner-letting the runner turn him around. If the runner is sliding, the catcher should drop on top of him.

On all tags, the catcher should turn the back of the glove toward the runner. (Reasons are explained in 2nd base play.)

When the bases are loaded, the catcher doesn't need to make a tag. With less than two out, the play is often home-to-first.

After catching an infielder's throw, the catcher must make the put-out and relay to 1st without hitting the batter.

To accomplish this easily, the catcher puts his left foot on one side of home base and faces the fielder. After the catch, he steps forward with his right foot, pivots right and throws to the first baseman, who should be standing well inside the line with his left foot on the inside edge of 1st base.

KNOW THE PITCHERS

The catcher, in addition to learning the mechanics of his job, also has to know something about "handling" pitchers. He must get to know their capabilities, what kind of temperament they have, etc. If the pitcher is a very nervous boy and inclined to pitch too fast, it's up to the catcher to hold the ball longer between pitches and slow him down. If the pitcher gets discouraged quickly, the catcher ought to talk to him and try to keep his spirits up.

Most of all, the catcher ought to know which pitch is the hurler's best-is it the fast ball, or the curve? (The "best" on the day he's pitching).

When a new pitcher comes into the game, the catcher meets him at the mound, reviews the signs, the current situation, the number of outs, the score and the next hitter.

Be the Quarterback

The catcher, like the hitter, is within the vision of every defensive player. This puts him in position to "take charge" of the ball club in the field. And "take charge" he must. Part of his assignment is to see to it that every boy is playing in the right position for the hitter. He moves the outfield to left or right; brings the infield up or directs it to play back. If he's not fielding a bunt, he tells the boy who does where to throw the ball. He decides whether a ground ball is to be played home-to-1st (with bases loaded), or whether the infield is to try for a 2nd-to-lst double play. The infield in particular has to know in advance where to make the play with runners on base. It's up to the catcher to tell them-whether he decides on his own, or gets his orders from the manager.

Wear Equipment Correctly

It's not a good idea for the catcher to let anyone else use his mitt. That's his most important tool and it needs to be in perfect condition at all times. Break it in yourself, catcher, and it will fit your hand. Don't use a sponge unless you have a sore hand. In other words, try to toughen up the catching hand so you won't need a sponge.

Buckle the shinguards with buckles on the outside. That way they won't catch when you're running. When your team is at bat, don't take the shinguards off unless you are among the first three hitters.

Don't wear the chest protector loose, it will hamper throws to the bases. Keep it under the chin while baseball catching to protect the Adam's Apple. Always wear it the same way; that is, with the buckle on the same side.

Be sure the mask fits snugly. Keep the straps over the ears the protect against foul tips. Keep the leather of the mask clean.

Finally, never ever go behind the bat without full equipment to avoid injuries associated with baseball catching!

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